HR Apprentice

Key Responsibilities

(i) Provide a high level of administrative support including:

Responding to telephone, email and in-person enquiries and passing the query onto the appropriate College member(s) as necessary. Maintaining and updating employee records on the College’s HR/Payroll system including setting up new joiners and processing leavers. Providing a ‘helpdesk’ service for the College’s HR/Payroll system including issuing system log on details and resetting passwords. Creating and maintaining paper and electronic personnel files in accordance with legislation and best practice. Administering and preparing paperwork associated with new starters, contract variations and leavers including drafting letters, contracts, and emails. Providing reference letters for former employees. Scanning, filing and archiving HR files as appropriate and in accordance with data protection regulations to ensure GDPR compliance.

(ii) Support recruitment activity including:

Placing advertisements. Processing applications and logging equal opportunities forms. Benchmarking against recruitment advertisements placed elsewhere. Scheduling interviews. Completing post-offer tasks such as requesting references, conducting right to work checks, administering DBS checks, issuing health forms (as required), and coordinating employee inductions.

(iii) Support with learning and development activity including:

Supporting with the organisation of learning and development courses including booking rooms, coordinating with providers and arranging equipment. Supporting with the administration of eLearning activities, including assisting with access to courses, and creating and maintaining records on the eLearning system.

(iv) Other:

Providing and promoting HR service excellence, and fostering excellent teamwork and working relationships. Communicating sensitively with a wide range of people including staff, Fellows and students. Ordering flowers as required. Ordering stationary for the HR department as required. Undertaking other ad hoc/project work as directed by the Head of HR. Proactively reviewing the HR department’s administrative practices, suggesting and implementing improvements as necessary. Acting as minute-taker for the Staff Liaison Meeting and for other meetings, as required.

You don't need any experience as we can teach you everything. If you have a desire to start a career in HR, and are willing to learn, we would love to meet you. Alongside your training, you will take on a full-time role in Christ’s College’s HR team, working alongside and under the direction of the Head of HR.

Training:

20% off the job training (minimum 6 hours per week). Off the job training includes, but is not limited, to attending Cambridge Regional College.

You will attend Cambridge Regional College once a month on a Thursday, c.9.30am-3.30pm between September to December 2025 (3-4 sessions). This sessions will include an induction, and the set-up of the HR course and access to digital learning tools & resources. From January 2026, you will attend Cambridge Regional College every fortnight on a Thursday.

What your apprenticeship includes:

A mixture of on and off the job training. Regular reviews with your mentor and HR Cambridge Regional College Assessor. Feedback sessions to discuss your progress. A work-based project. HR Support (L3) Apprenticeship Standard.

The apprenticeship delivery model will be a blend of day release to Cambridge Regional College/online attendance, e-portfolio resources and regular assessor visits.

Units that will be covered as part of your qualification:

Business, Culture, and Change in Context Principles of Analytics, Core Behaviours for People Professionals Essentials of People Practice

Training Outcome:

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, further opportunities may be available to you within the College.

The experience and skills gained should prepare you for future progression within the field of HR.

Employer Description:
The University of Cambridge is composed of 31 Colleges in addition to the academic departments and administration of the central University. Cambridge's Colleges are communities of students, academics and staff. Cambridge Colleges provide most of the accommodation for undergraduates and postgraduates at the University. At the undergraduate level they have responsibility for admitting students to the university, providing pastoral support, and organising elements of their tuition. For postgraduate students, research is conducted almost entirely centrally in the faculties, departments and other university-affiliated research centres, though the Colleges provide a central social and intellectual hub for students. Colleges provide a range of facilities and services to their members in addition to accommodation, including catering, library facilities, extracurricular societies, and sporting teams. Colleges also provide funding, accommodation, or both, for some of the academic posts in the university, with the majority of Cambridge academics being a Fellow of a College in addition to their Faculty/Departmental role. Fellows may therefore hold College positions in addition to their academic posts at the University. Colleges are self-governed charities in their own right, with their own endowments and possessions. Christ’s is classified as one of the 16 ‘older’ Cambridge Colleges as it was founded before 1596. Christ’s College is a self-governing academic community; founded in 1505, we are a charity which promotes education and research. We aim to attract the best students, Fellows, and staff, and to give them a secure and supportive environment in which to thrive.

Working Hours :
Monday to Friday, hours to be agreed.

Skills:
Communication skills,IT skills,Attention to detail,Organisation skills,Customer care skills,Presentation skills,Administrative skills,Team working,Initiative,Non judgemental,Patience