Reference: CBC26060
Salary details: National minimum wage for age
Job term: fixed term for 18 months
Appointment type: full time
Hours: 37 hours per week, two to three days in the office
Location: Town Hall
Department: Human Resources
CBC26060 - Job description and person specification.
If you would like an accessible version of a job description then please contact the Human Resources team.
Candidates must possess the necessary right to work authorisation to enable them to work for Chesterfield Borough Council. Regrettably, we are unable to provide sponsorship or assume sponsorship of an employment visa at this juncture.
Start your career in Human Resources with Chesterfield Borough Council. As our HR Administration Apprentice, you will earn while you learn, gain hands-on experience in a busy HR and Payroll service and work towards a recognised qualification (level 3 apprenticeship). You will join a supportive team and develop practical skills across recruitment, onboarding, payroll administration and the wider employee lifecycle.
About the role
Working as part of our supportive HR team, you will provide high-quality administrative support while building your knowledge and confidence. Your work will help us deliver an efficient, accurate and customer-focused service to managers, employees and candidates across the council.
You will receive structured learning, guidance and development throughout the apprenticeship, with time to complete the training required for your qualification.
In this role, you will:
- respond to enquiries by telephone and email in a helpful, professional and confidential manner
- support recruitment by advertising vacancies, collating applications, arranging interviews and communicating with candidates
- help prepare offer letters, contracts and pre-employment documentation
- maintain accurate HR and payroll records and support timely data input
- assist with Occupational Health referrals, learning and development events and Job Evaluation panels
- take notes, prepare documents, organise meetings and support HR projects
- learn how HR activity is delivered in line with council procedures, employment law and data protection requirements
How the apprenticeship will be delivered
Your apprenticeship will combine structured learning with practical workplace experience. You will:
- take part in blended learning through live workshops, online learning and workplace experience
- complete independent study and work-based projects between learning sessions
- have regular progress reviews with your Skills Coach and line manager
- complete ongoing assessments to support your development and prepare you for the apprenticeship assessment
About you
You do not need previous HR experience to apply. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about building a career in HR, enjoys helping people and is ready to learn. You will be organised, reliable and able to communicate confidently and respectfully with a wide range of people.
You will also be able to demonstrate:
- good written and verbal communication skills
- a helpful, positive and professional approach to customer service
- the ability to organise your work, meet agreed deadlines and work as part of a team
- confidence using computers, including email and Microsoft Office
- GCSEs, or equivalent, in English and Maths
Why join us?
This is an excellent opportunity to begin or develop your career in HR while gaining a recognised qualification and valuable experience in local government. You will learn from experienced colleagues, work on real activities that make a difference and build transferable skills in administration, customer service, data handling and teamwork.
As an employee of Chesterfield Borough Council, you will have access to a variety of employee benefits, including a competitive leave entitlement, the Local Government Pension Scheme and a range of staff discounts and flexible benefits schemes.
How to apply
Interested candidates should initially apply with their CV and a covering letter stating the job title, and clearly demonstrating suitability and experience for the role. Please send it to hrjobs@chesterfield.gov.uk no later than the closing date shown below.
If you don't already have a CV you can use our template below. We also have advice about how to write your cover letter.
| CV Template |  (Word 52 KB) |
Closing date: 20 August 2026
Provisional interview date: 28 and W/C 31 August 2026