Apprentice Operational Support Officer (Band 6/AO)

Operational Support team members provide high-quality operational, administrative and technical support within office-based environments for Inspection, Investigation, and Specialist Divisions, delivering key functions that contribute to regulatory operations across these divisions. Cross divisional support is also provided to Chemical, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) and Energy Division (ED) on an ad hoc basis, making Operational Support colleagues the backbone and integral part of a host of regulatory support work.

They work as part of a collective team within specific office locations, whilst aligned to and supporting delivery via a functional operating model. Every colleague is assigned to up to three of the divisions six priority workstreams.

You will also complete a Business Administration level 3 as part of your employment with us.

Please be advised that due to the course requirements, part time hours are not available for this position during the duration of the apprenticeship.

You will contribute to the delivery of HSEs Strategy and plan of work by undertaking a range of business support tasks and processes, against stringent service level agreements, in direct support of both front line and other HSE staff, including providing support to other parts of HSE, on both a local and national basis. You will do this by:

Targeting & Intelligence (T&I): Workstream activities relate to the provision of inspection premises as part of the annual inspection programme. This consists of actioning visit requests in a timely manner through triage of potential sites and creation of visit packs in support of Inspectors, ahead of visits. Cases must be created and accurately recorded on the correct corporate system for inspection recording.

Additionally, and irrespective of workstream, team members take on additional responsibilities as set out in the Support Service Guide and within local offices. These include but are not limited to:

• Point of contact for inspectors at location in relation to operational support tasks.

• Handling priority calls from the emergency services, and members of the public, via Customer Services. 

• Effectively manage evidence at local HSE sites, for all Divisions, ensuring continuity, accurate tracking and timely safe destruction for sensitivity, security, and capacity purposes.    

• Supporting local estates activity, including PPE provision, incoming/outgoing post, and general office resilience tasks. 

This list is not exhaustive.

Essential Skills

• The ability to organise effectively, manage tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to adapt within in a working environment when priorities change and stay focused when working on multiple tasks
• Attention to detail and ability to complete tasks accurately

Apprenticeship Eligibility

This is a development role so to be eligible to apply, the training and development you receive must provide you with significant new skills and learning. This is an essential requirement for apprenticeship funding and means you must not already hold a similar or higher qualification, be working towards a similar or higher qualification, or be significantly experienced in the Business Administrator modules.

If you hold a similar or higher qualification or, are currently working towards a similar or higher qualification in the Business, Business Management, or Business Administration modules, any offer of employment will be withdrawn.

In addition you must:

• Be aged 16 or over (there is no upper age limit).
• Have the right to work in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK/EU/EA for 3 consecutive years before starting the apprenticeship
• Hold and provide evidence of a level 2 equivalent qualification in Maths and English (I.e., GCSE Grade A-C) or be willing to work towards achieving this as part of the apprenticeship programme.

For candidates aged 19 and over, for this programme, in line with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) HSE has agreed that it is a learner-led decision to complete Functional Skills (Level 2 Maths and English). This means that if you cannot evidence you have this already, you now have the option to complete the Functional Skills or opt-out if you prefer.  We wish to encourage learners to continue with Functional Skills, especially if you feel it would be beneficial in improving your literacy or numeracy skills or it may be helpful for your future career ambitions to have an English and Maths qualification but for this pathway it is not mandatory.

For candidates aged 16-18, you will be required to provide evidence of a level 2 equivalent qualification in Maths and English (i.e., GCSE Grade A-C). If you do not hold or are unable to provide evidence of this, you will be required to undertake Functional Skills exams (Level 2 Maths and English) as part of the apprenticeship programme.

Hybrid Working

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.