Business Support Apprentice in Darlington

Annual salary: up to £26,528.31

Course title: Business Administration (Level 3)

Location: Darlington – Office based

Contract Type: Fixed Term Apprenticeship

Salary:

• Age 16–18: £8.00 per hour — 40 hours per week (including time at college)
• Age 19–20: £11.06 per hour — 40 hours per week (including time at college)
• Age 21+: £12.71 per hour — 40 hours per week (including time at college)

You will join Mears Group in the weekend of August/start of September. The programme has an expected duration of approximately 15 months.

About apprenticeships at Mears Group:

Apprenticeships are an underpinning part of Mears’ philosophy; we are committed to developing the next generation of our workforce, many of our most senior people started their working life as an apprentice. Whether you are fresh out of school or college or looking for a complete career change, Mears can offer you a great foundation to your future career and beyond. All our Apprentices are paid above the national minimum wage, and you’ll be paid for your normal working hours plus your attendance at college, with the opportunity to get real life experiences such as working in people’s homes, getting involved in community projects and improving people’s lives by being customer focused.

What does a life as a Customer Service Apprentice look like?

As an apprentice within our Darlington branch, you will be part of our commercial team, you will listen, observe and participate in a wide range of tasks that will support your development and contribute to the successful completion of your apprenticeship programme. You will be supported by your line manager, mentor and college to ensure you gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to succeed. You will support the team by carrying out a variety of administrative and office-based tasks while working towards your Business Administration qualification.

Key Responsibilities:

• Introduction to business administration within a commercial environment
• Maintain high standards of attendance, punctuality and personal appearance at work and college
• Attend formal and informal meetings and training sessions to maintain job knowledge and progression
• Work under the guidance of a mentor to complete tasks to given specifications
• Support the efficient running of workloads within the function
• Organise time and resources effectively, prioritising tasks to meet work demands
• Show initiative, commitment and perseverance when working towards goals
• Complete and maintain accurate paperwork and electronic records
• Comply with all health, safety, environmental and data protection requirements
• Communicate professionally with internal and external customers
• Represent Mears positively at all times and report any suspicious behaviour

What do you need to be a successful applicant:

• A genuine desire to learn and develop strong technical knowledge, including the skills, technology, and safety procedures needed to carry out the full range of tasks
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal
• Great interpersonal skills
• Great problem solving ability
• Ability to build and maintain positive customer and client relationships
• Engaged in customer journey environment
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Basic numeracy skills
• Ability to understand and follow standard operating procedures
• Good attention to detail and willingness to learn
• Positive, can do attitude
• Ability to use Microsoft Office packages
• Able to work independently and as part of a team

Please note due to the nature of the role, successful applicants must complete a basic maths and English assessment.

What you will get:

• Laptop and phone supplied
• An industry‑recognised qualification
• 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• £250 contribution towards driving lessons
• Annual Mears Fun Day - a company‑wide celebration as a thank‑you from the Executive Team
• Support from Mears Group Apprentice Ambassadors
• Apprenticeship events and reward trips
• Staff perks through Mears Rewards - including discounts on weekly groceries (up to 10%), holidays, eye‑test vouchers, ShareSave scheme, and more

Application Process:

All applicants must submit their CV and complete the apprenticeship questionnaire via the Mears Careers website. If shortlisted, you will be contacted to confirm whether you have been selected for the next stage - this may be an assessment centre or an individual interview. Please note: as part of the selection process, you will be required to complete a basic maths and English test, similar to the assessments needed to join the college.

A bit about us:

Mears Group PLC is a leading provider of housing and care services in the UK. With a strong emphasis on social responsibility and community well-being, Mears specialises in delivering housing solutions, maintenance services, and care support to a diverse client base. The group’s expertise encompasses responsive repairs, planned maintenance, and housing management, contributing to the overall improvement of living conditions for individuals and communities. Mears Group is committed to fostering a positive impact on society, making it an attractive prospect for individuals seeking a career in a socially responsible and dynamic organisation. A career with Mears Group means putting people and customers at the heart of what you do, every day. Our culture is built on what we call our ‘Red Thread’ – the common values we share that make us what we are.

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a Background, Identity, Security clearance & BPSS check. For these checks to be completed, we will require from you the relevant identification, including Proof of Address, References, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way. At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all. We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers. In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.

Closing date for applications: 29 May 2026