Business Admin Apprenticeships at Home Office

The role of a Business Admin Apprentice will provide the right person with an interesting insight on how different parts of the Home Office are led, as well as to see, and be involved in the progression of important processes and projects. You will contribute towards the effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation, by supporting your team with administrative tasks and helping to resolve problems.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Arranging meetings and events, booking travel / accommodation, organising agendas / schedules and taking notes
• Developing a good understanding of your teams work to enable you to provide effective support, including undertaking research, gathering and sharing information
• Supporting with team communications such as sending out updates / newsletters and collating information
• Diary Management on behalf of the Senior Team including organising and prioritising meetings, identifying and resolving clashes proactively/using MS outlook or similar tools
• Inbox Management on behalf of the Senior Team including organising and prioritising urgent emails, filtering out irrelevant emails, forwarding emails and progressing / delegating work on their behalf
• Handling data and records, including gathering and inputting information/use of Excel and similar IT tools
• Project Management duties such as tracking progress, providing updates and logging issues / risks
• Supporting with the recruitment process and induction for new starters
• Business management tasks including payments of invoices, monitoring budgets and workforce numbers
• Assisting with drafting internal, public and ministerial communications
• Handling phone calls from internal and external customers; and
• Responding to Freedom of Information and Data Protection Act requests.

You may be required to carry out other duties within the scope of the role.

Due to the large development component, these roles are not suitable for part-time, remote or job share working. Other flexible working requests will be considered in line with Home Office policy.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

We are looking for engaged, enthusiastic and ambitious people with the potential to develop and progress. We are not looking for specific qualifications; but it is essential we want people who:

• Display proactivity, and use their initiative by offering creative suggestions / solutions to issues and problems;
• Have the drive and motivation to develop themselves with the ability and willingness to learn and improve;
• Work well as part of a team and with a wide range of people;
• Are able to organise themselves and prioritise tasks, whilst maintaining good attention to detail;
• Adapt effectively to changing priorities and persevere in challenging situations;
• Are able to communicate effectively in a variety of situations both written and verbally;
• Work well independently, taking ownership of their work and asking for help when required.

To successfully complete this Apprenticeship, candidates will need a GCSE grade 'C' or above in Maths and English, or the equivalent, such as key skills or functional skills. If you do not or are unable to provide evidence of this (e.g. certificate), then you will be required to complete Level 2 functional skills during the Apprenticeship programme with support.

This Apprenticeship is typically delivered over 15 months, but completion will depend on your prior knowledge / experience. The Apprenticeship is a Level 3 programme, which is equivalent to A level and includes achievement of the Pearson BTEC Award in Business Administration Level 4 qualification. On completion, you may choose to progress to a higher/degree level Apprenticeship or continue to develop your skills in the workplace.

There are several Business Admin roles available that support different parts of the Home Office, such as Borders and Immigration Policy, Strategy, Private Office and Capabilities and Resources.

Roles will be allocated in merit order in London or Croydon based on suitability and business need.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for this Apprenticeship, applicants must:

- Be over the age of 16 on the closing date for applications;
- Have a valid passport / birth certificate / residence permit and NI Number;
- Must not hold a similar degree or qualification in Business Admin;
- Must not be undertaking another Apprenticeship at the same time.

Benefits:

• Competitive leave allowance
• Market leading pension scheme
• A range of benefits focusing on health and wellbeing
• An extensive training and development plan for this role

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Strengths, Ability and Experience.

The application process is comprised of five parts and you must pass all stages in order to progress:

1. Applicants will be asked to confirm they meet the eligibility requirements of this scheme by providing some basic personal information.
2. Those who meet the requirements will be invited to sit a Verbal Reasoning Test.
3. Those who pass the Verbal Reasoning Test will be invited to sit a Situational Judgment test.
4. Those who pass the Situational Judgment Test will be invited to complete a Personal Statement (500 words - details below).
5. Those who meet the required standard will be shortlisted for an interview which will focus on your strengths based on the essential criteria.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Verbal Reasoning, and Civil Service Judgement test . If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 3rd May 2020. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

Candidates who pass the tests will then have until 23:55 on 3rd May 2020 to submit their additional information.

For your personal statement, please answer the below questions using the essential criteria (no more than 500 words). Your answers do not need to be work or study related.

1. Tell us what skills and strengths you could bring to this role?
2. Tell us about your aspirations / goals?

Personal statements will be assessed at sift stage.
Interviews will consist of strength based questions.

Sift and interviews will take place in May.

Due to the current Covid19 situation video interviews will be held. If invited to interview further details will be provided.

Please note, this is a joint campaign, therefore there is a second advert, reference 49426. They are identical roles; however, they require different levels of security clearance. Please check the advert and candidate notes for more detail. You will only be invited to one interview if you are successful at sift in both vacancies.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at the Home Office. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office (HO) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
  
  
• Complete the "Assistance Required" section in the "Additional Requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply here.