Executive Support Apprentice

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, Sunday 11th October 2026

Interview Date: Week commencing 9th November 2026

Start Date: December 2026

Positions Available: 1

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.

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 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.

What you will be doing

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 New College Swindon 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.

What We Are Looking For

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

Important Information

To be eligible to be considered for this apprenticeship, you must:

1. Have evidence of Maths and English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent).
2. Have lived in the UK and/or EU for 3 consecutive years prior to the apprenticeship start date and have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the apprenticeship, including the end-point assessment. Please check your eligibility here .
3. Have a valid and eligible residency status, the right to work in the UK, and be able to complete the full apprenticeship programme, including the End-Point Assessment (EPA). Applications from candidates with the listed time-limited visas will be considered on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with our apprenticeship training provider. Eligibility will be assessed to ensure that visa requirements align with the apprenticeship programme's duration and funding rules.
4. 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.

We may share applicant details with the training provider as part of the apprenticeship eligibility assessment process.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a sufficient number of applications be received.

How to Apply

For full details/important information and to apply, click 'Apply' within this LinkedIn Ad which will direct you to our external Careers Page. Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter.

Your cover letter should 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.