At a Glance
- Tasks: Be the friendly face of our college, welcoming students and visitors with a smile.
- Company: Join The Bedford College Group, the largest education provider in the South East Midlands.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, competitive salary, and discounts on retail and leisure.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and opportunities for personal development await you!
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on students' experiences while developing your professional skills.
- Qualifications: GCSE English and Maths, plus customer service experience.
The predicted salary is between 24522 - 26754 £ per year.
Location: Tresham Campus
Salary and Benefits:
- Salary: £24,522 - £26,754 Per Annum DOE and Qualifications
- 27 days annual leave (Pro-Rata) plus Bank holidays
- People’s Pension
- Retail and Leisure Discounts
- Excellent professional and personal development opportunities accessing college courses
Role: Receptionist
Hours / Weeks: 30 Hours per week | 52 Weeks per year
Contract Type: Fixed - Term until 10th September 2027
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About The Role:
- Customer Service & Front of House Operations: Delivers a professional, welcoming and customer-focused reception service, acting as the first point of contact for students, staff, visitors and customers while ensuring a positive experience and promoting the College’s reputation.
- Reception & Administrative Support: Manages front desk operations including visitor management, telephone enquiries, ID cards, parking permits, lost property, post distribution, inbox management and maintaining accurate records on CRM systems.
- Student & Visitor Support: Provides guidance and information to students and visitors, supporting enrolment-related activities, classroom directions, visitor procedures and ensuring compliance with safeguarding, GDPR and health & safety requirements.
- Organisation & Team Contribution: Supports wider Advice & Admissions administration, including stock monitoring, welcome pack preparation, cash handling, event support and contributing effectively to team objectives and service standards.
- Professional Standards & College Responsibilities: Participates in Open Days, enrolment and college events while upholding safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health & safety requirements and ongoing professional development commitments.
About You:
- Qualifications & Customer Service Experience: GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent) with proven experience in customer service, reception or front-of-house environments, including managing enquiries, handling challenging situations and delivering excellent customer care.
- Communication & Administrative Skills: Strong verbal, written and telephone communication skills, with the ability to maintain accurate manual and electronic records, use email and digital systems effectively, and provide professional support to customers and colleagues.
- Customer Focus & Teamwork: Friendly, approachable and professional, with the ability to build positive relationships, work collaboratively within a team and create a welcoming environment for students, visitors and stakeholders.
- Organisation & Professionalism: Highly organised and able to prioritise workload, manage busy periods calmly and efficiently, follow policies and procedures, and always maintain the College’s professional reputation.
- Flexibility & Safeguarding Commitment: Committed to safeguarding, health & safety and continuous development, with a flexible approach to working patterns, willingness to travel between campuses and ability to work evenings or occasional Saturdays as required.
Interviews To Be Held: 4th August
VISION values:
- Valuing Teamwork: We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
- Improving Continuously: We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
- Student Centred: At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
- Inclusive: We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
- Open and Caring: We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
- Nurturing Education Excellence: We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
About The Bedford College Group:
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year. Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students:
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Terms and Conditions - BCPS
Morning Receptionist - Maternity Cover employer: Central Bedfordshire College
Central Bedfordshire College is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises professional development and employee growth. Located at the Wellingborough Campus, staff benefit from a collaborative environment where they can make a meaningful impact in education while enjoying competitive salaries and job security.
Contact Details:
Central Bedfordshire College Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Morning Receptionist - Maternity Cover
✨Get Social with Customer Support Communities
Join customer support groups on platforms like Facebook or Reddit. They often share job openings or temp opportunities. Engaging with these communities can help you learn more about the specific skills and experiences employers are looking for, plus you'll meet folks who might know about openings at companies like Central Bedfordshire College.
✨Leverage Seasonal Hiring Trends
Since customer support roles can spike during busy seasons (think holidays and sales periods), keep an eye out for timelines when companies ramp up hiring. Make sure to apply early and stay active; sending a quick follow-up a week after applying can show your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Flex Your Communication Skills
In customer support, communication is key! Prepare for hypothetical scenarios that test your problem-solving and customer interaction skills. Practising answers to common role-play questions can really help you shine in interviews—trust us, it makes a difference!
✨Make the Most of Job Boards
Use industry-specific job boards like Glassdoor or Indeed to find temporary roles. Don’t forget to set up alerts for customer support positions at companies like Central Bedfordshire College. The earlier you apply, the better your chances, so keep your finger on the pulse!
We think you need these skills to ace Morning Receptionist - Maternity Cover
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Communication Skills:In customer support, top-notch communication is key. Make sure your CV showcases any previous experience where you’ve had to clearly convey information or resolve issues. If you’ve handled customer queries via email or chat, mention it! Let’s see those strong verbal and written skills shine through.
Showcase Problem-Solving Experience:Employers love to see how you've handled tricky situations. Include examples in your application where you’ve tackled customer concerns or had to think on your feet. It's all about proving you can keep cool under pressure and find solutions—something super important in a temporary customer support role!
Tailor Your Approach for Temporary Roles:Since this is a temporary gig, make sure your cover letter emphasises your flexibility and eagerness to dive right in. Mention that you're ready to hit the ground running and are adaptable to new tools or systems—this shows that you understand the urgency often needed in temporary positions.
Proof of Customer Satisfaction:If you’ve got any quantifiable achievements from past customer support roles, like improved customer satisfaction scores or successful project completions, make sure to include them. Numbers speak volumes! This not only shows your capability but also gives us a reason to believe you'll bring that same success to Central Bedfordshire College.
How to prepare for a job interview at Central Bedfordshire College
✨Master the Customer Interaction Game
In customer support, we need to showcase our people skills. Prepare for role-playing scenarios where you'll demonstrate how to handle difficult customers or resolve complaints. Think about the types of issues common in Central Bedfordshire College's industry and how you can respond empathetically and effectively!
✨Know Your Products Inside Out
For a temporary role, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the products or services Central Bedfordshire College offers. Brush up on key features, common issues, and FAQs. This knowledge will enable you to respond quickly and confidently to customer queries, showing you’re ready to jump in at a moment’s notice!
✨Flexibility is Key - Emphasise Your Adaptability!
Since this is a temporary role, we're looking to convey how quickly we can adapt to new systems or processes. Be ready to share examples of how you've quickly learned new tools or adjusted to changing environments in past roles. Show them you're the go-to person when the pressure's on!
✨Prepare for Quick Conversational Q&A
You might face a rapid-fire round of questions about customer service principles or how you'd handle specific situations. To ace this, think through different customer scenarios ahead of time, and practice your responses to ensure they're concise and impactful. The aim is to demonstrate your quick thinking and problem-solving skills!