Business

Our apprenticeships will give you the essential knowledge and skills to be successful in business. You will develop transferable skills such as planning, research analysis, working with others and effective communication. There are a range of standards available to suit a variety of office based roles including administration, customer services, management and accountancy.

Employers we work with Darlington Building Society, Sage, British Steel, 1st Cloud Accountants, Coast and Country, Middlesbrough Council, Ambrose Accounting, Redcar & Cleveland Council.

LEVEL 3 TEAM LEADER/SUPERVISOR (ILM3)

Length: 18-21 months

Occupation Overview A team leader/supervisor is a first line management role, with operational/project responsibilities or responsibility for managing a team to deliver a clearly defined outcome. They provide direction, instructions and guidance to ensure the achievement of set goals. Apprentices will gain a wide range of skills such as budget management, project management and problem solving.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 4 (C) or above, or Functional Skills Level 2. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression On completion, the apprentice could progress into the Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager apprenticeship. LEVEL 3 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR

Length: 18-21 months

Occupation Overview Business administrators have a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied in all sectors. This includes small and large businesses alike; from the public sector, private sector and charitable sector. The role may involve working independently or as part of a team and will involve developing, implementing, maintaining and improving administrative services. Apprentices will be required to coach staff members, organise meetings and take minutes, lead small projects such as process improvements and complete invoicing.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 4 (C) or above, or Functional Skills Level 2. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression The administration role may be a gateway to further career opportunities, such as management or senior support roles.

LEVEL 2 CUSTOMER SERVICE PRACTITIONER

Length: 13-16 months

Occupational Overview The role of a customer service practitioner is to deliver high quality products and services to the customers of their organisation. Your core responsibility will be to provide a high quality service to customers which will be delivered from the workplace, digitally, or through going out into the customer’s own locality. Apprentices will be required to deal with challenge and conflict alongside utilising influencing skills.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 3 (D) or above, or Functional Skills Level 1. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression On completion, the apprentice could progress into the Level 3 Customer Service Specialist apprenticeship. LEVEL 3 CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

Length: 15-18 months

Occupation Overview The main purpose of a customer service specialist is to be a ‘professional’ for direct customer support within all sectors and organisation types. You are an advocate of customer service who acts as a referral point for dealing with more complex or technical customer requests, complaints, and queries. You are often an escalation point for complicated or ongoing customer problems. As an expert in your organisation’s products and/or services, you share knowledge with your wider team and colleagues.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 4 (C) or above, or Functional Skills Level 2. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression On completion, the apprentice could progress into the Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor apprenticeship.

"I would highly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone wanting to learn and gain hands on experience. I’m now in the process of completing an accountancy qualification alongside my job - I’m excited to develop my skills and the opportunities available at Northern Skills really support this."

Katy Scott - Level 3 Accounting apprentice at Aedis

LEVEL 2 ACCOUNTS / FINANCE ASSISTANT (AAT2)

Length: 13 to 16 months

Occupational Overview An accounts/finance assistant is an integral part of the team responsible for maintaining an efficient and accurate finance function within a business. The accounts/finance assistant is responsible for assisting the team of accountants with junior accounting duties. These can vary massively depending on the team structure and size of business. An accounts/finance assistant work could include basic bookkeeping activities, working with sales and purchase ledgers, running calculations to ensure that records and payments are correct, recording of cash and data entry.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 3 (D) or above, or Functional Skills Level 1. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression On completion, the apprentice could progress into an Assistant Accountant role on the AAT Level 3 apprenticeship. LEVEL 3 ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT (AAT3)

Length: 15 to 18 months

Occupational Overview An assistant accountant provides support to internal and external customers and will work predominately either as an assistant accountant within practice or alternatively within the finance function of an organisation. Part of their role will involve assisting in the day to day financial activities such as data entry to month end management accounts and/or yearend financial statements.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 4 (C) or above, or Functional Skills Level 2. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression On completion, the apprentice could progress into a Professional Accounting / Taxation Technician role on the AAT Level 4 apprenticeship.

LEVEL 4 PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN (AAT4)

Length: 18-21 months

Occupation Overview Individuals in the role of a professional accounting technician will have responsibility for creating, and/or verifying and reviewing, accurate and timely financial information within the organisation in which they are employed or on behalf of another organisation. This will be performed in order to meet relevant ethical, professional and legal standards, and will utilise the individual’s knowledge of the business systems and processes, as well as standard accounting and tax practices.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 4 (C) or above, or Functional Skills Level 2. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression Completion of the professional accounting technician apprenticeship may lead to the candidate receiving credits towards the completion of the professional accountant apprenticeship or chartered accountancy qualifications provided by the relevant professional bodies. LEVEL 5 OPERATIONS/DEPARTMENTAL MANAGER (ILM)

Length: 24-27 months

Occupation Overview An operations/departmental manager is someone who manages teams and/or projects, and achieves operational or departmental goals and objectives, as part of the delivery of the organisation’s strategy.

Entry Requirements You must have achieved GCSE English and maths at Grade 4 (C) or above, or Functional Skills Level 2. Individual employers may also set their own entry requirements.

Progression On completion, apprentices can register as full members with the Chartered Management Institute and/or the Institute of Leadership and Management, and those with 3 years of management experience can apply for Chartered Manager status through the CMI.