Location: High Wycombe
Overview
We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our Waste Collections and Street Scene Services team as a Business Administration apprentice. This Advanced (Level 3) apprenticeship offers a hands-on introduction to the essential operations behind waste management, recycling, and street scene services within a busy local authority environment.
Working for one of the largest employers in the County, you will gain practical skills as well as experience of the waste management services that the Council provides.
If you’re dynamic, detail-focused, eager to learn, and passionate about contributing to environmental and community outcomes, this apprenticeship could be the ideal start to your career.
About us
Our apprenticeships are designed to give you the hands-on experience needed in a real job that brings out the best in you, with real responsibilities, real challenges, real projects and scope to grow your career.
This role sits within the Waste Collections and Street Scene Services. The team work collaboratively to provide core Council services that cover waste collections (Communal/Garden/Food/Refuse & Recycling), Street Cleansing Services, Commercial Waste Services, Clinical Waste Collections, Waste Prevention and Waste Policy management.
Working across the team means there are plenty of opportunities for learning and development in both a formal and informal capacity. The team environment is fast paced, dynamic and supportive, and we invest in ‘growing our own’ so there are excellent opportunities for career progression.
Click for an insight on what it’s like to be an apprentice with us.
About the role
In this role you’ll be working closely with other members of the Waste Collections and Street Scene Services team with a particular focus around the day-to-day management of the key waste services and helping us deliver critical services to residents, businesses, and internal stakeholders. You’ll gain insight into how local government waste services operate, build practical experience, and work towards your Level 3 Business Administration qualification—with dedicated study time provided during your working week.
You will play an active role in coordinating formal complaints and enquiries, supporting Customer Services and Business Support teams, assisting with contract monitoring, and contributing to service improvements across waste and street cleansing operations.
The role will also give you insight into how the wider waste service operates, including our outsourced waste contract. You’ll develop skills in handling difficult and complex situations, delivering excellent customer service, and building strong working relationships across a range of teams and service areas.
Your work activities will focus on some of the following key areas:
1. Investigating, responding and co-ordinating formal complaints and enquiries.
2. Liaising with our waste services provider to provide resolutions to customer enquiries.
3. Mailbox management and dealing with Councillor enquiries
4. Providing support functions to other areas of the team, including contract management activities such as minute taking of contractual meetings.
5. Supporting/Escalation point for our Customer Services Centre & Corporate Business Support Teams.
6. Working with council systems such as Abavus (Customer Relationship Manager software) and I-Casework (Complaints)
About you
Skills required:
7. Able to organise own work and achieve deadlines
8. Microsoft Office skills (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook)
9. Good IT skills and the ability to use databases
10. Able to communicate well verbally and in writing
11. Able to use initiative and work independently with a good attention to detail
12. Good standard of written work with accurate spelling and grammar
Personal Qualities:
13. Resilient and able to handle difficult customers
14. Comfortable working as part of a team and playing an active role
15. Able to get on well with a range of people
16. Ambition to develop your skills and experience
17. Enthusiastic, dynamic and forward thinking
18. Willingness to learn and to undertake a range of different tasks as required
19. An interest in the environment and sustainability
Eligibility Criteria:
Good Maths and English skills are desirable but not essential.
Please note: You will not be eligible for this post if you have a Degree in the same subject as this apprenticeship, or other qualifications in the same subject at an equivalent level.
The ability to converse with ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (Code of Practice: English language requirements for public sector workers 2016)