Data Collections Apprentice
£24,863 pa + benefits
Pitsea, Essex
Make a Difference While You Learn
Are you looking to start your career in business administration, develop real workplace skills, and make a positive impact in our communities? Join us as our Gateway and Data Collections Apprentice and become a valued part of our Essex Outreach Gateway team.
This is your opportunity to gain hands-on administrative experience while completing a fully funded Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship. You’ll work alongside experienced colleagues who will support, guide and mentor you as you build the foundations of a successful career.
About the role
As part of the Essex Outreach Gateway team, you will support the efficient operation of our referral and customer contact service. You’ll be a key first point of contact, helping customers, colleagues and external partners by managing enquiries, coordinating bookings, processing referrals, and supporting the accurate collection of data.
No two days are the same and throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll build confidence, develop business administration skills, and gain valuable experience that will set you up for future opportunities with us.
What You’ll Do and Learn
* Act as a first point of contact for enquiries into the outreach service.
* Managing the Gateway inbox and responding to customers and external stakeholders.
* Assisting with processing referrals and providing phone cover.
* Supporting daily administration and data collection activities.
* Coordinating bookings for community hubs and signposting customers to services that meet their needs.
* Ensuring appropriate escalation for customer referrals and/or contacts.
* Handling data accurately and confidentially, maintaining full GDPR compliance.
* Upholding Peabody’s policies, including Equality, Diversity, and Safeguarding.
About the Apprenticeship
As part of your 15-month apprenticeship, you’ll spend at least 20% of your time learning and developing, taking part in training sessions, workshops and regular 1:1 review. You’ll complete assignments and assessments linked to your day-to-day role, receive mentoring and support from experienced colleagues, and gain exposure to different teams across the organisation. Your programme will conclude with an end-point assessment to achieve your qualification.
About You
You don’t need loads of experience, just the right attitude, a willingness to learn, and a genuine interest in building your career in Peabody. You’re organised, naturally curious, enjoy helping people, like being part of a team, and take pride in doing things properly.
* Positive, enthusiastic and committed to delivering excellent customer service
* Organised with a “can-do” attitude and eager to learn
* Able to prioritise tasks in a busy environment
* Confident communicating with a range of people
* Someone who takes pride in accuracy and pays close attention to detail
* Curious, motivated and passionate about developing their skills
* Committed to confidentiality, GDPR, equality and inclusive working
You will need:
✔ Level 2 qualifications (equivalent to 5 GCSEs)
✔ Basic IT skills, especially Microsoft Office & Outlook
✔ A clear motivation for applying and an understanding of what an apprenticeship involves.
What We Value
We’re proud of our values, and we live them every day:
* Be kind – We show empathy and care in every interaction.
* Do the right thing – We act with integrity and in the best interests of our residents.
* Love new ideas – We’re curious and always looking for ways to improve.
* Celebrate diversity – We value different perspectives and create a sense of belonging.
* Keep our promises – We do what we say we will.
* Pull together – We collaborate and support each other, especially when it’s tough.
If these values resonate with you, you’ll feel right at home here.
What We Offer
* A permanent role with a clear progression pathway
* A Level 3 Business Administration qualification
* Support from our Learning & Development team and a dedicated mentor
* 25 days’ annual holiday plus bank holidays
* Two additional paid volunteering days each year
* Flexible benefits scheme, including family friendly benefits and access to a retail discounts portal.
* 4 x salary life assurance
* Up to 10% matched pension contribution
Are You Eligible?
Before applying, check if you meet the apprenticeship funding requirements:
- You’ve lived in the UK, EEA, Switzerland, or Gibraltar for the last 3 years (you’ll need to show proof).
- You don’t already have a qualification at the same level or higher in this subject.
- You’ll be 18 or older when the apprenticeship starts.
If that sounds like you, this could be the perfect opportunity to start your career with full support and training! Please apply online and submit an anonymised CV.
What Happens Next
We’re committed to a fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment process. As part of your application, you’ll answer values-based questions aligned to our values along with multiple-choice scenario questions to help us understand how you approach real-life situations. These responses are an important part of the selection process before interview.
If you meet the eligibility and essential shortlist criteria, you’ll be invited to take part in an onsite interview on 2nd April 2026 at Pembroke House, Pitsea.
Closing date: 26th March 2026 at midnight