Business Administration Apprentice

Hours: Full time - 37 Hours
Contract Type: Fixed Term - 2 Years
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire
Closing date: 16th February 2025

We are looking to recruit Level 3 Business Administration Apprentices to work in either our Business Innovations Directorate or Executive Office 

Innovations role: 

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual to join the Innovations team within the Business and Innovations Directorate (BID) at STFC. Based at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, our team of 16 operates across two sites and is dedicated to the protection and commercialisation of Intellectual Property (IP) from STFC’s National Laboratories. 

In this role, you will provide essential administrative support and assist in managing innovation processes across the team. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of scientific and technological innovation in a collaborative environment. 

Executive Office role:

We’re seeking an enthusiastic individual to join the Executive team to provide essential administrative support across our National Laboratories including the newly formed Research Office. Based at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, the Executive team is at the heart of STFC activities and will provide you with the opportunity to learn from experienced administers and executive assistants. In this role, you will interface with a wide range of staff and external visitors

About the Apprenticeship

With training and support from experts in their fields, you’ll be enthusiastic about developing your knowledge, skills and behaviours, working towards completing your apprenticeship, gaining appropriate qualifications whilst making a real difference in your role.  

If working with innovative technologies on world-leading research isn’t enough, you will develop both professionally and as a critical member of the team in an environment you won’t find anywhere else. 

Our dedicated Apprenticeship Team will support you every step of the way, helping you make the most of your opportunities and to achieve the goals you already have – and those you have yet to discover! 

We provide an opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion. You’ll have access to additional core skills development, access to a community of apprentices across the site, annual Apprentice awards evenings, a number of active sport and social groups across campus, and potential opportunities for overseas placements. 

STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, an outstanding index linked pension scheme, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours.  

Main duties and responsibilities will include: 

BID Innovation Office  - Main duties and responsibilities will include:

• Managing and maintaining records on key project decisions, documenting and monitoring actions
• Coordinating and organising training and meetings, including venues, travel and equipment where necessary. This will also involve occasional travel to other STFC sites for the BID role only.
• Supporting promotion, organising panel meetings, coordinating papers, issuing award letters and supporting the manager with monitoring financial progress, maintaining records.
• Responsibility for maintaining shared email inboxes and post boxes, including replying in a timely manner, answering queries where necessary.

Executive office - Main duties and responsibilities will include:

• Helping to organise a range of National Lab meetings and events
• Providing essential admin support to the Research office including helping STFC staff to access information
• Supporting with arrangements for visits to the RAL site hosted by Executive Directors
• Working with the Executive Assistants to the Executive Directors of National Labs on a range of ad-hoc business and admin tasks

As part of your Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship, you will undertake professional development and training through a mixture of online and in-person teaching with Abingdon and Witney College . There will be 10 days of professional training at college plus additional online touchpoints. Travel expenses will be provided when attending in-person teaching.   

Towards the end of the apprenticeship duration there is an End Point Assessment which includes a knowledge test, portfolio based interview and project/improvement presentation.  

Person Specification

In order to apply for the role, we are looking for the following:

Key - (S) will be measured at shortlisting, (I) will be measured at interview, (S&I) is both.

Essential: 

• Achieved or predicted to achieve 2 GCSE passes at Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent qualifications) (S) 
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, verbally and in writing, with a variety of people (S&I)  
• Attention to detail and accuracy (S&I) 
• Organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and handle multiple tasks effectively whilst meeting deadlines (I) 
• Experience of being part of a team or group (I) 

Desirable: 

• Experience of using Microsoft Office; including working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint (S) 
• Interest in and enthusiasm for science (I) 

Important Information

1. To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A*-C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2025, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.
2. When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. 
3. The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered.  By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider. 

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.  

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe’s largest research organisations by your side? 

Join us and discover what’s possible!