Executive Support Apprentice

Job summary

UKRI External Affairs and Communications Directorate
Salary: £19,514 per annum (rising annually throughout the apprenticeship)
Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 24 months
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1FL
Closing Date: 23:55 on Sunday, 12th July 2026
Interview Date: Tuesday 28th July
Start Date: September 2026

Are you highly organised, enjoy working with others, and have an interest in how senior leaders and teams operate? Join UKRI as an Executive Support Apprentice and develop key skills in administration, communication, and coordination within a central directorate.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is offering an opportunity to join the External Affairs and Communications Private Office as an Executive Support Apprentice.

This is a key role within a small, friendly, and high performing team at the heart of the directorate, providing direct support to senior leaders and contributing to the smooth running of the office while supporting the delivery of effective communications across UKRI. The apprenticeship offers a structured opportunity for someone organised and curious to develop strong professional skills in administration, communication, and coordination, with full support provided throughout to build experience, confidence, and an understanding of how a major public organisation operates.

Job description

About The Department

UK Research and Innovation is the largest public sector funder of research and innovation with an annual budget of over £8bn and includes 7 research councils. Click here to find out more about UKRI.

We invest taxpayer’s money into groundbreaking research and innovation to improve the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere.

To learn more about how we do this, you can take a look at our ‘How we improve lives and livelihoods’ page via: https://www.ukri.org/news-and-events/lives-and-livelihoods/

The UKRI External Affairs and Communications Team is responsible for press office and social media, internal comms, creative content, international communications across UKRI. Our mission is to ensure UKRI communicates in a clear, engaging, and proactive way, connecting people to discoveries that matter to them. Show how UKRI invests public money wisely into research and innovation to improve lives, support livelihoods, and drive economic growth.

About an Apprenticeship at UKRI

With training and support from experts in their fields, you’ll relish the opportunity to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours whilst making a real difference in your role. You will be able to develop both professionally and as a critical member of the team in an environment you won’t find anywhere else.

We will support you every step of the way, helping you make the most of your opportunities and to achieve the goals you already have – and those you have yet to discover!

About the Role

As a Private Office Administration Apprentice, you will:

• Support Deputy Directors of Communication by helping to manage their diaries and scheduling meetings, visits, and events.
• Work with Private Secretaries to help prepare senior leaders for their commitments and understand how to prioritise effectively.
• Arrange domestic and international travel, working with internal and external partners to identify the most efficient options.
• Help maintain the team’s SharePoint site, ensuring documents, processes, and resources are well organised and easy to find.
• Assist with risk management, corporate compliance, and directorate wide activities as needed.
• Contribute to planning and delivery of team events, including directorate Away Days.
• Support colleagues across the Private Office to ensure the team operates smoothly, professionally, and collaboratively.

You’ll gain hands on experience in prioritisation, communication, professional judgement, and coordination, all essential skills for progressing within the Private Office.

What You Will Learn

The apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with New College Swindon over 18–21 months. The first 15–18 months form the ‘practical period’, combining on- and off-the-job training with and UKRI to develop and apply the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship.This includes attendance at a blend of in-person and virtual facilitated workshops throughout the practical period.

In the final 3 months of the apprenticeship, learners will undertake and lead a work-based improvement project, deliver a presentation on the project, complete a Knowledge Test, and take part in a professional discussion underpinned by a work-based portfolio as part of the End Point Assessment.

Person specification

What We Are Looking For

To apply for this apprenticeship, you will need to demonstrate within your CV that you meet the following criteria. Evidence may be used from current or prior paid employment, voluntary roles or educational experiences.

Where indicated, this detail will be assessed at shortlisting (S), interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential:

• Minimum of two GCSE passes at Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent qualifications) (S)
• Good written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated through your application and interview (S&I)
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage changing demands (S&I)
• Ability to work proactively as part of a team, using initiative to solve problems and contribute to shared goals (S&I)
• IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook, Word and Teams (S)
• A demonstrable interest in the work of UKRI and the role of communications within the organisation (S&I)

Apprenticeship Core Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to be considered for the apprenticeship programme you must:

• Have evidence of 2 GCSE including Maths and English GCSE at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent i.e. Level 2 Functional Skills).
• Have lived in the UK and/or EU for 3 consecutive years prior to the apprentice start date. Please check your eligibility here
• Confirm that this apprenticeship offers substantive new skills and knowledge and that you have not already achieved an equivalent or higher-level qualification in a similar or related subject.

As part of our shortlisting process, we may be required to determine your eligibility to undertake the programme based on the information provided within your application. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £19,514, UK Research and Innovation contributes £5,653 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. Committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance! For further information on our benefits please visit: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Selection Process

As part of the application process, a CV and cover letter are required. The CV should include GCSE results, details of any other relevant qualifications and information on skills, experience or achievements relevant to the role.

If qualifications were obtained outside the UK, please attach a UK ENIC certificate of comparability to demonstrate the UK equivalent level.

In your cover letter (no more than one side of A4), please include:

• Your interest in UKRI: Explain your motivation for working at UKRI and what attracts you to this role.
• An example of your communication skills: Describe a real situation where you communicated with a specific audience (for example, classmates, colleagues, a community group, or a social media audience). Include what you were trying to achieve, what actions were taken, and the outcome.
• Why you are a strong candidate: Outline what makes you a competitive applicant for the Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship, including how you meet the criteria in the advert. This may include relevant experience such as part-time work, school projects, volunteering, or extracurricular activities.

We encourage applicants to be clear and specific about their motivations, and how their interests align with the work of the External Affairs and Communications Directorate.

Interview

Applications will be reviewed against the essential criteria. Applicants who are successfully shortlisted will be invited to interview. The interview will be held on site at our Swindon office.

Outcome

Following the interview stage, the panel will assess all candidates and determine the outcome. The successful candidate will receive a verbal offer in the first instance, followed by a formal offer letter.

All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application and any interviews as soon as practicable. Feedback will be provided to candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Apprentice Recruitment
• Email : apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org