Business Support Assistant in Harlow

Permanent, Full Time £25,959 per annum

Location: Harlow

Working style: Anywhere worker

Closing date: 18/06/2026

Overview

Looking for a role where your contribution counts and your development is encouraged from day one? Joining Essex County Council as a Business Support Assistant gives you the chance to build valuable skills, work with friendly colleagues, and be part of a team that helps keep vital services running across the county. Whether you’re starting your career, returning to work, or looking for a role where you can make a real impact, this is a great opportunity to develop, learn and be part of something meaningful.

The Opportunity

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK and is undergoing significant transformational change to further enhance customer focus, service and delivery. As part of this, the Business Support team will work in specialised Business Centre Support Teams and Service Support Teams to promote specialised knowledge and improved service and efficiencies. This is an Anywhere Worker position, offering a blend of remote and office-based working. You’ll be expected to attend the office at Goodman House, Harlow up to five days per week, depending on business need. On days where full-time office attendance isn’t required, remote working will apply. There may also be occasional travel to other ECC offices during the contract.

The Role

As a Business Support Assistant, you’ll join a friendly and collaborative team that plays a vital role in keeping services running smoothly. This is a varied and rewarding position where you’ll use your strengths, grow your confidence, and develop new skills within a supportive environment. Your day-to-day work will include tasks such as:

• Word processing
• Minute taking
• Data entry
• Updating databases
• Call handling
• Managing shared inboxes
• Ensuring information is accurate and well organised

You'll become a trusted point of contact for colleagues and stakeholders, using strong communication skills to respond professionally to queries and build positive working relationships across the organisation. You’ll support a range of on-site and reception activities, acting as a welcoming and reliable presence for staff, visitors and customers. This will include handling enquiries, supporting reception duties, managing petty cash and helping ensure the site runs efficiently. Due to the changing demands of the service, you will be required to undertake a range of additional or alternative duties. These include supporting other teams, carrying out varied administrative tasks, or assisting with on-site responsibilities as needed. A flexible approach will ensure that operational requirements are met efficiently. You’ll be encouraged to take ownership of your workload, develop strong organisational skills and gain valuable experience with key systems, processes and business procedures. You’ll be part of a team that values teamwork, supports development and recognises achievement.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Organised, with strong attention to detail
• Friendly and approachable, with clear and confident communication skills
• Motivated to provide high-quality support
• Adaptable, able to handle a range of tasks and changing priorities
• Keen to learn, develop new skills and grow within the role

Accountabilities

• Providing high quality, efficient and effective Business Support services to internal customers within agreed timescales and SLAs.
• Responding to customer requests and queries in a timely and efficient way.
• Acting as a professional representative of the Business Support service at a local level, dealing with customers via telephone calls personally or redirecting in line with Essex customer standards.
• Providing high quality self-directed clerical support, checking own work and proactively looking to raise standards.
• Maintaining confidential records according to Essex County Council policy and guidance.
• Providing support to the team or service with the organisation of events, conferences and workshops to ensure high quality events.
• Providing support across the team or service in dealing with correspondence, providing meeting support in terms of documentation and finance support in all aspects of documentation processing, in a timely, consistent and professional manner.
• Sharing knowledge and good practice with colleagues and highlighting more efficient ways of delivering customer service.
• Work effectively across onsite and remote settings, providing on-site support when required.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
• Actively participates in training and supports cross-skilling to ensure flexibility and continuity of service.

Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) including maths and English or an equivalent vocational qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Evidence of the ability to develop skills and knowledge in role.
• Demonstrable experience and competence of MS Office applications and their practical application.
• Ability to use computerised systems with a high level of speed and accuracy.
• Previous experience of managing electronic or hard copy filing systems.
• Ability to communicate in a manner which is easily understood and tailored to meet the needs of the audience.
• Experience of dealing with sensitive and/or personal information in accordance with GDPR requirements.
• Ability to think of improved ways of working and open to new practices and responsive to change.
• Ability to take ownership of work and fulfil agreed commitments, checking work for accuracy.
• Demonstrable ability to deliver effective customer service.

Legal and Equality Obligations

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We are also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Once you’ve secured a role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) if your role requires a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service. Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.