Business Administration Apprentice in Liverpool

The City of Liverpool College are seeking a motivated and organised Business Administration Apprentice to support the Estates & Facilities team in a combined Helpdesk and Coordinator role. This is a hands-on opportunity for someone looking to develop a career in business administration, facilities management, or operational coordination within a Further Education environment.

The successful candidate will learn how to provide administrative support to a team, and to apply the skills learnt in a busy office environment within an educational setting. The post-holder will work towards a Level 3 in Business Administrator Standard and be trained to provide professional administrative support within the Funding and Compliance team. The post-holder will learn to operate proactively and independently and to exercise a high degree of efficiency and attention to detail in dealing with multiple complex tasks. The post holder will act as a first point of contact for Estates-related enquiries, supporting the smooth operation of the helpdesk while coordinating jobs, contractors, and internal teams. You will gain practical experience alongside completing a Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a confident communicator, comfortable dealing with staff, students, contractors, and external stakeholders
• Be highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Demonstrate a proactive, problem-solving approach
• Show an interest in estates, facilities, or operational services
• Be keen to learn, develop, and take responsibility in a busy working environment
• Be able to manage competing priorities and remain calm under pressure

Reporting to: Estates Administrator/Head of Estates

Key Responsibilities

• Helpdesk & Customer Interface
  • Acting as the first point of contact for Estates and Facilities enquiries via phone, email, and helpdesk system
  • Logging, prioritising, and allocating reactive maintenance jobs accurately
  • Monitoring job progress and updating stakeholders on status and completion
  • Providing excellent customer service and managing expectations professionally
• Coordination & Administration
  • Supporting the coordination of planned and reactive maintenance works
  • Assisting with scheduling engineers, caretaking staff, and contractors
  • Maintaining accurate records within the Estates CAFM / helpdesk system
  • Raising and tracking purchase orders in line with financial procedures
  • Supporting invoice checking and basic cost tracking
• Compliance & Reporting Support
  • Assisting with the administration of statutory compliance records (e.g. fire, legionella, asbestos)
  • Supporting the preparation of reports on job volumes, response times, and performance
  • Maintaining organised digital and paper records to support audits and inspections
• Team & Operational Support
  • Supporting Estates supervisors and managers with day-to-day administrative tasks
  • Assisting with induction administration for contractors and new Estates staff
  • Supporting busy operational periods such as summer works and term start
  • Contributing to service improvement initiatives and process reviews
• Professional Practice and Values
  • Actively contribute to the College’s mission and values
  • Promote a positive health and safety culture and follow safe working practices at all times
  • Ensure compliance with GDPR and confidentiality requirements
  • Support cross-college activities where required, particularly during peak operational periods
  • Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role and level of responsibility

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential criteria

• GCSE English and Maths (or willingness to work towards if required)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications
• Organised with good attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to learn and commit to completing an apprenticeship

Desirable experience:

• Experience in a customer-facing or office-based role
• An interest in facilities, estates, or operational services
• Experience of working in a busy or fast-paced environment
• Basic understanding of helpdesk systems or job logging (training provided)

This role offers an excellent foundation for progression into roles such as Estates Coordinator, Facilities Administrator, Helpdesk Supervisor, or wider operational management.

Benefits

Why Join The City of Liverpool College? Benefits of working at the College As a valued member of our College community, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.

• Pension Scheme You'll be part of the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions of up to 20.20%, one of the best pension packages in the sector.
• Leave entitlement Up to 27 days annual holiday allowance, plus 1 wellbeing day. You’ll also benefit from 5 to 7 days statutory closure and 2 further days closure at Easter.
• Employee Benefit Platform As part of your role, you’ll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform, a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and everyday savings.
• Health and Wellbeing As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing, all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a completely confidential support service available 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Travel We’ve partnered with Arriva to bring you great savings on bus travel. Plus, we offer interest-free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail.
• Flexible Working We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employee's work-life balance.
• Professional Development We’re passionate about helping you thrive, offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunities—designed to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and accelerate your career.
• College Benefits Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons, and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.