Business Support Apprentice
Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Salary: £18,900 per annum (rising incrementally every 12 months during the Apprenticeship)
Hours: Full time, 37 hours
Contract Type: Fixed-Term Apprenticeship, 24 months
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
Closing Date: Sunday, 17th August 2025
Start Date: w/c 6th October
Interview Date: 2nd and 3rd September, Polaris House, Swindon
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have a number of interesting, diverse and challenging Business Support Apprenticeship roles to be based within our Delivery Support and Administrative Support Teams.
As a member of these teams, your role will be to provide support with the following:
- High quality administrative support to one or more teams in our office in Swindon, using meeting scheduling systems and processes, document management structures, and internal standard operating procedures
- Support and help to deliver our process of peer review using our computer systems
- Funding Opportunity support, including webinars and answering queries
- Information monitoring and collation of reporting materials, briefings and document management
- Corporate projects/activities as required
About EPSRC
EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. We invest over £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects from mathematics to materials science and from information technology to structural engineering. EPSRC is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the largest public sector funder of research and innovation, with an annual budget of over £8bn and including 7 research councils. You can find out more about UKRI via: https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/about-uk-research-and-innovation/our-organisation/
About an Apprenticeship at UKRI
With training and support from experts in their fields, you’ll relish the opportunity to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours whilst making a real difference in your role. If working with innovative technologies on world-leading research isn’t enough, you will be able to develop both professionally and as a critical member of the team in an environment you won’t find anywhere else.
We 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, with access to a dedicated UKRI Early Careers Network. UKRI offers the following:
- A benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays and an exceptional pension scheme
- Cycle-2-work scheme
- Discount vouchers for high street stores and attractions
A full list of our benefits can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/
About the Roles
The broad purpose of the roles are to provide administrative support to one or more teams in our office in Swindon. The roles will be wide-ranging and include opportunities for providing administrative support within the post holder’s respective team. You will work closely with other business support colleagues as well as wider team members in a supportive and collaborative environment to contribute to team objectives, where development and continuous improvement is encouraged and supported.
Your role will involve building and managing relationships with senior colleagues, arranging and supporting meetings and playing a key role in the delivery of the peer review process. You will deliver effective support that underpins the delivery teams and supports our wider objectives by ensuring that operations are carried out in an efficient and effective manner in a way that maximises benefit to the whole organisation.
Examples of activities you may undertake include:
- Diary support for the Head of Team.
- Meeting scheduling and support.
- Arrangement and support for virtual meetings, such as video conferencing or teleconferencing.
- Organisation of meetings including preparation of agendas and note-taking.
- Providing support at our events, internal and external.
- Travel and accommodation booking.
- Travel and expense claim processing.
- Contribute to updating best practices, being mindful of continuous improvement.
- Setting up and maintaining purchase orders.
- Supporting the team to deliver peer review and grant award processes.
- Support corporate projects as required.
What you will learn
You will undertake professional development and training as part of a cohort of apprentices. We are offering two routes for this apprenticeship:
- Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship (3 roles)
Level 3 Business Administrator apprentices will complete their apprenticeship with New College Swindon, over 18-21 months. The first 15-18 months are the ‘practical period’ where you will learn through a combination of on-and-off-the-job training with New College Swindon and EPSRC to develop and implement the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours. Candidates will be required to attend New College Swindon 1 day per week during the practical period for facilitated workshops.
In the final 3 months of your programme you will undertake and lead on a work-based improvement project, deliver a presentation on this project, undertake a Knowledge Test and a professional discussion underpinned by a work-based portfolio as part of the End Point Assessment.
- Level 3 Data Technician (2 roles)
Level 3 Data Technician apprentices will complete their apprenticeship with Babington Business College over 17 months . The first 14 months are the ‘practical period’ where you will learn through a combination of on-and-off-the job training with Babington Business College and EPSRC to develop and implement the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours. Candidates will attend a combination of virtual workshops and online learning/coaching/mentoring sessions during the practical period.
In the final 3 months of our programme you will undertake two scenario-based demonstrations in addition to a professional discussion, underpinned by a work-based portfolio as part of the End Point Assessment.
If you have a preference, please indicate this within your Covering Letter. Applicants will be matched to the most suitable department and relevant apprenticeship pathway following the shortlisting and interview process based on their competencies across the role criteria detailed below:
Person Specification (Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and any special requirements)
To apply for this apprenticeship, your CV and/or Cover letter will need to demonstrate that you meet the following criteria. Where indicated, this detail will be assessed at shortlisting (S), interview (I) or both (S&I).
Shortlisting Criteria (S) Interview Criteria (I) or both (S&I)
Essential:
- Achieved, or predicted to achieve by August 2025, 2 GCSE passes at Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent qualification). (S)
- Excellent written communication skills as evidenced through your Covering Letter and CV. (S)
- Excellent planning, organisational and time management skills. (S&I)
- Ability to work as a proactive team member, using your initiative to deal with problems and overcome challenges in order to deliver the team’s activities. (S&I)
- Ability to manage change and work in an adaptable and flexible manner. (S&I)
- Ability to establish and manage wider working relationships with colleagues at all levels. (I)
- Ability to work at pace in a dynamic environment, reprioritising tasks as appropriate. (I)
- Effective verbal communication skills. (I)
- A sound knowledge of Microsoft packages, editing and document presentation skills. (S)
Desirable
- A demonstrable interest in the work of EPSRC and UKRI. (S&I)
- Experience of inbox and diary support. (S)
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the stated closing date; therefore, we strongly encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Apprenticeship Core Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to be considered for the apprenticeship programme, you must:
- Have evidence of Maths and English GCSE at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent i.e. Level 2 Functional Skills) or be predicted to achieve these in August 2025
- Have lived in the UK and/or EU for 3 consecutive years prior to the apprentice start date
- Confirm that this apprenticeship offers substantive new skills and knowledge and that you have not already achieved an equivalent or higher-level qualification in a similar or related subject
As part of our shortlisting process, we may be required to determine your eligibility to undertake the programme based on the information provided within your application. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider. The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process.
