Business Administrator (Level 3)
Who is this Apprenticeship for?
This course is for any eligible candidates, who wish to earn a wage while developing their knowledge, skills and behaviours in an administrative focused role within any industry.
Business administrators have a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied in all sectors. This includes small and large businesses alike; from the public sector, private sector and charitable sector. The role may involve working independently or as part of a team and will involve developing, implementing, maintaining and improving administrative services. Business administrators develop key skills and behaviours to support their own progression towards management responsibilities.
The responsibilities of the role are to support and engage with different parts of the organisation and interact with internal or external customers. With a focus on adding value, the role of business administrator contributes to the efficiency of an organisation, through support of functional areas, working across teams and resolving issues as requested. The flexibility and responsiveness required allows the apprentice to develop a wide range of skills.
The business administrator is expected to deliver their responsibilities efficiently and with integrity – showing a positive attitude. The role involves demonstrating strong communication skills (both written and verbal) and adopting a proactive approach to developing skills. The business administrator is also expected to show initiative, managing priorities and own time, problem-solving skills, decision-making and the potential for people management responsibilities through mentoring or coaching others.
Are there any entry requirements?
Must be a UK citizen, or have the right of abode in the UK, or is a citizen of a country that is within the EEA and have been ordinarily resident in the UK, the EU or the EEA continuously for the previous three years before the start of learning.
Candidates will have achieved a minimum of GCSE Grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent in English and Maths. We also offer Functional Skills English and maths at Level 2 for those needing to gain these qualifications prior to enrolment.
Apprentices must be employed, for a minimum of 30 hours, in a role that suits the skills requirements of this apprenticeship.
New applicants will be contacted by a vocational delivery tutor to determine suitability/eligibility prior, give information and advice on the next steps.
Shortlisted applicants will be sent to the employer, to then follow their recruitment procedure. Unsuitable applicants will be sign-posted to other areas of our service to develop transferable/employability skills, with a view to ensuring they are suitable for other apprenticeship positions in the future.
What is the curriculum intent of this Apprenticeship?
The structure and delivery of the course curriculum will enable you to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours to reflect the needs of local and regional employers, gain qualifications and be successful in this area.
The curriculum is planned and sequenced to enable learners with previous knowledge and experience to develop the new skills needed to progress to the next stage of their career, training, education or employment.
The curriculum is flexible and responsive to learner demands and can be tailored to suit individual needs arising from any current and dynamic issues affecting their role, which can be addressed during workshop sessions.
As an apprentice you will need to be able to demonstrate knowledge and practical skills at the end of your apprenticeship training programme and understand how this reflects the needs of the local, regional and national economy.
What will the Apprenticeship cover?
The Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and understanding of:
The organisation: Understands organisational purpose, activities, aims, values, vision for the future, resources and the way that the political/economic environment affects the organisation.
Value of their skills: Knows organisational structure and demonstrates understanding of how their work benefits the organisation. Knows how they fit within their team and recognises how their skills can help them to progress their career.
Stakeholders: Has a practical knowledge of managing stakeholders and their differing relationships to an organisation. This includes internal and external customers, clients and/or suppliers. Liaises with internal/external customers, suppliers or stakeholders from inside or outside the UK. Engages and fosters relationships with suppliers and partner organisations.
External environment factors: Understands relevant external factors e.g. market forces, policy & regulatory changes, supply chain etc. and the wider business impact). Where necessary understands the international/global market in which the employing organisation is placed.
Relevant regulation: Understands laws and regulations that apply to their role including data protection, health & safety, compliance etc. Supports the company in applying the regulations.
Policies: Understands the organisation's internal policies and key business policies relating to sector.
Business fundamentals: Understands the applicability of business principles such as managing change, business finances and project management.
Processes: Understands the organisation's processes. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Applying a solutions-based approach to improve business processes and helping define procedures. Understands how to administer billing, process invoices and purchase orders.
Develop the skills in:
IT: 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.
Record and document production: Produces accurate records and documents. 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.
Decision making: Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and can deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
Interpersonal skills: 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.
Communications: 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.
Quality: 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. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
Planning and organisation: 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. Manages resources, organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics.
Project management: 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.
Develop the behaviours around:
Professionalism: Behaves in a professional way. This includes: personal presentation, respect, respecting and encouraging diversity to cater for wider audiences, punctuality and attitude to colleagues, customers and key stakeholders. Adheres to the organisation's code of conduct for professional use of social media. Acts as a role model, contributing to team cohesion and productivity – representing the positive aspects of team culture and respectfully challenging inappropriate prevailing cultures.
Personal qualities: Shows exemplary qualities that are valued including integrity, reliability, self-motivation, being pro-active and a positive attitude. Motivates others where responsibility is shared.
Managing performance: Takes responsibility for their own work, accepts feedback in a positive way, uses initiative and shows resilience. Also takes responsibility for their own development, knows when to ask questions to complete a task and informs their line manager when a task is complete. Performs thorough self-assessments of their work and complies with the organisation's procedures.
Adaptability: Is able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation.
Responsibility: Demonstrates taking responsibility for team performance and quality of projects delivered. Takes a clear interest in seeing that projects are successfully completed, and customer requests handled appropriately. Takes initiative to develop own and others' skills and behaviours.
On completion of the on-programme element of the apprenticeship you will enter gateway to the End Point Assessment, which is the final assessment. This will be conducted by an independent end point assessor who will grade the assessment.
End Point Assessment
To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must have:
- English & maths GCSE minimum grade 4+ (C+) or equivalent level 2 qualification proof
- Completed a showcase portfolio, demonstrating how you have met the knowledge, skills and behaviours
- Completed a work based project
The End Point Assessment consists of:
- Project Presentation: A 10–15-minute presentation based on the completed project, with a further 10-15 minutes question and answer session
- Online knowledge test: 50 multiple choice questions lasting a maximum of 60 minutes
- Portfolio Based Interview: A 30-45 minute interview assessing understanding and learning shown in the portfolio
This standard will be graded as Distinction, Pass or Fail.
What could I do when I have finished this Apprenticeship?
The administration role may be a gateway to further career opportunities, such as management or senior support roles. You may gain employment with your employer to pursue a career in an office as a supervisor or team leader and / or decide to complete Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship (Level 3), Team Leader/Supervisor Apprenticeship (Level 3). You will also be given information and guidance to continue onto other courses.
Where and when will I learn?
During the course you will be expected to attend one of our Darlington based Training Centres (Coleridge Centre, DL1 5AJ / Bennett House, DL1 5PT) to develop your knowledge and practical skills in a controlled environment. These sessions will allow you to complete coursework, receive instant feedback and ensure you are ready for the End Point Assessment. The remainder of the week will be spent working with your employer putting the theory into practice to further develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in a real working environment.
This course will typically take 18 months, but this is based on a vocational initial assessment to determine prior learning in this area and may be reduced.
How much will the Apprenticeship cost?
There are no fees for this apprenticeship.
What do I do next?
You can:
Or you can:
- Apply for this apprenticeship area to be entered into a 'pool of candidates'. When a relevant vacancy becomes available we will contact you.
- If you are already employed in this area and wish to join the apprenticeship training, or have identified an employer wishing to start you as an apprentice in this area, please contact us