Operations and Compliance Apprentice

Summary

Gain practical experience supporting business operations while building skills in organisation, communication, and problem-solving. A great opportunity to earn, learn, and progress in your career with a nationally recognised qualification.

Wage

£20,635 a year

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Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Hours

Monday-Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm (with 30 minutes lunch break)

32 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 16 June 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

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

Operations:

To support the Director of Operations on a day-to-day basis in providing timely and effective operational support to schools
To assist the Director of Operations in securing best value for schools and the trust through effective procurement of goods and services
To support the Director of Operations in the delivery of key trust-wide initiatives, including capital projects

Compliance:

To regularly check that the trust and school websites comply with statutory requirements, and to support the trust/schools to address any issues identified
To support the process of self-evaluation and compliance activities and carry out internal compliance checks to ensure that academies are working to trust policies, procedures and practices
To support schools to be compliant with relevant health and safety requirements and to respond effectively to matters raised in regular health and safety audits
To support schools in ensuring that all staff access appropriate training and that this is appropriately recorded through the trust’s systems
To produce reports and data for trust leaders and directors demonstrating that trust/statutory expectations are being met

Safeguarding:

To make regular checks on schools’ records of safeguarding training, to ensure that training is up-to-date and meets statutory requirements
To carry out internal compliance checks to ensure that academies are working to trust policies, procedures and practices
To regularly check that schools’ single central records are up to date and compliant with latest statutory requirements

Administration:

To support the smooth running of the main office by ensuring that stock/stationery supplies are maintained
To ensure that all schools have appropriate access to the portals, sites, and systems used by the trust
To provide support for trust responses to any subject access requests (SARs) and/or freedom of information requests (FOIs) that the trust/schools may receive
To carry out general administrative tasks when required to by the CEO and/or members of the executive team

Because it will be occasionally necessary for the postholder to visit schools within the trust, a current, clean driving license is required for this role. Mileage expenses will be reimbursed in line with trust policy.

Where you’ll work

The Heath Business & Technical Park
Runcorn
WA7 4QX

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

TRAIN TOGETHER LIMITED

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

Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
Training will take place in the workplace and will be delivered weekly

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Mathematics (grade 5)

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
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

This is a new and unique role in a growing multi academy trust of 22 primary schools, with further schools currently in the process of joining us. Our trust has schools in a diverse range of areas covering seven local authority areas across Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

About this company

CDAT is a multi academy trust established to support primary schools. There are presently 22 schools within the trust. The services provided to schools include legal, human resources, estates, health and safety, and data protection. We also have a school improvement team and a finance team.

http://www.cdat.co.uk (opens in new tab)

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

There are range of career opportunities. With our Trust there are roles both within the Trust central team - supporting all of our schools - but there are also roles in our 22 schools to support business, finance, and administraion. There are wider opportunities across education and the public sector generally

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CHESTER DIOCESE ACADEMIES TRUST

Chris Williams

chris.williams@cdat.co.uk

01928245500

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000315312.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Friday 2 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

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