Apprentice Customer Service & Operations Assistant
DTR Customs Ltd
NOTTINGHAM (NG12 5AW)
Closes in 14 days (Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 27 October 2026
Contents
Summary
We are seeking a proactive, articulate, and well-organised Apprentice Customer Service & Operations Assistant to join our front-line team. This role bridges client relations, administration, and workshop coordination—ensuring an exceptional, seamless customer journey from initial consultation through to final sign-off.
- Wage
-
£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Customer service practitioner (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Unpaid lunch break, 12.30pm - 1.00pm.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 23 November 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Key Responsibilities
- Client Liaison & Communication: Serve as the professional first point of contact for client enquiries via inbound telephone calls, email, and social media channels. Maintain clear, prompt, and courteous correspondence at all times.
- Operational Administration: Support core administrative workflows, including CRM data entry, supplier purchase orders, client schedule updates, and organised filing.
- Production & Quality Control Support: Learn the operational documentation required for custom manufacturing, assisting with the tracking of job sheets, material allocation, and quality-control verification.
- Showroom & Event Representation: Assist in welcoming clients on-site and provide support during company showcases and open days.
- Interdepartmental Coordination: Collaborate closely with our design, workshop, and fitting teams to ensure accurate messaging and realistic delivery timelines for our clients.
Technical Development & Training Scope
In addition to completing an accredited apprenticeship qualification in Customer Service, this role offers structured exposure to the commercial design and manufacturing sector, including:
- Hands-on introduction to technical cabinetry surveying.
- Stock control, material management, and hardware ordering processes.
- Mentorship in CAD drawings as part of our surveying team.
Skills & Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- Eagerness to Learn: A genuine enthusiasm for developing new technical and administrative capabilities within a bespoke manufacturing environment (non-negotiable).
- Communication & Professionalism: Confident, polite verbal communication and accurate written English; comfortable speaking with residential clients, architects, and suppliers.
- Organisation & Rigour: Strong attention to detail, systematic record-keeping, and the discipline to follow structured processes.
- Digital Literacy: Practical working knowledge of everyday office platforms and standard communication channels.
- Education: GCSE Grade 4/C or above in English and Mathematics (or equivalent/functional skills equivalent).
Desirable Criteria:
Design & CAD Familiarity: Prior exposure to, or basic working knowledge of, design principles, sketch software, or 2D/3D CAD programmes is advantageous, though full training will be provided to candidates demonstrating the right aptitude and commitment.
Where you'll work
3A THE COURTYARD
MAIN STREET
KEYWORTH
NOTTINGHAM
NG12 5AW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NOTTINGHAM COLLEGE
Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
- Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
- Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
- Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
- Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
- Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate patience and calmness.
- Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
- Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
- Maintain informative communication during service recovery.
Training schedule
You will receive in-house training at your workplace and be allocated a dedicated assessor who will visit you on-site to provide guidance and support throughout your apprenticeship.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Presentation skills
- Logical
- Initiative
Other requirements
- Successful candidate must drive and have access to their own vehicle.
- The use of ladders and surveying equipment for measuring will be required.
- Attention to detail is imperative as is organisational skills.
About this employer
At DTR Customs, we make high-end, bespoke fitted furniture and cabinetry that’s built to last. We’re makers at heart. Our workshop brings together hands-on bench joinery with precision CAD drawings, 100% bespoke manufacturing, and in house installations across the East Midlands.
We care about the details that most people never see—tight tolerances, smart engineering, and a proper finish. Working with us means being part of a small team that takes genuine pride in what rolls out the door, where your craft and problem-solving skills actually count.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
DTR Customs is a growing company so future opportunities may open up to the right candidate after apprenticeship.
Sales training could be developed once apprenticeship is completed.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NOTTINGHAM COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000061238.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 11:59pm)