Business Support Apprentice

Essex County Council is looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our teams as an Apprentice within our Business Support function.

The role will be extremely rewarding if you have an interest in office administration, enjoy helping people and being part of a busy team in a challenging role and as an entry point, for someone considering a career in Administration, Local Government or Social Care. ECC highly values its apprentices and successful candidates will be encouraged to develop and in time progress within the organisation, with over 85% securing permanent roles during their apprenticeship.

This position provides the work-based experience to compliment the learning-based elements of the Apprenticeship Framework and will offer you a supportive environment in which to gain a wealth of experience and transferable skills such as IT systems, organisational skills, effective teamwork and communication.

Business Support provide high quality administrative support to all Essex County Council front-line services, so can offer experience in all aspects of customer service and administrative tasks during the apprenticeship., You will assist with the delivery of routine administrative tasks, dealing with day-to-day work including (but not limited to):

• Inputting data from source documents into the relevant recording system, checking the accuracy, verifying and correcting data


• Responding to emails


• Telephone calls


• Front facing customer service


• Maintain your own diary and work pattern management


• Photocopying/ scanning


• Sending letters and dealing with incoming post


• Attend meetings with team colleagues and Managers, either in person or by video


• Working from home or in an office space


• Work alongside other administrative assistants and apprentices who will train you and support you through the day-to-day work


• Follow ECC policies and procedures for task completion and our expected standards of behaviours
  
  Would you love to work alongside a supportive, friendly, welcoming and high achieving team? This could be the opportunity you are looking for!, Our Level 2 apprenticeship is an intermediate level apprenticeship - it is the equivalent to 5 GCSE passes. Our Level 3 apprenticeship is an advanced apprenticeship - it is the equivalent to two A Levels or T Level. These apprenticeships are a fantastic steppingstone into your preferred career. You'll work under the guidance of experienced professionals to develop a solid foundation in you chosen profession, while also contributing to the overall goals and objectives of the Essex County Council., "I love the apprenticeship process as you're getting paid as you learn. I have been able to make good connections with other employees and really good relationships throughout my journey so far. It's a great starting point to anyone who hasn't got a clear idea of what work they would like to pursue. Also, the apprenticeship allowed me to try multiple different types of jobs when opportunities came up, so I was able to see what I liked, and I was good at.", You will be:


• Educated to RQF level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience


• Highly organised and reliable


• Capable of prioritising a demanding workload and have a "can do" attitude


• Able to take ownership of work and achieve the agreed commitments


• Able to communicate effectively as well as have an ability to build and establish relationships and provide a high-quality service to customers.


• Proficient in Microsoft Office/Office 365 applications and willing to learn new systems


• Have a friendly approach and a good phone manner


• Emotionally intelligent


• Good teamwork skills and a commitment to collaboration


• Experienced in a working environment is helpful, but not essential, Functional Skills Level 1 in Maths and English (or equivalent), which is a Grade D/E or 2/3 to begin the apprenticeship


• Ability to reach a Level 2 Functional Skills in both Maths & English by the End Point Assessment (EPA), if you do not already have this


• Have the right to work and study in England


• Have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for three years before the apprenticeship start date
  
  As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
  
  Healthy work life balance; flexible and hybrid working options


• Wide range of learning and development opportunities


• IT equipment and home-working equipment supplied


• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra


• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme


• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards


• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with LifeWorks


• Disability Confident Leader: we are committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job


• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave


• National Apprenticeship Wage for the first 12 months of your Apprenticeship. After 12 months of service, your salary will increase to the National Living Wage (currently £22,072 per annum as of 01 April 2024)


• A Customer Service Level 2 or a Business Administrator Level 3 qualification via Adult Community Learning (ACL)


Whilst undertaking an apprenticeship within Essex County Council, you can expect to be supported from your first day. You'll be invited to attend a specific onboarding event, have access to exclusive training material via My Learning platform, enrolled in the apprenticeship channel alongside colleagues on similar paths, invited to frequent gatherings, and offered peer-to-peer guidance. Additionally, you will have the chance to showcase your apprenticeship experience to external audiences. Apprenticeships are a valued career pathway to achieving your ambitions within Essex County Council, whilst gaining a qualification.