Business Administrator Apprenticeship

Business administrators have a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied to small and large businesses in a range of sectors.  The role may involve working independently or as part of a team, developing, implementing, maintaining and improving administrative services.

This Business Administrator Advanced Apprenticeship is suitable for you whether you want to start your career or develop your existing skills. The apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to learn advanced business skills such as planning and organising events, designing and producing business literature and managing projects, with greater responsibility and confidence.

Business administration is an important support role within any business or organisation and, with more experience, is an excellent starting point to progress on to team leading and management roles.

View our apprenticeship vacancies

Administrators handle the day-to-day tasks in an office and make sure things run smoothly. This sort of work requires a strong sense of responsibility, accuracy and attention to detail.

As a business administrator advanced apprentice, your exact duties will depend on your employer but could include how to:

• Manage personal performance and development
• Communicate in a business environment
• Design and produce business documents
• Plan and organise meetings
• Create proposals
• Perform financial processes
• Record and analyse data
• Maintain records and files
• Handle confidential information in compliance with the organisation’s procedures

There are three main Business Administration orientated categories to this apprenticeship – Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours. More detailed information can be found on the apprenticeship standard website (new window).

As an apprentice, you can expect to undertake work-based learning with an employer and be paid a wage.

You will attend college once a month to ensure you receive the support you need to succeed. The rest of the training will take place in the workplace with in-house training provided by the employer.  You will be assigned an assessor who will help guide you through the entire apprenticeship.

City College Southampton provides a fantastic learning environment where you can learn everything you need to begin or enhance your career in business administration.  We have industry expert tutors who will be on hand to teach and guide you through and answer any questions you may have.

Candidates will typically have at least 5 GCSEs at grades 4/C or above including English and maths.  You will need to provide evidence of this prior to starting your apprenticeship.  Under exceptional circumstances, candidates who haven’t quite achieved these grades in English and/or Maths may be considered after an assessment, interview and agreement to achieve this level prior to taking their End Point Assessment (EPA).

To start an apprenticeship you will need an employer who is willing to take you on as an apprentice. If you already have an employer please contact us. If you don't have an employer already, view our current apprenticeship vacancies.

You will be required to attend a College interview prior to enrolling onto an apprenticeship.

You must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

The business administrator apprenticeship can be a pathway to further career opportunities, such as roles in Marketing and HR or Leadership and Management.

You could progress to Level 4 or level 5 qualifications if your role is applicable. You could also potentially complete a team-leading qualification, dependent on your future role in the workplace. 

Information for Employers

Off-the-job training

Each apprenticeship must include 20% off-the-job training which amounts to 20% of the apprentice’s contracted employment hours across the whole apprenticeship.  Off-the-job training is any learning undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of the apprenticeship.  Examples of this would be shadowing colleagues, attending supplier meetings, taking external courses, etc.

End Point Assessment

Each apprentice will need to undertake an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their apprenticeship.  It measures the skills, knowledge and behaviours each apprentice has developed.  

An apprentice can only take this assessment once all other aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed.  An apprentice needs to be completely ready to take this assessment and the employer and assessor will decide when the time is right.  A declaration will be signed by both the employer, apprentice and assessor.  If the apprentice fails the assessment, then there will be a re-sit charge, which is generally paid by the employer.

The EPA consists of:

1) Knowledge test - a 60 question, 50 minute multiple choice on-line exam covering the syllabus that has been taught in the weekly lessons (this is held on a different date to  parts 2 & 3);

2) Portfolio interview - 25 of the best pages from the portfolio of work are selected by the apprentice and assessor to be uploaded to the City and Guilds (C&G) portal 2 weeks before the EPA date.  The apprentice is allowed their portfolio with them and will be asked questions by a C&G assessor for up to 45 minutes (via a video meeting rather than in person);

3) Project presentation - during the year the apprentice is required to lead a project.  A 2,000-5,000 word report is completed on the project and uploaded to the C&G portal 2 weeks before the EPA date.  The apprentice then gives a 10-15 minute presentation about their project using PowerPoint or Prezzi which is followed by 10-15 minutes of questions from the C&G assessor.  The presentation follows the Portfolio interview after a short break of about 10 minutes.