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The role

We are recruiting x4 Business Administration Apprentices to join Southwark Council’s Planning and Growth Division.

This is a fantastic opportunity to start your career in local government, gain practical workplace experience, and work towards a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship qualification. You will be part of a supportive division that brings together specialist teams across Planning, Commercial Property Management, Local Economy and Sustainable Growth, all working to help shape Southwark’s future.

As a Business Administration Apprentice, you will take on a range of varied and rewarding administrative tasks that help services run smoothly. You will support processes, systems, meetings, records, correspondence, data, and day-to-day coordination, while developing the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for a career in business administration.

The apprentices will be placed across different service areas within Planning and Growth. As part of the application process, candidates will be asked to tell us which placement area they are most interested in and briefly explain why. Final placements will be confirmed based on service need and candidate suitability.

This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience, achieve a recognised qualification and play your part in supporting the work of Southwark Council.

You will be joining a motivated and supportive team that values learning, development and collaboration. We especially welcome applications from Southwark residents.

Why this role stands out:

This apprenticeship offers the opportunity to:

• Build valuable experience within Southwark’s Planning and Growth Division.
• Gain insight into how council services help shape places, support communities and deliver improvements across the borough.
• Develop practical business administration skills in a real workplace setting.
• Work towards a nationally recognised Level 3 Business Administration qualification.
• Be supported by experienced colleagues in a collaborative and professional environment.
• Contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference to local residents, businesses and communities.

What you'll be doing

We have the following placement areas available:

Divisional Business Support – 1 post

This apprentice will provide administrative and business support to the Divisional Business Manager, helping with divisional processes, meeting coordination, trackers, correspondence and general coordination across Planning and Growth.

The role will also provide support linked to the Director and senior management team, giving the apprentice valuable experience of divisional governance, reporting and senior business support.

Building Control / Business Development – 2 posts

These apprentices will be based within the Building Control team and will provide administrative support across Building Control and Business Development activity.

The roles will include supporting records, correspondence, workflow tracking, information handling, monitoring, meetings and general service administration. Apprentices will work under supervision and gain practical experience of how business support operates within a busy regulatory and service environment.

Digital Planning – 1 post

This apprentice will support Digital Planning activity, helping with administrative and project support linked to digital systems, service improvement and changes to working practices across Planning and Growth.

The role may include supporting documentation, data updates, meeting actions, process tracking and digital transformation work linked to Planning and Building Control processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Support your designated team with a range of administrative tasks, ensuring work is accurate and completed on time.
• Help manage processes, systems, trackers, records and correspondence.
• Support meetings, including coordination, actions and follow-up where required.
• Assist with compiling, presenting and monitoring information and data.
• Work with colleagues across Planning and Growth to support daily workflows and projects.
• Contribute to service improvements and help teams work efficiently.
• Balance workplace learning with formal study, including assignments, workshops and assessments.
• Attend training, development sessions and regular progress meetings as part of your apprenticeship.

What we're looking for

We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, organised and keen to learn. You do not need previous local government experience, but you should be motivated to develop your skills and make the most of the apprenticeship opportunity.

You will need:

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs grades 9–4 / A–C, including English and Maths, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with IT applications such as Outlook, Excel and Word.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks.
• A willingness to learn, take on new responsibilities and develop your skills.
• The ability to present information clearly and accurately.
• A flexible, team-focused approach and a commitment to supporting colleagues.
• Awareness of equality, diversity, health and safety, and data protection principles.

Candidate preference:

As part of your application, please state which placement area you are most interested in:

• Divisional Business Support
• Building Control / Business Development
• Digital Planning

Please also briefly explain why that area interests you. Preferences will be considered alongside service requirements and candidate suitability.

Additional details

This role is being offered as a fixed-term contract for 2 years.

Full time, 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This is a hybrid role, with time split between working from council offices and working from home.

Internal applicants should seek agreement from their substantive line manager if applying as a secondment opportunity.

Recruitment timetable:

Closing date: 31 July 2026 at 23:59*

*We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, in which case we will move the key dates for the process. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Interview date: tbc

Why Southwark?

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with conservation areas, historic buildings, social enterprises and a young, diverse, and growing population.

Employee benefits:

You’ll join a motivated, driven, and supportive team that values each of its members and strives for excellence. You’ll also be part of a successful, high-achieving development team making a real difference to the lives of residents across the borough. In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive:

• A competitive base salary (pro rata for part time staff)
• Strong supportive senior management team
• Regular one to one supervision
• Professional development & training opportunities
• Clear career development pathways
• Agile and flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Season ticket and cycle loans
• Annual Leave starting at 27 days per year, increasing to 35 (with length of service) (pro rata for part time staff)
• Wellbeing programme
• HSF Health plan and eye care scheme
• EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support
• Social clubs and staff groups

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Attachments

• Click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification