Business Administrator Apprenticeship - Level 3

Met Office; Exeter; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job description

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Job Reference metoffice/TP/439/1101

Fixed Term Contract

Working Hours:

37

Location (City/Town):

Exeter

Closing Date:

08/03/2026

Profession:

Business Support & Coordination

Region / Division:

UK Region

Careers website category:

Job Introduction

The Met Office is delighted to open our advertising for Apprenticeships 2026.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Met Office as a Business Administrator Apprentice for up to 18 months commencing at the start of September 2026. You will develop skills and workplace experience in this occupation which may lead to a permanent position on successful completion of your apprenticeship or the knowledge to gain employment within the wider industry.

As our Business Administrator Apprentice, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work. As apprentices are part of our Early Careers Programme, there is the expectation you attend the office once a week as a minimum in addition to your study day.

Our opportunities are full time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

World changing work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

• We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
• We’reexperts by nature - always learning and developing to do thingsbetter
• We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision‑making
• We’rebetter together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make usgreater
• We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Your world of expertise

This apprenticeship can offer you the support, training and industry recognised qualifications to get you on the path to a career in Business Administration.

There are two roles available and you will provide administrative support to staff within the Services Directorate or Office of Science & Technology, to ensure effective service provision, management of information, activity monitoring and the effective development and use of resources and tools.

Training delivery and support

We would look for you to join us in September 2026 with your apprenticeship training beginning shortly afterwards.

You will be managed by a line manager and have a mentor to offer further support. You will have on the job training and in‑house development opportunities during your apprenticeship.

You will have 1 day per week dedicated to your 20% off the job training with the training provider, Exeter College. The training will be delivered predominantly face‑to‑face, as well as through self‑study. Before applying, we recommend you consider if the delivery method suits your learner needs along with whether you feel you are committed to your own development and training as this element forms a significant aspect of a modern apprenticeship.

You will have the opportunity to work with a central support team, allowing you to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in this occupation whilst contributing to Met Office aims.

• Collate and maintain accurate data and records on management information including resources, performance, risk and progress against agreed plans, supporting effective management decision making.
• Provide defined clerical and administrative support (such as organising meetings, taking minutes and chasing actions) to support management.
• Monitor and analyse management information and proactively identify emerging issues and variances, to mitigate risk impact and maximise business opportunities.
• Make recommendations for, and lead on, improvements and changes to administrative working practices to enhance service delivery and reduce risk, both locally and through cross‑office initiatives.
• Update, coordinate and issue directorate and group level communications, such as responding to correspondence, maintaining and developing internal communication channels and compiling reports, to ensure staff across the organisation are effectively informed.
• Assist with the planning, organisation and delivery of high‑profile events and conferences to ensure they run effectively within the resources allocated.
• Develop excellent working relationships with colleagues and external customers, underpinning smooth and efficient service delivery and increased growth.

Our work is life‑changing, often life‑saving and always life‑enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.

As our Business Administrator Apprentice Level 3, your starting salary will be £23,400 and you will have the opportunity to progress to £24,700 over time.

Your total reward package is potentially worth up to £33,434 annually, which includes basic salary, potential corporate bonus and employer pension contributions.

We also offer:

• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave
• Access to discounted shopping, inclusive of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

• Better together - Communication: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively in writing (e.g., emails, minute taking presenting consolidated information), over the phone and in person, with a wide range of people.
• Force for good - Professionalism: Behaves in a polite and professional manner – includes personal presentation, punctuality and attitude to colleagues, customers and key stakeholders; with high standards of accuracy and customer care.
• Expert by nature - Excellent organisational skills; Manage administrative tasks with competing workloads, understand how to prioritise, and deliver to deadlines and in full.
• Expert by nature - IT: Experience in using Microsoft 365 tools, such as Microsoft Word and Excel; with Demonstrable ability to apply tools to improve the efficiency of administrative tasks.
• Keep evolving - Independent working: Ability to work independently on tasks, making sound decisions based on knowledge and expertise; with the ability to use your own initiative.
• Live and breathe it - Motivated: Strong desire to learn and support colleagues, contributing to the high‑quality work of the Met Office; and an understanding of the values and purpose of the Met Office.

Am I eligible to apply?

In addition to the criteria listed above, you must also be eligible to qualify for apprenticeship funding by meeting the following:

• Not be enrolled on another funded apprenticeship or another funded further education or higher education programme at the time you start this apprenticeship.
• Are applying for an apprenticeship that is unrelated to any qualifications you already hold at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship.
• Are living in England at the time the apprenticeship commences.

Please note: suitability and eligibility will also need to be verified by the training provider.

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application.

Please complete your career history (this could include voluntary or work experience roles) and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills. Please read the Early Careers Programmes Application Guidance at the bottom of this advert for more guidance.

Using AI in your application

We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.

Closing date: 23:59 8th March 2026. Please note we often receive a high volume of applications, but we will contact everyone who applies once the closing date has passed.

Interviews will be completed by end of April 2026.

How we can help

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at [e-mail].

If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario‑based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.

We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK – please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact us at: [e-mail]. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: [e-mail].