Business Administrator Apprentice - Building Services

Job Introduction

Completing a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship 

Fixed Term Contract for 24 months

This is a great opportunity for an individual to support the administration and governance of the Asbestos Service and the administration of projects. Candidates must be enthusiastic, effective communicators with excellent attention to detail, and able to manage multiple demands and workstreams within the service.

Your new role:

Sitting within the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services directorate, you will be directly reporting to the Asbestos Manager and supporting them and the Compliance Manager by:

• Arranging and providing administrative support in meetings including the production of agendas, meeting minutes, risk registers and management of action logs.
• Uploading and monitoring information on our IT systems, for example reviewing, interrogating and updating compliance activities on the Repairs and Maintenance Databases and PowerBi Dashboards. 
• Supporting with the organising, producing and printing of asbestos management plans. 
• Supporting with general administrative duties, including sending letters, raising orders, arranging appointments with sites and clients, providing information to asbestos consultants and dealing with asbestos queries. 
• Arranging appointments for the asbestos surveyors to undertake surveys with building users. 
• Supporting with the compliance inbox specifically in relation to asbestos management. 
• Managing the administrative duties related to asbestos surveys, sampling and certification in order to ensure accurate record keeping related to asbestos management.  

Who is the person?

The ideal candidate is someone who will:

1. Have excellent customer service skills to deliver the high level of customer service.
2. Display excellent attention to detail to ensure that accurate information is recorded, that agendas, minutes and reports can be produced to a high standard and review of data sets. 
3. Can work independently and be well organised to be able to successfully manage multiple, competing workstreams to ensure that information is provided at the right time to a high standard.
4. You will need to have least one of the following; GCSE Grade 9-4, GCSE Grade A-C, Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths & English.
5. Have excellent communication skills, including; 

• Ability to ask effective questions to gather accurate information.
• Handing over the right information, to the right people and at the right time.
• Being assertive and challenging while dealing professionally with colleagues, service users, third parties and contractors.

1. Have the ability to understand what work is most important and prioritise as appropriate. 
2. Able to work as part of a team to ensure a smooth delivery of the service and be flexible in being able to adapt to the needs of the team.
3. Are competent to be trained to use a variety of IT databases and systems such as the Repairs and Maintenance Database, as they will need to be updated with timely, relevant and accurate information.
4. Have relevant experience of using all Microsoft packages; in particular be able to demonstrate practical IT skills using Excel spreadsheets and Outlook. Knowledge of analysing and interrogating data. 
5. Sufficient knowledge and confidence to be able to work largely autonomously following briefing and direction provided by the Head of Service.
6. Have a positive attitude towards work, be resilient, embrace change and actively work with your colleagues to improve the service offered to customers.
7. Be able to use information to problem solve. 

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours. 

Our recruitment process

If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please call Jon Latter, Compliance Manager on 07387 249 545 or email 

Jonathan.latter@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. 

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Please do this in the 'additional questions' section of the form. If you apply without this, it is unlikely that you will be successful. 

Assessment day & interviews to be held on 2nd October 2026.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

If applying as a secondment you will need permission from your current line manager releasing you for this secondment.  Please state you have this on your personal statement on the application.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.