Entry requirements
Individual employers may set any entry requirements but these may typically include:
- Be aged 16+ at the time of enrolment
- Be a UK or European Economic Area (EEA), or have lived in the UK or EEA for the past three consecutive years
- Not already be in full-time education at the point of enrolment
- Not already hold a qualification at the same level or above in the same area that you wish to study
- Apprentices without level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths or an equivalent certificate will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end point assessment.
What apprentices will learn?
This apprenticeship aims to:
Focus on the study of business administration within any sector or industry
Provide further knowledge for those working in business administration.
The objectives of this apprenticeship are to enable learners to:
Plan and organise work, review processes and make suggestions for improvements to working practices
Understand own organisation and the legal framework in which it operates
Communicate effectively in a business environment
Resolve business problems using effective decision making
Demonstrate IT skills for business
Scope, plan, manage and evaluate a project
Manage own personal and professional development.
A Business Administrator Apprentice requires development of the following professional behaviours, skills and knowledge:
KNOWLEDGE
The organisation – Understands organisational purpose, activities, aims, values, vision for the future, resources and the way that the political/economic environment affects the organisation.
Value of their skills – Knows organisational structure and demonstrates understanding of how their work benefits the organisation. Knows how they fit within their team and recognises how their skills can help them to progress their career.
Stakeholders – Has a practical knowledge of managing stakeholders and their differing relationships to an organisation. This includes internal and external customers, clients and/or suppliers. Liaises with internal/external customers, suppliers or stakeholders from inside or outside the UK. Engages and fosters relationships with suppliers and partner organisations.
Relevant regulation – Understands laws and regulations that apply to their role including data protection, health & safety, compliance etc. Supports the company in applying the regulations.
Policies – Understands the organisation’s internal policies and key business policies relating to sector.
Business fundamentals – Understands the applicability of business principles such as managing change, business finances and project management.
Processes – Understands the organisation’s processes, e.g. making payments or processing customer data. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Applying a solutions-based approach to improve business processes and helping define procedures. Understands how to administer billing, process invoices and purchase orders.
External environment factors – Understands relevant external factors e.g. market forces, policy & regulatory changes, supply chain etc. and the wider business impact). Where necessary understands the international/global market in which the employing organisation is placed.
YOUR SKILLS
IT – 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.
Record and document production – 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.
Decision making – 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.
Interpersonal skills – 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.
Communications – 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.
Quality – 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.
Planning and organisation – 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.
Project management – 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.
BEHAVIOURS
Professionalism – Behaves in a professional way. This includes: personal presentation, respect, respecting and encouraging diversity to cater for wider audiences, punctuality and attitude to colleagues, customers and key stakeholders. Adheres to the organisation’s code of conduct for professional use of social media. Acts as a role model, contributing to team cohesion and productivity – representing the positive aspects of team culture and respectfully challenging inappropriate prevailing cultures.
Personal qualities – Shows exemplary qualities that are valued including integrity, reliability, self-motivation, being pro-active and a positive attitude. Motivates others where responsibility is shared.
Managing performance – Takes responsibility for their own work, accepts feedback in a positive way, uses initiative and shows resilience. Also takes responsibility for their own development, knows when to ask questions to complete a task and informs their line manager when a task is complete. Performs thorough self-assessments of their work and complies with the organisation’s procedures.
Adaptability – Is able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation.
Responsibility – Demonstrates taking responsibility for team performance and quality of projects delivered. Takes a clear interest in seeing that projects are successfully completed and customer requests handled appropriately. Takes initiative to develop own and others’ skills and behaviours.
Content Structure
Unit 01 Organisational planning and processes
In this unit, learners will be able to plan and organise work, review processes and make suggestions for improvements to working practice. Learners will also be able to manage equipment or facilities within an office environment, prepare and organise meetings and events, and take responsibility for logistics.
Unit 02 Legislation, structure and finance in a business environment
This unit will provide learners with an understanding of their own organisation and the financial and legal framework in which it operates.
Unit 03 Communication in a business environment
This unit is about the ability to communicate effectively in a variety of forms and with a range of audiences, including internal/external colleagues and stakeholders.
Unit 04 Decision making and problem solving in a business environment
In this unit, the learner will demonstrate proactivity and good judgement in making decisions and applying problem solving skills to challenging issues.
Unit 05 IT skills for business
This unit requires the learner to demonstrate skill in the use of multiple IT software and systems relevant to the organisation.
Unit 06 Project management skills for business
This unit will provide learners with an understanding of how to manage a project, by applying project management principles and using project management tools. Learners will be able to scope, plan, manage and evaluate a project.
Unit 07 Development of self and others
Learners will be able to manage own personal and professional development and contribute to team cohesion and productivity through coaching others and sharing own expertise. Learners will also be able to make use of interpersonal skills to build and maintain positive working relationships.
Download End-Point Assessment plan
Duration
Typically this apprenticeship will take 12 -18 months
Qualifications
Outcomes of this standard include:
Apprentices without Level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end point assessment.
Progression
Learners who achieve this Apprenticeship could progress to:
Level 3 Diploma in Management Skills and Knowledge
Level 4 Certificate in Leadership and Management
Level 5 Diploma in Management Skills and Knowledge
Employment in administration and management roles.
Level
3
