Business Support Officer Apprentice

Summary

Working alongside the Business Manager, Nursery Manager and Directors to support the efficient business & financial administration of South Leeds CIC and Churwell CIC and the associated nurseries and out of school settings with the focus on South Leeds CIC.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Hourly rate reviewed after successful completion of 3 month probation period.

Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Hours

Exact working hours TBC at interview stage. Monday to Friday. No weekend or evening working.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 December 2026

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

Take lead role in supporting and promoting the use of the Employment Hero HR system by the nursery management team to improve access to HR information, automate management processes and reduce the use of paper. Prepare and send HR documents such as job contracts and variations to contracts.  Assist with payroll tasks as required.

To support the Nursery Manager with implementing HR policy and procedures – Recruitment & Retention policy, Attendance & Leave policy, Health & Wellbeing Plans and Managing Performance Policy. Keep knowledge up to date on changes to employment rights and feed into policy reviews.

To support the Nursery Manager with staff recruitment such as posting adverts, arranging interviews and requesting references. Act as notetaker or interviewer as required.

To support the Nursery Manager in organising training events such as Paediatric First Aid using information in Hero HR to plan ahead for core training requirements.

To support senior team in using FAMLY to make the most of the features. Add new staff users and support with initial overview training. Act as main contact point with FAMLY for resolving issues.

To take the lead on managing business processes such as insurance renewals, energy contracts, registrations and licensing for South Leeds CIC premises advising the Business & Financial Director on actions to take.

To support the process for apprentice funding through the online Apprenticeship Service as required.

To support the Nursery Manager in managing public and social media presence ensuring confidentiality and safeguarding are integral in any posts while promoting our services to parents and the community.

Support the efficient use of IT systems and hardware and follow up with Admin Officer for local issues such as general maintenance & updating and troubleshooting when issues occur.

To be responsible for accurate recording of income and expenditure for South Leeds CIC. Use Xero to record and evidence any expenditure made by debit card and upload invoices to Xero for bank payment. Use Xero to record all income received.

To be responsible for the preparation of parental contracts and booking confirmations for new bookings and issue through FAMLY. Issue change to contract notifications when bookings change as notified from the Admin Offer through Comms. Assist Business & Finance Director with the annual review of fees and issue notifications as required.

To be responsible for invoicing parents for childcare fees and recording payments received including issue of receipts to parents through FAMLY automated processes. Add nursery fees invoices and payments made to Xero. Chase up outstanding fees with reminders to parents. Support Business & Finance Director with debt recovery processes.

Support the Admin Officer to maintain local records of petty cash spend and room budgets. Support Nursery Manager with quality control of local records and end of month reconciliations of cash held on site. Transfer summary of petty cash spend into Xero at regular intervals.

To be aware of information and records that are required to be kept for Ofsted purposes, for the EYFS Framework and for making claims to the local authority for Free Early Education Entitlement and to ensure these are up to date and complete and available for inspection if required.

Support the nursery team in using Office 365 to ensure records are up to date and correctly filed.

To be aware of GDPR principles and online safety and to put these into practice.

To be aware of the Safeguarding Policy and procedures to keep children safe. To untake regular safeguarding training as required for people working in premises where children are present.

Where you'll work

QUARRY COURT
HIGH STREET
MORLEY
LEEDS
LS27 0BY

Training

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

Training provider

LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP

Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

What you'll learn

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.

Training schedule

This is a full-time role working between 30-40 hours per week whilst attending 2 days off-site training at Printworks Campus per month.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Administrative skills
• Team working

Other requirements

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.