Business Support Officer Apprenticeship, No.10 North
Description
- Job grade: Executive Officer
- Contract type: Permanent, Fixed term, Apprenticeship, Loan, Secondment
- Length of employment: 2 years - If Fixed Term, Loan or Secondment
- Business area: No.10 North
- Type of role: Administration / Corporate Support
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Prime Minister's Office enables the Prime Minister to deliver the Government's priorities and communicate Government policy to Parliament, the public and international audiences.
No.10 North is focused on delivering good growth in every postcode and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they live. Based in Manchester and working across the United Kingdom, No.10 North brings together local leaders, HM Treasury and government departments to tackle complex challenges and drive growth across the country.
Job description
The Strategy and PMO team provides the governance, coordination and organisational backbone that helps No.10 North operate effectively and deliver its priorities.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised Business Support Officer who thrives in a fast-paced environment, to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience at the heart of government. Alongside this role, the successful candidate will undertake an approved apprenticeship standard. The apprenticeship includes a minimum requirement for off-the-job training, which will be undertaken during normal working hours in accordance with the relevant apprenticeship standard and current apprenticeship funding requirements.
The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of No.10 North. They will provide business support across office management, governance, meetings, delivery coordination, and stakeholder engagement. The role will suit someone who enjoys organising activities, solving practical problems, working with a wide range of people, and helping teams operate effectively.
This role offers strong development opportunities and exposure to senior leaders, policy teams, and partners from across government.
Responsibilities
Office Management and Business Support
- Welcome visitors and support ministerial, mayoral and senior stakeholder visits.
- Coordinate meeting rooms, travel, IT requirements, logistics, and office arrangements.
- Manage office supplies, records, contact lists, and shared resources.
- Support onboarding and help maintain a professional, welcoming, and well-organised office environment.
Governance and Delivery Support
- Working with the PMO team, coordinate meetings, workshops, leadership forums and governance boards.
- Record decisions and actions, maintain trackers, and follow up on progress and deadlines.
- Collect updates and support monitoring of priorities, milestones, risks and issues.
- Prepare reports, presentations, papers, briefings and routine correspondence.
Stakeholder Support and Continuous Improvement
- Support stakeholder engagement, events, and responses to requests for information.
- Support improvements to processes, systems and ways of working, contributing to a positive and collaborative office culture.
- Complete apprenticeship learning requirements and apply learning within the workplace.
Person specification
We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, organised, reliable, and eager to learn.
Essential Criteria
Candidates will be able to demonstrate:
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- The ability to prioritise tasks and manage competing demands.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- A professional and courteous approach when dealing with colleagues and visitors.
- The ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Good problem-solving skills and a willingness to take initiative.
- Confidence using common IT applications, or a willingness to learn quickly.
- The ability to handle information appropriately and maintain confidentiality.
- A commitment to personal development and completing an apprenticeship programme.
Desirable Criteria
It would be helpful, but not essential, if candidates have experience of:
- Administrative or office support work.
- Customer service, reception, or hospitality roles.
- Organising meetings, events, or activities.
- Volunteering, student leadership, or community engagement activities.
- Supporting projects, programmes or business improvement activities.
Apprenticeship Development Offer
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete a work-based qualification that relates to this role, likely to be Level 3 Business Administration, which will be fully funded by the department (provided you do not already hold a qualification at the same level and in the same subject). We welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds however this is an excellent entry point for school and college leavers and anyone starting their Civil Service journey.
The postholder will gain practical experience in:
- Office and business support.
- Governance and secretariat support.
- Project and delivery coordination. .
- Stakeholder engagement and supporting events and visits.
- Reporting and briefing.
- Supporting senior leaders and ministers at the centre of government.
This role is intended to provide a strong foundation for future careers in Business Management, Project Delivery, Private Office, Operations, Policy Support, or Programme Management across the Civil Service.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship, you must:
- Be aged 16 or older.
- Not be in full-time education.
- Have the right to live and work in the UK – if you are an EEA citizen you must have (or have eligibility for) status under the EUSS.
- Undertake only one apprenticeship at any one time.
- Meet the stated entry requirements of the programme (including prior learning and qualifications).
- Normally be employed for at least 30 hours a week for the duration of the apprenticeship but please call us for a conversation if you have difficulty meeting this requirement and we can discuss your individual circumstances; and not have completed the same level/subject area of qualification before.
- Please note that you can undertake an apprenticeship at the same, or lower, level as a qualification that you already hold. However, as above this cannot be in the same subject.
- If you work part-time for fewer than 30 hours a week, you may be able to complete an apprenticeship. Exceptions can be made due to personal situations or because of the industry or the job role. In such a case, you would need to work at least 16 hours a week.
Candidates should note that they will be gaining substantial new professional skills and knowledge through their qualifications. By submitting an application to this campaign, you understand that you may be placed on a level 3 programme regardless of your existing qualifications.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
Application process
A candidate information session will be held on Thursday 5th November 2026, 11:30-12:00, on MS Teams. You can join the session through this link: Candidate Information Session: Strategy and PMO , Join meeting in Teams , Microsoft Teams
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a statement of suitability and behavioural statement.
Please provide a CV of no more than 800 words setting out your career history, qualifications and experience, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert. You must ensure you do not go over 800 words. Any information included beyond 800 words will be disregarded and not assessed.
Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) explain why you are looking for an apprenticeship and explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience make you suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert
Please provide a 250-word statement explaining how you demonstrate the following behaviour; Managing a Quality Service.
Selection process
CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the Success Profiles Framework. Candidates successful at sift will be invited to a Behaviours based panel interview.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour; Managing a Quality Service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Further information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Office for the Prime Minister from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Near-miss opportunities may also be offered. This means candidates may be offered a similar role at a lower grade at the end of the campaign.
Who can start an apprenticeship
To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:
- 16 or over
- living in England
- not in full-time education
You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school but you’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship. Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : No.10 Recruitment Team
- Email : No10Recruitment@no10.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/
Attachments
| Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB) |
| Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External Opens in new window (docx, 94kB) |
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