Business & Finance Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a practical, work-related course, designed to allow you to learn whilst you earn. This programme is suitable for school leavers and mature students who have a keen interest in customer service delivery, a willingness to find out more through personal investigation, and wish to pursue a career through on-the-job training.

The Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship is designed to provide you with an understanding of customer service delivery in a wide range of situations which may include face-to-face, telephone, post, email, text and social media. Following completion of this apprenticeship, could look forward to a career as a Customer Service Assistant, Customer Service Administrator, Customer Service Advisor, Receptionist, or in a specialist role, such as, Complaints Handler, Hotel Concierge or Customer Experience Representative.

Your training will include the following knowledge and skills required to be a competent customer service practitioner:

• Knowing Your Customers – Understanding the different needs and priorities of your customers, and the best way to manage their expectations. You will also learn how to recognise these differences and to adapt your service style to be more effective.
• Understanding the Organisation – Knowledge of internal policies/procedures, including any complaints processes and digital media policies that are relevant to you and your organisation.
• Meeting Regulations and Legislation – Understanding the legislation and regulatory requirements that affect your business.
• Interpersonal Skills – Using a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs/expectations and achieves positive engagement and outcome.
• Dealing with Customer Conflict and Challenge – Demonstrating patience and calmness, and using appropriate resolution to meet customer needs.

In addition, you will develop a full range of professional behaviours relevant to a customer service role. This will include the abilities to work effectively as part of a team, uphold the core values of the organisation, and demonstrate personal pride in your work and appearance. You will also take responsibility in your self-development; maintaining up-to-date service knowledge and professional skills.

You will learn in a real-world environment and be assigned an instructor-mentor who will provide all the guidance and support you need to succeed. You will also have the support of workplace mentors who will provide you with a wealth of company knowledge and experience.

In addition, you will take part in regular sessions in college where you can meet up with other apprentices, from varying levels of experience, to share your personal experiences and reflect on your learning journey. You will also have the opportunity to take part in enrichment activities, such as, connecting with guest speakers and visits to Chatsworth House, Coca-Cola, Cadburys World and other businesses.

End-point assessment (EPA) is the final stage of an apprenticeship. This is an impartial assessment, carried out by an independent body, and will assess your development of the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the apprenticeship standard. It may include a portfolio of evidence, workplace observation and professional discussion.

You will, ideally, have a minimum of four GCSEs at grades 3/D. Please speak to us if you have not achieved these as you may be able study Level 2 Functional Skills alongside your apprenticeship in order to satisfy this requirement.

There are no further mandatory entry requirements, however, employers are looking to attract applicants who have a keen interest in customer service delivery and/or communicating with customers.

You must have the right to work in the UK and have been residing in the UK for the prior 3 years.

You could progress on to;

• employment in a range of advanced customer service roles,
• a Level 3 Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship or Business Administrator Apprenticeship,
• or further training specific to a sector or job role.

There are several trips some of which are mandatory and some optional, there may be some small costs associated with these.

An apprenticeship is a practical, work-related course, designed to allow you to learn whilst you earn. This programme is suitable for mature students who are hoping to progress on to a team leader or supervisor role, and wish to pursue a career through on-the-job training.

The Level 3 Team Leader or Supervisor Apprenticeship is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to manage a team of workers whilst also carrying out operational and project responsibilities. Following completion of this apprenticeship, you could look forward to a career as a Supervisor, Team leader, Project Officer, Shift Supervisor, Foreperson, or Shift Manager.

The aim of this course is to help you gain the skills and knowledge required to be a competent supervisor in a range of different industries and will include the following:

• Managing people and developing relationships – Understanding different leadership styles, team dynamics and motivation techniques. You will learn how to set goals and objectives, review performance, manage absence, manage conflict, provide constructive feedback and recognise achievement.
• Delivering results – Understanding how organisational strategy is developed and the use of different technologies in business. You will learn what is needed to deliver a project, including managing resources, identifying risks or issues, and using relevant project management tools. You will also learn how to monitor budgets to ensure efficiencies and that costs do not overrun.
• Managing self – You will gain an understanding of self-awareness and time management techniques/ tools. You will also learn problem solving and decision-making techniques, and how to analyse data to support decision making.

In addition, you will develop a full range of professional behavioural skills relevant to a role as a team leader.  This will include the abilities to be flexible to the needs of the organisation, demonstrate resilience and accountability, build trust with others and operate in a fair, consistent and impartial manner.

You will learn in a real-world environment and be assigned an instructor-mentor who will provide all the guidance and support you need to succeed. You will also have the support of workplace mentors who will provide you with a wealth of company knowledge and experience. You will gain an understanding of your organisation by studying and investigating the best practices of real businesses.

In addition, you will take part in regular sessions in college where you can meet up with other apprentices, from varying levels of experience, to share your personal experiences and reflect on your learning journey. You will also have the opportunity to take part in enrichment activities, such as, connecting with guest speakers and visits to Chatsworth House, Coca-Cola, Cadburys World and other businesses.

End-point assessment (EPA) is the final stage of an apprenticeship. This is an impartial assessment, carried out by an independent body, and will assess your development of the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the apprenticeship standard. This may include a portfolio of evidence, workplace observation and professional discussion.

Entry requirement will be decided by each employer; however, this will typically be a minimum of five GCSEs Grades C/4, including maths and English.

You will need to be in suitable employment.

You must have the right to work in the UK and have been residing in the UK for the prior 3 years.

You could progress onto employment in as a Supervisor, Team leader, Project Officer, Shift Supervisor, Foreperson, or Shift Manager.

On completion, you may choose to register as Associate Members with the Chartered Management Institute and/or the Institute of leadership and management.

An apprenticeship is a practical, work-related course, designed to allow you to learn whilst you earn. This programme is suitable for mature students who have a willingness to develop a high level of accuracy, attention to detail and accountability, and wish to pursue a career in finance through on-the-job training.

The Level 4 Professional Accounting Technician Apprenticeship is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to work within the finance department of a business. Following completion of this apprenticeship, you could look forward to a career as an Assistant Auditor, Assistant Management Accountant, Assistant Financial Accountant, Accounts Payable and Expenses Supervisor, Commercial Analyst, Payroll Manager, Senior Bookkeeper or Senior Financial Officer.

You will further your understanding of accounting into both financial and management accounting to a high level. You will learn how to organise and evaluate researched data and will gain an understanding of social and environmental responsibility. Your study will focus on limited company accounts.

In addition, you will develop a full range of professional and analytical skills relevant to a finance role. This will include the abilities to evaluate and improve your own performance using feedback from others, and to accumulate data to help others to make decisions. You will learn how to question what you see and hear is reasonable or appropriate, and how to uphold professional values and standards.

You will learn in a real-world environment and be assigned an instructor-mentor who will provide all the guidance and support you need to succeed. You will also have the support of workplace mentors who will provide you with a wealth of company knowledge and experience.

In addition, you will take part in regular half day sessions in college where you can meet up with other apprentices, from varying levels of experience, to share your personal experiences and reflect on your learning journey.

End-point assessment (EPA) is the final stage of an apprenticeship. This is an impartial assessment, carried out by an independent body, and will assess your development of the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the apprenticeship standard. This may include a portfolio of evidence, an online multiple-choice test, workplace observations and a professional discussion.

You will need a minimum of GCSE Grades C/4 in maths and English, and ideally already have AAT Level 2 and 3 in Accounting, or a proven working knowledge of Level 3 accounting principles, which may be assessed via an online test.

You must have the right to work in the UK and have been residing in the UK for the prior 3 years.

Once you pass this qualification you when have AAT full membership and a license to practice.

You may wish to continue your education by progressing on to a vocational qualification with professionally recognised bodies ACCA, ACA, CIMA or CIPFA, a degree level course or a higher or degree Accounting Apprenticeship.