Apprentice Project Support Officer

“Southampton – a city of opportunity where everyone thrives”

Apprenticeships are an exciting way to develop your career. At Southampton City Council we’re keen to invest in people, apprentices are a valuable part of our workforce and the future of the council.

As an apprentice you’ll be receiving practical and professional training right from the start. Working alongside experienced colleagues who will supervise your development and a dedicated mentor providing support and guidance throughout your training. You will have regular reviews with your manager and tutor so you know how you are doing and can gain support with any activities to help you progress.

An apprenticeship is a real job, with real responsibilities and along with a competitive salary an apprenticeship will provide you with many benefits including:

• Paid time off for holidays and a pension scheme
• A career path so you can progress to the next level
• On and off the job training
• The achievement of a nationally recognised qualification while you work.

At Southampton City Council we are committed to paying Foundation Living Wage as a minimum and we believe apprentices should also be paid fairly. Your salary as an apprentice will be £24,795 annually and may increase in line with any national rise in Foundation Living Wage.

About the role:

Southampton City Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Division are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Apprentice Project Support Officer to support our growth objectives for the City.

As an apprentice, you will gain hands‑on experience in a dynamic public sector environment focussed on growing our City’s economy and increasing economic inclusion, providing vital administrative and digital marketing support for projects, events and daily operations. You will develop key skills in customer service, communication, data management, marketing and teamwork, all while working towards a recognised qualification in Business Administration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support administrative tasks across the Division, including the Employment Support Team, Solent Business and Skills Solutions, the Adult Learning team, and for the Director of Economic Development
• Manage a range of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok
• Assist with organising meetings, events and training sessions
• Handle enquiries via phone, email, online and in person
• Maintain accurate records and update databases
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, external partners, businesses and members of the public to grow our economy and increase economic inclusion

About You:

• Keen interest in administration and public service
• Commitment to economic inclusion and economic growth
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Proactive, willing to learn, and able to work as part of a team
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths preferred

What we can offer you:

Here at SCC we have a range of different perks and benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 16.8% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family‑friendly policies – Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support – Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran‑friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits – low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For an informal discussion about the post please contact Dan Stickland at Daniel.Stickland@southampton.gov.uk.

You will be working towards the Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship with Fareport Training. The duration of this apprenticeship is 15 months with 3 months for the End Point Assessment.

This is an exciting opportunity to build a solid foundation for your future career. If you’re ready to improve economic growth in our City and develop valuable workplace skills, we want to hear from you! To apply for this role please click on the \’Apply\’ button below to complete the online application form.

Additional information:

This role is a fixed term apprenticeship of approximately 18 months, 37 hours a week.

This is a fixed term position and the salary will be pro rata of the above salary.

Contact Name & Details:

For all recruitment queries please contact recruitment@southampton.gov.uk.

We’re proud to be #DisabilityConfident and support fair recruitment practices. Find out how you can get involved at gov.uk/disability-confident.