Advanced Business Administrator Apprenticeship (Infrastructure Funding Team)

Overview

We’re looking for an ambitious apprentice with a keen eye for detail to join the Infrastructure Funding Team in the Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate. Working for one of the largest employers in the County, you will gain vital skills as well as experience of working in a high performing and enthusiastic team in a forward-looking organisation. You’ll study towards achieving the Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship while working with us.

About us

Our apprenticeships are designed to give you the hands-on experience needed in a real job that brings out the best in you, with real responsibilities, real challenges, real projects and scope to grow your career. 

Click here for an insight on what it’s like to be an apprentice with us. 

Infrastructure Funding is part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate. This directorate works with services including Planning, Transport, Education and Health to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire

Our Team ensures that we collect funds from developer contributions – millions of pounds a year - and ensuring they fund the necessary infrastructure. This involves a wide range of activities from reviewing legal agreements, calculating and issuing invoices for payments, liaising with developers and working with the Council’s Finance team and other service areas to ensure funds are used appropriately and reported on.

We have a good team spirit - we want everyone to love what they are doing and feel supported as they progress through their role. Personal and professional development, as well as a work/life balance, are important to us, with the Council offering flexible working arrangements.

About the role

In this role you’ll contribute to the work of the Transport Strategy and Funding team and your ‘hands on’ experience will help you to achieve the Advanced (level 3) Business Administrator apprenticeship. We’ll give you time during your working week for any study and assessments that are necessary - which means no evening or weekend study is required!

You’ll learn to use different systems and applications such as Uniform (the system which contains information on planning applications), Exacom (the system used to administer CIL and s106 legal agreements) and Microsoft Office (to summarise data and run reports).

Specific tasks will include:

• Measuring plans in order to be able to calculate Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
  • Inputting data into Exacom, such as information from CIL forms and s106 agreements (under the guidance of the CIL officers)
• Requesting information from developers and replying to emails
  • Checking through CIL forms to ensure developers have provided the information required
• Assisting our CIL officers with checking information on various systems
  • Maintaining accurate records, including keeping documentation and databases up to date

You’ll work towards being able to undertake the range of duties listed below:

• Recording and analysing data to identify key facts/trends
• Speaking to customers/colleagues face to face or on the phone/MS teams
• Learning how to use project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report.
• Producing accurate records and documents including emails, letters, files, payments, and reports

About you

Skills required:

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage own workload and meet deadlines
• Good administrative and IT skills, including Microsoft Office and able to learn how to use databases
• Confident verbal and written communication skills, including telephone work
• Ability to work independently, use initiative, and solve problems
• High attention to detail with accurate spelling and grammar
• Numerate and comfortable working with figures

Personal Qualities:

• Comfortable working as part of a team and playing an active role
• Able to get on well with a range of people
• Keen to learn with real ambition to develop your skills and experience
• Enthusiastic, dynamic and forward thinking
• Willingness to learn and to undertake a range of different tasks as required

Eligibility Criteria:

Qualified to Level 1 or above in Literacy and Numeracy (Maths & English GCSE grades A* - C/9-4 or equivalent), or Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship Qualification.

Please note: You will not be eligible for this post if you have a degree in the same subject as this apprenticeship, or other qualifications in the same subject at an equivalent level.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Other information

Location: Walton Street Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury at least 2 days a week. Working from home at other times.

Possible Starting date: TBC 2026

Duration of Apprenticeship: Our apprenticeship roles are on a fixed term contract for the duration of the apprenticeship. Level 3 is usually for about 18 months.

Salary: Your initial apprentice salary will be £15,392 p.a. for your first year and will go up to National Minimum Wage if you are 19+ when you start the 2nd year of your apprenticeship. All your training will be funded by us. As well as the salary, our apprentices are eligible to:

• Paid holiday package
• Join our generous Pension scheme
• Receive a range of restaurant, shop & gym discounts through our Employee Benefits scheme.
• Apply for a TOTEM Card (formerly called the NUS Extra card)

Reality Check: This is a full time position working a 37 hour week Monday to Friday.

Our apprenticeship roles are on a fixed term contract for the duration of the apprenticeship.

Some travel may be necessary, in which case expenses will be provided for this.

Contact: Michael Pacey [email protected]

Future Prospects: This role is a great starting place for someone interested in a career in business support and/or planning infrastructure, giving you understanding and experience of working in a Council and the opportunity to learn a variety of skills that are transferable to multiple roles.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire.  We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

 Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

 It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/