Democratic Services Apprentice
Harborough District Council
Leicestershire (LE16 7AG)
Closes in 18 days (Friday 27 November 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 November 2026
Contents
Summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to join our Democratic Services Team. The team work at the heart of the council, supporting council meetings, assisting locally elected councillors and managing the council’s civic function.
- Wage
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£25,024 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salaries are reviewed and increased annually in line with the local government pay settlement.
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm, with the requirement to attend some committee meetings in the evening.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 18 January 2027
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
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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
The apprentice will be working as part of our small Democratic Services Team. Each year, we ensure that council’s 100+ meetings are conducted efficiently and lawfully. You will need to be able to engage with a wide group of people including our councillors, senior members of staff and members of the public. You will get to know a wide range of colleagues from across the council.
Specific tasks you may undertake include:
- Making sure that council meeting rooms are set up correctly
- Help produce and circulate agendas to meet legal requirements
- Keep District, Parish and Town Councillor records up to date
- Respond to queries from councillors and the public in person, on the phone and by e-mail
- Support the induction of new councillors following the elections in May 2027
Please note that Democratic Services team is a small team, who are expected to serve all councillors, regardless of their political affiliation and so act in a “politically neutral” way. The role will be expected to support some evening meetings but we offer flexible working to assist. Whilst we do offer the opportunity to work from home some days, you will regularly be required to be present in our Market Harborough offices to post agendas and set up meetings.
Where you'll work
The Symington Building
Adam & Eve Street
Market Harborough
Leicestershire
LE16 7AG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Training schedule
- Within the first 15 months additional training is delivered at Loughborough College, one morning a week for 12 weeks, dates are subject to enrolment date.
- Online portfolio to update with learning and development completed on-site
- Diarised visits from dedicated Trainer/Assessor
- On-the-job training
- Off-the-job training
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
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Non judgemental
Other requirements
Many people are attracted to Democratic Services as they enjoy politics. However, in our work, we have to be neutral and support all councillors, regardless of our or their views.
You will be working in an open plan office environment which can be noisy and you will not sit at the same desk every day. You may move around frequently and a lot of colleagues will be working from home so you need to be able to talk to them using Microsoft Teams.
You will be required to wear appropriate business attire and an identification badge.
The role is a combination of sitting down to deal with correspondence and moving around to help set up meeting rooms. You will be required to carry things and set up IT equipment. You will be provided training with how to set things up properly.
You may sometimes be required to help other services and teams in the Council with tasks reasonable to your role; for example, you may be asked to help the elections team.
You will be told in advance if you need to help with evening meetings and stay late in the office.
About this employer
Harborough District Council is a small, rural and friendly Council. We provide a wide range of services for residents including waste collection, housing, planning and leisure services
http://www.harborough.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 27 days per annual leave year (1st April to 31st March) plus bank holidays Discounted memberships at HDC owned Leisure Centres
- Full occupational health service including access to counselling and telephone advice services
- Free eye examinations for computer users
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
The successful candidate will be eligible to apply for internal vacancies within Harborough District Council.
Democratic Services can be a career in its own right, but also a useful starting role for future opportunities in administration, policy development or government / civil service roles.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
Sophia Cleaver
apprenticeships@loucoll.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000062962.
Apply now
Closes in 18 days (Friday 27 November 2026 at 11:59pm)