The School of Leadership and Management - Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship

Who is it for?

The Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship is designed for those who work in busy central business or functional roles. Individuals who are responsible for overseeing and managing the day to day operational, procedural and functional tasks covering a range of crucial business, administration and finance functions.

The programmes has been designed around 4 key stages and provides an accreditation pathway to the ILM Level 3 Diploma in Leadership & Management.

Stage 1: Pre-Onboarding

Prior to programme start, learners will complete the following activities:

• Attend an information session, providing an oversight of the key elements of the programme.
• Complete an initial skills assessment against the standard’s knowledge, skills and behaviours.
• Verify status of existing qualifications, including English and Maths.

Stage 2: Induction and onboarding

• 1-2-1 session (virtual – MS Teams or Zoom):
  • Introduction to the programme, to include:
    • Apprentice standard
    • ILM Level 3 Diploma Leadership & Management
  • Learning journey
  • Assessment methods
  • Gateway and End Point Assessment

• Introductions:
  • Moodle online learning platform
  • Assessment team
  • Learner management team
  • Preparing to be an effective learner
  • Completion of documentation
  • Understanding the roles of the course delivery team

Stage 3: Programme delivery and key components

A typical monthly programme includes follows:

1. Workshop (if group) or a 1-2-1 session with your course tutor/coach (usually lasts a full day)

• Discussion of the unit topic, contextualising it to your business.
• Preparation for assessment activities
• Portfolio and End Point Assessment

2. Individual tutorial

• Bespoke support for assessment task.
• Progress against knowledge, skills and behaviours of standard.
• Inclusion of line managers as appropriate
• Bespoke support with
  • Portfolio development
  • Preparation for End Point Assessment
  • Off-job learning requirement

3. Self-directed learning

• Working through ILM workbook, 1 per unit
• Development of portfolio
• Completion of assessment task
• Off-role training

4. In house input and support

We recommend inviting key people within the apprentices organisation to participate in the programme, at appropriate points during the month. This can include, but is not limited to, workshops, coaching and mentoring.

Monthly programme themes and learning units

The programme is consists of 12 months delivery followed by up to three months preparation and completion of End Point Assessment. A typical 12 month programme will include the following themes:

Month 1: Personal and professional development

Month 2: Communication in a business environment

Month 3: Principles of business administration (Part 1)

Month 4: Principles of business administration (Part 2)

Month 5: Looking ahead to End Point Assessment

Month 6: Managing Performance

Month 7: Human Resources Environment (Part 1 only)

Month 8: Provide administration in the sector environment

Month 9: ICT for business Part 1 and Part 2

Month 10: Your organisation

Month 11: Project Management

Month 12: Preparing for End Point Assessment

Month 13: Gateway

Month 14 – 15: End Point Assessment

You will find a monthly structure and description of key elements of the programme below. This should give you a good feel for the regular activities.

Typical Monthly Structure

Week 1 Group/Individual Workshop – Full Day

Week 2 Independent study

Week 3 Individual 45-minute online tutorial

Week 4 Independent study

Group/Individual Workshop – full day

This session will deliver course content, provide opportunity for interactive learning and expert tuition as well as guest speakers where appropriate.

Where the programme is delivered to a group, these sessions will also include opportunity for debate, discussion and peer on peer learning.

Your course tutor will also provide guidance and advice on how to approach assessed elements of your qualification including written assignments and the development of your skills/behaviours portfolio.

Independent study

During these allocated weeks you will be required to work on your formal written assignments as well as compiling evidence for your skills/behaviours portfolio.

There will be no direct contact from your tutor during these weeks, though they will be accessible via email for enquiries.

45-minute online tutorial

During these weeks, you will be allocated (through mutual agreement) a 45-minute slot for you to meet online with your course tutor 1-2-1.

This will be a safe, confidential space for you to ask questions about your formal assignments and raise any concerns you may have regarding any aspects of the programme. Your tutor will also ask you about access to your Off The Job training time allocation, as well as how you are using this designated time.

They will also talk to you about your portfolio, providing both support and challenge to help you build this up over time. At regular intervals during your time on the programme, your line manager will also be invited to these meetings (effectively making them 1-2-2) to discuss progress and support.

Learners will also participate in regular line manager reviews. They will meet regularly with their tutor and are supported in their journey by a dedicated Learner Manager.

What are the benefits – for the learner?

• Growth in ability to manage tasks, projects and plans
• Use of effective communication approaches
• Building of confidence and capability to support delivery of results
• Ability to plan and manage projects
• Understanding of financial measures vital to business administration
• Personal growth in self-awareness and management
• Ability to make decisive decisions

What are the benefits – for the employer?

• Enhanced business administration and management
• Motivated workforce
• Focus on solutions
• Talent development for leadership and management.
• Tangible results arising from practical learning applied in the workplace

Who is eligible?

• Learners who are, or aspire to be, business administrations or first time managers.
• No formal qualifications are required, other than
• Learners will be required to demonstrate a minimum level 2 achievement in English and Maths functional skills. We will support learners to demonstrate this or to achieve the necessary level.

How can the programme link to qualifications?

Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of the Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship. It is also possible for learners to gain an ILM Level 3 Diploma qualification with limited additional assessment work.

Our Approach

• Timetable tailored to the needs of learners and their organisation
• Sponsorship of learning projects by senior managers, where appropriate.
• Invitation to internal guest speakers to participate in individual themes.
• Co-branding of learning materials with client logos.
• Practical approaches to qualifications and End Point Assessment

How is the programme assessed?

There is one knowledge-based assessment per unit and these are usually written assignments.

At the end of the formal programme, learners complete a Gateway assessment.

This is designed to ensure that they are ready for End Point Assessment.

This involves a three way conversation between the learner, their line manager and ourselves, to make sure that all the programme requirements have been met and the learner is ready for their final assessment.

After a successful gateway assessment, learners complete an End Point Assessment, incorporating two elements

• A presentation, followed by questions and answers
• A professional discussion, underpinned by a portfolio of evidence