Apprenticeship Compliance Officer in Sheffield

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Overview

As the Apprenticeship Compliance Officer you will be responsible for ensuring the quality and compliance of our apprenticeship programmes are met. You will lead on the apprentice recruitment process and ensure Department for Education (DfE) compliance throughout the apprenticeship cycle.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain systems and processes that enable the university to evidence apprenticeship compliance with the requirements of bodies such as the Department for Education, Ofsted and relevant university policies.
• Undertake apprentice admissions, ensuring all pre-course documentation is completed prior to offers being made; attend employer interviews and recruitment events, which may be offsite as required.
• Coordinate the compliance of mandatory DfE recruitment and onboarding paperwork, working alongside the Central Apprenticeship Hub, and organise and oversee the pre-course induction and first day of learning activities.
• Carry out detailed initial assessment of the starting points of the apprentices and create accurate group profiles.
• Update and maintain manual and electronic records of apprentices using centralised and local systems and ensure all paperwork relating to apprenticeships is completed to a high quality and input timely.
• Contribute to the School’s apprenticeship governance reporting through timely and accurate quality data, presenting data at meetings as required and supporting internal and external inspections (OFSTED) and audits (DfE).
• Monitor Apprentice Off the Job Hours and Tripartite reviews ensuring they are being carried out on a regular basis in compliance to DfE standards, escalating non‑compliance to the Apprenticeships Team Leader, Apprenticeships Operations Manager and/or Programme Leads.
• Attend and support recruitment activities and events (which might be outside of Sheffield) for apprenticeship programmes.
• Monitor attendance of apprentices, recording it accurately and timely, and inform any non‑attendance in real time to the apprentice’s employer.
• Provide advice and guidance on the professional requirements of apprentice programmes to the programme teams, apprentices and communicate with partner organisations on the apprentices lifecycle activities.
• Coordinate and send out quarterly apprenticeship newsletters to partners and ensure social media channels are kept up to date with accurate information.
• Organise and service meetings and compliance reports as required, producing timely minutes and follow‑up action.
• Work on your own initiative, flexibly and have the ability to recognise when to refer matters to senior colleagues.
• Build and engage with local and University networks, for example the Central Apprenticeship Hub to ensure up‑to‑date knowledge of internal policy and procedures.
• Support colleagues in the wider team to ensure that the School is able to deliver the full remit of its responsibilities in a timely and effective manner.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Essential criteria

• Educated to A Level standard (or equivalent experience).
• Proven IT skills, with experience of working with Microsoft packages, Google packages, email and the internet.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, apprentices and employers in person and in writing.
• Experience of providing and maintaining information with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage own workload in consultation with appropriate colleagues, prioritising as required to meet planned deadlines as well as unscheduled tasks.
• Ability to work on own initiative, recognising when to refer matters to senior colleagues.
• Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer term implications.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to queries.
• Ability to present information and data in a clear and concise manner at internal and external stakeholder meetings.
• Able to work flexibly, adapting to schedule changes due to team schedules or audit and inspection requirements, which may occur at short notice.
• Experience of Apprenticeship Compliance and Funding Rules.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in higher education and a knowledge of university procedures.
• Hold a current full UK Driving Licence.

Further Information

Grade: 5

Line manager: Apprenticeship Team Leader

Direct reports: None

For informal enquiries about this job contact Danielle Walker, Team Leader at danielle.walker@sheffield.ac.uk.

Next steps in the recruitment process

The selection process will be conducted on 23 January 2026 and will consist of an interview and intray activity. Candidates who progress to the selection stage will be notified on the week commencing 5 January 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Caroline Potts (c.e.potts@sheffield.ac.uk).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, including Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks.
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development through access to learning and mentoring schemes integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family‑friendly policies
  • Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies.
  • Support for those going through the menopause.
  • Paid time off and support for fertility treatment.
  • and more.

Health and Diversity

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Closing date

19/12/25