Job Description

Newham Apprenticeship Scheme 2026/27

Salary: London Living Wage £14.80 per hour (£27,785 per annum)

Contract: 2-year fixed-term contract

Working Pattern: Full time, 36 hours per week

About Us

Newham is a young, vibrant and ambitious borough, and we are at the forefront of significant challenges and opportunities. By focusing on building resilience, we are tackling deprivation and creating a more prosperous future for our residents.

The London Borough of Newham is working to ensure that Newham is a place where there is greater investment in public spaces, more opportunities for younger people, more jobs, quality housing for residents, greater choice when accessing council services, and high-quality health and social care delivered around individual needs.

Newham has many ambitious and exciting plans, and we would love you to share these opportunities with us as an apprentice seeking a new challenge.

About the Job

The Newham Apprenticeship Scheme offers you the opportunity to start an exciting new career. Whether this is your first job, you are returning to work after a career break, or you are looking for a change in career direction, this is an opportunity to earn while you learn and gain valuable experience within a large local authority.

As an apprentice, you will work alongside experienced colleagues who will support you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for a successful career in business administration. As your confidence and skills develop, you will take on increasing responsibility and contribute to the work of the Adult Social Care service.

There may also be opportunities to progress to further training or a higher-level apprenticeship in the future, subject to business need, eligibility and available opportunities.

As an apprentice at Newham, you will receive:

• Quality apprenticeship training, including dedicated time for off-the-job learning.
• A two-year fixed-term contract with Newham Council.
• Support and guidance from your line manager and experienced colleagues.
• Access to a workplace mentor.
• Membership of the Newham apprenticeship network.
• Additional learning and development opportunities.
• Support to develop your CV, interview skills and future career.
• Up to 24 days' annual leave, plus three additional days normally taken between 26 December and 3 January.
• 8 public holidays per year.
• A 36-hour working week.
• Flexible working arrangements where appropriate to the role and service requirements.

About the Role

You will work closely with the Adult Social Care Service Development Manager and colleagues across the service.

You will provide effective administrative and coordination support to help Adult Social Care deliver its priorities. This will include supporting meetings, boards, projects and workstreams, maintaining accurate records, preparing information and helping colleagues to communicate important messages and changes.

You will also support the service to evaluate and increase the impact of its work by contributing to new initiatives that may benefit residents receiving services. As your knowledge, confidence and competence develop, you will take on increasing responsibility for administrative activities, service development and improvement work.

This is a developmental role. You will receive support and training and will be expected to apply what you learn in the workplace.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing day-to-day administrative and coordination support to the Adult Social Care service.
• Organising meetings, preparing agendas and papers, taking notes or minutes where appropriate, and maintaining action logs.
• Attending and supporting the delivery of service meetings by preparing agendas and producing clear and concise meeting notes and following up actions as required.
• Maintaining accurate electronic records, documents and information in accordance with council procedures.
• Drafting routine correspondence, emails, presentations and other documents.
• Collecting information and data from a range of sources.
• Developing your skills in using spreadsheets and other digital systems to organise, analyse and present information.
• Helping to monitor actions, deadlines and progress against agreed workplans.
• Supporting projects and service development workstreams.
• Supporting colleagues to evaluate and increase the impact of the service by contributing to the development of new initiatives that may support residents receiving services.
• Communicating relevant information, messages and changes to colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Adult Social Care and other council services.
• Supporting the development and monitoring of service level agreements and contracts with service providers, where required, with guidance from the relevant Assistant Director or Service Manager.
• Supporting the identification of opportunities to improve administrative processes and ways of working.
• Handling information appropriately and maintaining confidentiality in line with council policies and relevant legislation.
• Developing your knowledge of Adult Social Care, local government and the services provided to Newham residents.
• Dealing with a range of queries from colleagues in a polite, professional and helpful manner, seeking advice or guidance from senior staff as appropriate.
• Undertaking other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post, with appropriate support and guidance.

You will be encouraged to ask questions, learn from experienced colleagues and use feedback to develop your skills.

As you progress through the apprenticeship, you will be given opportunities to develop your ability to coordinate activities, work with stakeholders, contribute to service improvement and take greater responsibility for administrative and project-related tasks.

About You

We welcome applications from Newham residents who are keen to learn, develop their skills and make a positive contribution to the local community.

You do not need extensive previous work experience. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, reliable and willing to learn and who can demonstrate the potential to develop within the role.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• GCSEs, or equivalent qualifications.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic IT skills and an interest in developing your digital skills.
• Good organisation and time-management skills.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• The ability to use your own initiative and ask for support when needed.
• Reliability and punctuality.
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• A commitment to providing high-quality services to Newham residents.
• An interest in the local community and the work of the Council.
• A commitment to undertaking and successfully completing the Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship.
• Some experience of work, volunteering, education or other activities that demonstrate your ability to work with others and take responsibility.

Experience of administration, customer service or using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook or Teams would be useful but is not essential.

About the Training

You will undertake the Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship standard.

The apprenticeship will combine workplace experience with structured learning and development. You will have the opportunity to develop practical skills in administration, communication, digital technology, data and information management, meeting coordination, project support and service improvement.

You will be supported by your line manager, colleagues and apprenticeship training provider throughout the programme.

As part of your apprenticeship, you will be expected to:

• Attend and actively participate in scheduled apprenticeship training.
• Complete learning activities, assignments and assessments.
• Apply your learning within the workplace.
• Develop and maintain evidence of your learning and development.
• Attend meetings with your training provider and workplace manager.
• Take part in workshops, presentations and other learning activities.
• Complete workplace tasks that demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the apprenticeship standard.
• Prepare for and complete the required end-point assessment.
• Take responsibility for your own learning and professional development.

If you do not already hold the required GCSEs in English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications, you may need to complete Functional Skills training as part of your apprenticeship, subject to the apprenticeship requirements and your individual circumstances.

You should be well organised, flexible, willing to learn and prepared to support colleagues wherever appropriate. You will be encouraged to develop your confidence and take on increasing responsibility as you progress through the apprenticeship.

If you would like more information about this post, please contact Zeenat Shaikh, Service Development Manager, for an informal discussion at Zeenat.Shaikh@newham.gov.uk.

Please attach your CV and Supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

Please view the JD here

closing date: 31st October 2026

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.