Business Administrator Apprenticeship – Level 3

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB

About the job

Job summary

The Met Office is delighted to open our advertising for a number of apprenticeships, which will commence in September 2025.

We’re looking for two exceptional Business Administrator Apprentices to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Business Administrator Apprentice, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.

Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we’ll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

Whilst this is a temporary position for up to 22 months, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position on successful completion of your apprenticeship.

Job description

World of Work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

• We’re a force for good – focusing on our environmental and social impact
• We’re experts by nature – always learning and developing to do things better
• We live and breathe it – putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
• We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
• We keep evolving – pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Your world of expertise

This apprenticeship can offer you the support, training and industry recognised qualifications to get you on the path to a career in Business Administration.

You will provide complex administrative support to staff within the Programmes Directorate, to ensure effective service provision, management of information, activity monitoring and the effective development and use of resources and tools.

Your key duties:

We would look for you to join us in September 2025 with your apprenticeship training beginning shortly afterwards. You would have one day per week dedicated to your 20% off the job training, with your provider, Exeter College. The training will be delivered predominantly face-to-face, as well as through self-study. Before applying, we recommend you consider if the delivery method suits your learner needs along with whether you feel you are committed to your own development and training as this element forms a significant aspect of a modern apprenticeship.

You will be managed by a line manager and have a mentor to offer further support. In addition to the formal training with a registered training provider, you will also have in house and on the job training.

You will have the opportunity to work with a central support team, allowing you to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in this occupation whilst contributing to Met Office aims.

In this role you will:

• Collate and maintain accurate data and records on management information including resources, performance, risk and progress against agreed plans, supporting effective management decision making.
• Provide defined clerical and administrative support (such as organising meetings, taking minutes and chasing actions) to support management.
• Monitor and analyse management information and proactively identify emerging issues and variances, to mitigate risk impact and maximise business opportunities.
• Make recommendations for, and lead on, improvements and changes to administrative working practices to enhance service delivery and reduce risk, both locally and through cross-office initiatives.
• Update, coordinate and issue directorate and group level communications, such as responding to correspondence, maintaining and developing internal communication channels and compiling reports, to ensure staff across the organisation are effectively informed.
• Assist with the planning, organisation and delivery of high-profile events and conferences to ensure they run effectively within the resources allocated.
• Develop excellent working relationships with colleagues and external customers, underpinning smooth and efficient service delivery and increased growth.

Person specification

1. Better together – Communication: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively in writing (e.g., emails, minute taking presenting consolidated information), over the phone and in person, with a wide range of people.
2. Force for good – Professionalism: (i) Behaves in a polite and professional manner – includes personal presentation, punctuality and attitude to colleagues, customers and key stakeholders; (ii) High standards of accuracy and customer care; (iii) Able to understand and follow instructions.
3. Expert by nature – Organisation: (i) Excellent organisational skills; (ii) Manage complex administrative tasks with competing workloads, understand how to prioritise, and deliver to deadlines and in full; (iii) Able to file, retrieve, sort and complete documents accurately.
4. Expert by nature – IT: (i) Experience in using Microsoft 365 tools, such as Microsoft Word and Excel; (ii) Able to accurately enter/retrieve data from information systems; (iii) Demonstrable ability to apply tools to improve the efficiency of administrative tasks.
5. Keep evolving – Independent working: (i) Ability to work independently on tasks, making sound decisions based on knowledge and expertise; (ii) Resourceful and able to use initiative.
6. Live and breathe it – Motivated: (i) Strong desire to learn and support colleagues, contributing to the high-quality work of the Met Office; (ii) Passion and dedication to the values and purpose of the Met Office.

Am I eligible to apply?

In addition to the criteria listed above, you must also be eligible to qualify for apprenticeship funding by meeting the following:

• Not be enrolled on another funded apprenticeship or another funded further education or higher education programme at the time you start this apprenticeship.
• Are applying for an apprenticeship that is unrelated to any qualifications you already hold at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship.
• Are living in England at the time the apprenticeship commences

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £21,375, Met Office contributes £6,192 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.

As our Business Administrator Apprentice, your starting salary will be £21,375 and you will have the opportunity to progress to £22,096 over time.

Your total reward package is potentially worth up to £30,673 annually, which includes basic salary, potential corporate bonus and employer pension contributions.

We also offer:

• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave
• Access to discounted shopping, inclusive of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : careers@metoffice.gov.uk
• Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk

Further information

careers@metoffice.gov.uk

https://careers.metoffice.gov.uk/early-careers/apprenticeships

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