Commercial & Admin Assistant Apprentice

Summary

You will be working closely with the Managing Director and supporting all elements of the commercial operations as well as looking after the basic admin side of the WSET courses and student enquiries and bookings. The role would be ideal for someone starting out on a career with business and wine, or for someone looking for a career change.

Wage: £15,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Business administrator (level 3)
Hours: Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00 (some seasonality peak summer, low winter)
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date: Tuesday 8 April
Duration: 1 year 9 months
Positions available: 1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

What you will be doing:

· You will be assisting in the “hunting” and sourcing often very fine and rare wines and spirits

· Assisting in the preparation of quotations and proposals to clients

· You will be involved in the remote support of the logistics operations in France

· Helping create purchase orders and new product input on our Sage 50 system

· Liaising with suppliers to ensure smooth deliveries to end clients

What we are looking for:

You’ll have enthusiasm to learn more about this very niche side of the wine industry. In-house training for WSET Level 1 & 2 would be provided.

The ability to work flexibly – there is some seasonality with the main trading period being May – October.

Top notch written and verbal communication skills and strong organizational abilities with meticulous attention to detail, adaptability and composure under pressure.

Very good IT skills including, specifically, Microsoft Office. Social media savvy would be a big positive.

Complete fluency in written and spoken English – some French could be useful, but not a deal breaker.

A full UK driving licence and vehicle to manage the hybrid “working from home” and meetings at the North Yorkshire office is essential due to our remote location. There would likely be some occasional travel to France and other yachting “hot spots”.

For the right candidate, there will be a competitive remuneration package and opportunities for growth and professional development.

Where you’ll work

Chestnut House

Main Street

Kirby Misperton

Malton

YO17 6XL

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

YORK COLLEGE

Your training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Equal to A level

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.

Your training plan

You will attend York College on day release each week during term time

More training information

During their time in College, apprentices will work towards developing their knowledge, skills and behaviours, and at work will consolidate their on-programme learning with the support of their employer. An assessor will visit every 8-10 weeks to discuss and monitor progress on the apprenticeship in conjunction with the employer. Continual assessment will take place throughout the duration of the apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2 other subjects (grade 4)
English (grade 4)
maths (grade 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Patience
Basic French or keen to learn

Other requirements

For practical purposes the candidate should be within easy commuting distance to the office as there is very limited public transport available. Some remote working is envisaged. Although our operations are in France and Europe, the FWW Head Office is based in North Yorkshire. The role will be a mix of remote working and office-based. Initial training will be at the company HQ and then regular (once / twice per week) meetings at HQ, likely more during peak season. FWW is not looking to support a relocation. After you submit your application, look out for an email from apprenticeships@yorkcollege.ac.uk Check your spam folder, too. You must reply, otherwise your application will be rejected.

About this company

FWW is a specialist Wine & Spirit supplier to the superyacht industry in the Mediterranean. Now in our 16th year, FWW is also a WSET Approved Programme Provider, offering WSET Level 1 & 2 to mostly, but not exclusively, crew and others involved in the yachting sector in France, Spain and elsewhere in Europe as required. The WSET Wine qualifications are considered a “must have” on crew cv’s as yacht owners, management companies and brokers demand and expect very high standards from their personnel. FWW holds some stocks of wines in France for distribution and delivery in all of the major yachting ports in the Med. For wine supply, FWW mostly works using a very bespoke, tailor-made wine sourcing approach – finding the wines these HNW individuals (superyacht owners, charter guests and private clients) actually want, rather than making them take only what’s in stock!

https://www.finewineworks.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Full time position available at the end of the training / apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

YORK COLLEGE

Apprenticeships

apprenticeships@yorkcollege.ac.uk

01904 770456

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000298681.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Wednesday 5 March at 11:59pm)

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