Business administrators have a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied in all sectors, including small and large in the public, private and charitable sector.
Their role is to support and engage with different parts of the organisation and interact with internal or external customers and add value by contributing to the efficiency of the business by supporting functional areas, working across teams and resolving issues as requested.
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, and the flexibility and responsiveness required allows the apprentice to develop a wide range of skills.
Business administrators are expected to show a positive attitude and deliver their responsibilities efficiently and with integrity. The role involves demonstrating strong communication skills (both written and verbal) and adopting a proactive approach to developing skills, and they are also expected to show initiative, manage priorities and their own time, demonstrate problem-solving and decision-making skills and the potential for people management responsibilities through mentoring coaching others.
The selection process will include a basic Initial Assessment and an interview during which suitability, commitment and interest for the programme will be determined.
The apprenticeship provides a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours, which can be gained working across an organisation and its processes and provides a firm grounding in organisational operations and functional processes, as well as the wider working environment.
Apprentices will develop knowledge of:
Apprentices will develop 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 e.g. 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 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.
Decision making: 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.
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, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
Communication: 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 themselves to continuously improve their work. Reviews 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
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 (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.
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.
Apprentices will demonstrate the following behaviors:
Professionalism: Behaves in a professional way, including 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
Throughout the programme the apprentice will receive expert training from highly qualified staff A qualified assessor will provide an induction and regular workplace assessments
The administration role may be a gateway to further career opportunities, such as management or senior support roles.
