Business Administrator Apprenticeship (Level 3)
Damar business administrator apprentices develop a valuable, highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours. They work in small and large businesses alike, from the public sector, private sector and charitable sector. Their roles may involve working independently or as part of a team and will involve developing, implementing, maintaining and improving administrative services.
Because of the characteristics of administrative roles in these sectors, we also offer two specialist pathways for the legal and medical sectors (a small additional fee applies in each case). In addition to the main programme content:
- The Legal Administrator programme focuses on business structures and regulation specific to the legal sector and includes additional content covering the key legal concepts relevant to a selected area of practice.
- The Medical Administrator programme focuses on organisational structures and regulation specific to the medical sector and includes additional content leading to a medical terminology qualification accredited by CPD UK.
Key facts
Administrators play a vital part in the success of organisations. They
support and engage with different parts of the organisation and
interact with internal and external customers.
15 months (includes preparation for end-point assessment)
The programme is formed of nine carefully planned and sequenced 6-week modules that help apprentices learn and apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for each of the core occupational duties undertaken by business administrators.
- Module 1: the organisation; value of skills; developing self
- Module 2: interpersonal skills; professional behaviours
- Module 3: IT skills, record and document production; quality; managing performance
- Module 4: project management; business processes
- Module 5: decision making; managing changes
- Module 6: planning and organisation
- Module 7: stakeholders
- Module 8: external environmental factors; business finance
- Module 9: relevant regulations; organisation policies
All apprenticeships embed the functional use of maths and English as well as personal development topics in areas such as equality and diversity and British Values. Apprentices unable to evidence maths and English at GCSE level 4 or above may need to take functional skills exams as part of the apprenticeship. Additional training is provided if necessary.
People of all ages and educational backgrounds can undertake business administrator apprenticeships, but there are some restrictions, the most important of which are:
- The employer and the training provider must ascertain that the apprenticeship will allow the individual to gain substantive new skills. The training therefore needs to be materially different from any prior qualification or previous apprenticeship.
- The apprenticeship must align with the skills needs of the apprentice’s role.
- The apprentice must be employed, usually for 30+ hours a week, and work more than 50% of their time in England.
- All apprenticeships must take at least 12 months with apprentices spending a minimum of 6 hours per week in off-the-job training. All Damar apprenticeships plan for more than the legal minimum. There is more on how we maximise the benefits of off-the-job training here: https://damartraining.com/news/2023/so-what-is-off-the-job-training/.
If your annual UK wage bill is over £3 million, the cost of training can be funded via the Apprenticeship Levy. We can help you navigate your Apprenticeship Service account to access this funding.
If your annual UK wage bill is below £3 million, the government covers 95-100% of the training costs. The level of funding available is determined by the size of your business and the age of the apprentice.
There is a wide range of progression routes from the business administrator apprenticeship. Our apprentices regularly progress to the paralegal apprenticeship (from the legal administrator pathway), to the team leader or supervisor apprenticeship and to accountancy apprenticeships. Progression to the data protection and information governance practitioner apprenticeship is also possible. Subsequent career and educational progression options include to professional qualifications such as solicitor and Chartered Manager (via degree level apprenticeships).
Enrolment dates
There are generally two business administrator cohorts starting each month. Applications for each cohort close 42 days before the start date.
To discuss how Damar apprenticeships can help your organisation and your colleagues to achieve their potential, please click 'Make an enquiry'
Our delivery model
- Pre-work. Usually, reading or video content relating to the module.
- Group coaching session. Apprentices come with their questions, discuss their learning with peers and prepare themselves for the final part of the module, which is to complete individual activity.
- Individual learning activity. An activity brief will be provided for the apprentice as introduced in the group coaching session. The student will work through the activity brief, building their evidence to support the portfolio and end point assessment. Importantly, this final activity allows the apprentice to embed and contextualise their learning.
- Main learning. Self-directed, interactive content on our online learning platform.
- 1:1 Coaching visit. Every six weeks, where work completed and feedback are reviewed and, if it is to the right standard, the module will be signed off. It is also an opportunity to review progress and discuss personal development with the apprentice.
- Review meeting. Takes place with the apprentice and their supervisor every 12 weeks, immediately after a coaching visit, providing a further opportunity to review progress.
End-point assessment
- A 50–question multiple choice knowledge test. This element must be passed before the other elements.
- A structured interview with the independent end-point assessor, based on the apprentice’s portfolio of evidence (30-45 minutes).
- A presentation, given to the independent end-point assessor, on a project the apprentice has completed at work which must be based on a process they have improved. (10-15 minutes for the presentation followed by 10-15 minutes Q&A).
Case study
Kielan Bawtree – Business Administration Apprentice
Kielan works as an IT Administrator Apprentice at Aldermore Bank who recently passed with Distinction in his Business Administration apprenticeship. Click below to read more about Keilan’s apprenticeship journey and his future career aspirations.
Evan Fowler – Business Administration Apprentice
Evan of Infinity Finance has recently completed his Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. Click below to find out more about Evan’s apprenticeship journey, and how his hard work and perseverance helped him achieve a Distinction in his apprenticeship.
