At a Glance
- Tasks: Support youth resilience through agile administration and digital advocacy.
- Company: Achieving for Children, a not-for-profit social enterprise with a community focus.
- Benefits: 29 days annual leave, flexible working, and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be a key player in making a real difference for young people in your community.
- Qualifications: GCSEs in English and Maths, plus strong admin and tech skills.
- Other info: Join a supportive team dedicated to innovation and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 32000 £ per year.
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government.
As a Business Support Officer (L1), you will be a key player in a modern, agile, and "slick" shared services function. This role is part of a central operations hub that provides critical administrative infrastructure to executives and professional teams across Achieving for Children (AfC). You will ensure that daily business operations run smoothly, reliably, and in strict alignment with Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Key focus areas include: agile administration, digital championship, operational excellence and collaborative impact.
About the role
As a Business Support Officer (L1), you are at the heart of our operational delivery. Working under the supervision of a Business Support Team Manager, you will ensure administrative tasks are completed on time and to a high standard. While you will be assigned to a specific team, this role is defined by flexibility. You will regularly collaborate with other teams, swapping focus to support high-priority projects across the directorate. We are looking for Digital Champions—individuals who pair strong administrative foundations with a passion for technology and efficiency.
- Key Responsibilities:
- Administrative Delivery: Provide high-quality support to service areas, ensuring all tasks align with SLA standards.
- Meeting Support: Organise high-level meetings and provide professional minute-taking.
- Data & Finance: Accurately record and input data/financial information into spreadsheets and databases.
- Project Support: Assist with project management by updating registers, conducting research, and coordinating communications.
- Digital Advocacy: Act as a "Digital Champion," using technology to streamline workflows and provide statistical reporting.
About you
We are looking for a successful candidate with the qualities below:
- Education: GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
- Administrative Background: Proven experience in a business support capacity providing a wide range of administrative functions. Ideally you will have experience in providing administration for the Youth Justice service area but this is not a requirement as training will be provided.
- Customer Excellence: Experience interacting professionally with both internal staff and external service users.
- Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of MS Office or Google Suite (specifically Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets, and PowerPoint/Slides) and ideally experience using the CorePlus Youth Justice case management system.
- Data Accuracy: High level of competence in data entry, spreadsheet management, and maintaining complex databases.
- Collaboration: Ability to form strong working relationships and work effectively within a shared-service model.
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract).
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC.
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension).
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance.
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
- A range of staff benefits and discounts.
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway.
Important Information
Start dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.
Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Business Support Officer Level 1 - Youth Resilience in Kingston upon Thames employer: Achieving For Children
Contact Detail:
Achieving For Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Support Officer Level 1 - Youth Resilience in Kingston upon Thames
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those already working at Achieving for Children. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company culture and values. Show us how your skills align with their mission of youth resilience and operational excellence.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions. We want to see your passion for digital advocacy and how you can bring that to the role of Business Support Officer.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Support Officer Level 1 - Youth Resilience in Kingston upon Thames
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Business Support Officer. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Off Your Digital Skills: Since we're on the lookout for Digital Champions, don’t forget to showcase your tech-savviness! Mention any experience you have with MS Office or Google Suite, and how you've used technology to improve efficiency in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your sentences are easy to read and your main points stand out. This will help us see your strengths quickly!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered promptly. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Achieving For Children
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Business Support Officer role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with the key focus areas like agile administration and digital advocacy. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Show Off Your Tech Skills
Since they're looking for Digital Champions, be prepared to discuss your experience with MS Office or Google Suite. Bring examples of how you've used technology to improve efficiency in previous roles. This will demonstrate your technical proficiency and align with their operational excellence goals.
✨Prepare for Collaborative Questions
Given the emphasis on collaboration in this role, think of examples where you've successfully worked in a team. Be ready to share how you formed strong working relationships and contributed to shared goals. This will highlight your ability to thrive in a shared-service model.
✨Practice Professional Communication
As you'll be interacting with both internal staff and external service users, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and professionally. Consider doing mock interviews with a friend or family member to refine your communication skills, especially around meeting support and minute-taking.