Business Administrator

Overview of the Role

Business administrators have a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied in all sectors. This includes small and large businesses alike; from the public sector, private sector and charitable sector. 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.

The responsibilities of the role are to support and engage with different parts of the organisation and interact with internal or external customers. With a focus on adding value, the role of business administrator contributes to the efficiency of an organisation, through support of functional areas, working across teams and resolving issues as requested. The flexibility and responsiveness required allows the apprentice to develop a wide range of skills.

The business administrator is expected to deliver their responsibilities efficiently and with integrity – showing a positive attitude. The role involves demonstrating strong communication skills (both written and verbal) and adopting a proactive approach to developing skills. The business administrator is also expected to show initiative, managing priorities and own time, problem-solving skills, decision-making and the potential for people management responsibilities through mentoring or coaching others.

Details of the Standard

The apprenticeship is broken up into distinct phases:

• The sign-up, which includes an assessment of maths and English, and an agreement between us, the apprentice and the employer, regarding the training plan.
• The practical period, which is the bulk of the apprenticeship. This is where the apprentice completes their required off-job-training according to the agreed training plan.
• The gateway. At the end of the practical period, the employer, training provider and apprentice meet to discuss the next, and final stage, the End Point Assessment (EPA). At the Gateway meeting, we ensure that the apprentice is ready to undertake the EPA.
• The End Point Assessment (EPA) is the last stage of the apprenticeship. The apprentice will undertake a series of independent assessments, which may include multiple choice questions, a professional discussion and/or a practical test. Successfully completing this step results in achieving the apprenticeship!

Duration

This apprenticeship is based on an 18-month practical period, although this may be amended based on prior experience and recognised qualifications. The minimum duration is 12-months.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements are largely dependent on the vacancy notice set out by the employer - please read the job advert that relates to the role you are considering.

English and maths

Where a business administrator has not already achieved Level 2 English and Maths, they must do so before taking the end-point assessment.

Curriculum, delivery and readiness for End-Point-Assessment

The content delivery will be agreed between the apprentice, employer and training provider and is based upon prior knowledge and qualifications. This agreement forms the individualised Training Plan, detailing how the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the apprenticeship Standard will be met.

Key responsibilities include developing, implementing, maintaining and improving administrative services. In doing so, the apprentice is expected to work independently and take responsibility for the outcomes of their work, with support of the employer and the training provider. Through working across functional areas, apprentices build team relationships quickly and learn from others to develop specific skill sets. The need to communicate and represent the apprentice’s work clearly is reflected in the assessment methods of End Point Assessment (EPA).

Summary End-Point-Assessment

The EPA has three elements, which must all be successfully completed to achieve the apprenticeship. These are:

• Multiple-choice knowledge test.
• Portfolio-based interview, which lasts for 30-45 minutes.
• Project presentation based on a project that you have completed, or a process you have improved. The presentation lasts around 10-15 minutes, with a further 10-15 minutes for Q&A.

Progression

The administration role may be a gateway to further career opportunities, such as management or senior support roles.