Contract and Service Delivery Apprentice

Join to apply for the Contract and Service Delivery Apprentice role at UKRI India.

Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 24 months

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus Didcot, OX11 0QX

Closing Date: Sunday, 2nd February 2026

Interview Date: Feb 2026 / Mar 2026

Start Date: September 2026

Salary: £19,514 per annum (rising annually through apprenticeship)

Are you ready to take the first step into the world of business? Join us as a Business Administrator Apprentice and develop the skills that keep modern organisations running smoothly. From organising meetings and supporting teams to streamlining processes, you’ll play a key role in making things happen.

About Apprenticeship at STFC

We’re looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals ready to develop their skills through formal training and hands‑on experience. As an apprentice, you’ll gain real‑world experience, build technical and professional skills, and contribute to cutting‑edge research and innovation in a dynamic, supportive environment.

You’ll be fully supported throughout the programme with regular check‑ins from a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator, structured training, practical experience, and mentorship from industry professionals. Plus, you’ll have access to workshops, a peer network and career development support, helping you feel confident and prepared for new challenges.

Why join the Estates group / Soft Services team at STFC?

As a member of STFC’s Estates Services you will proactively support the Estates remit to deliver flexible, customer‑focused and efficient services that support the delivery of STFC’s vision, values and objectives. The Estates Services team needs to be agile and able to adapt to the ever‑changing needs of our diverse customer base therefore it is expected that the post holder will demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach.

Qualifications Gained

• Business Administrator – Business Administrator / Skills England
• Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship – Business Administration – Abingdon & Witney College

What You’ll Learn

• Understands organisational purpose, activities, aims, values, vision for the future and resources and the way that the political/economic environment affects the organisation.
• Knows organisational structure and demonstrates understanding of how their work benefits the organisation. Knows how they fit within their team and recognises how their skills can help them to progress their career.
• Has a practical knowledge of managing stakeholders and their differing relationships to an organisation, including internal and external customers, clients and/or suppliers. Liaises with internal/external customers, suppliers or stakeholders from inside or outside the UK, engaging and fostering relationships with suppliers and partner organisations.
• Understands laws and regulations that apply to their role including data protection, health & safety, compliance etc., and supports the company in applying the regulations.
• Understands the organisation’s internal policies and key business policies relating to the sector.
• Understands the applicability of business principles such as managing change, business finances and project management.

Training Provider

As part of your Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship, you will engage in structured professional development and training through a combination of online learning and 10 days of in‑person teaching at Abingdon & Witney College, scheduled between September and December. You will complete 12 formal assessments and receive dedicated support to develop the required skills and behaviours for your apprenticeship. This will include building a comprehensive portfolio of evidence and completing a work‑based project, both of which are essential for your Independent End Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA will consist of a knowledge test, portfolio‑based interview and project/improvement presentation.

What You’ll Be Doing – Day‑to‑day Responsibilities

Operational Support

• Assist in scheduling contractual requirements for cleaning, catering, etc.
• Help maintain service records and compliance checklists.
• Participate in site inspections and audits with senior staff.

Team Collaboration

• Work alongside service teams to understand daily operations.
• Attend team briefings and contribute to service improvement ideas.
• Shadow experienced coordinators to learn best practices.

Customer Service

• Respond to basic service queries and elevate issues appropriately.
• Develop knowledge of health & safety, COSHH, and service standards.
• Maintain shared email inboxes and post boxes, replying in a timely manner and answering queries where necessary.

Entry Requirements

The below criteria will be scored during shortlisting (S), interview (I) or both (S & I).

• GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) (S)
• An awareness of basic health and safety (I)
• Enthusiastic and motivated to learn, both in the workplace and through formal training (I)
• Friendly, approachable, and ready to help customers and colleagues (S & I)
• A team player who’s also confident working independently (S & I)
• Good level of attention to details (S & I)
• Understand the need for document control (S & I)
• Confident using a computer, especially tools like Word, Excel, and Outlook (S & I)

Important Information

To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A*-C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GCSEs in Summer 2026, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.

When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant.

The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade(s) achieved and modules covered.

By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.

Employee Benefits

• Your salary will increase annually as you progress through your apprenticeship, in line with policy.
• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links and free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

How To Apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

We will be in touch after the closing date. If you have any questions, please reach out to apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org.

About Us

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world‑leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world.

How We Support EDI In The Workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

About the Team

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world‑leading multi‑disciplinary science organisation where curiosity‑driven, blue‑skies thinking meets practical, application‑led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world. One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting‑edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world‑class facilities and people, we’re driving ground‑breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology.

More information about STFC: https://stfc.ukri.org/

You can also visit our careers site: https://stfccareers.co.uk/