HR Apprentice - University of Oxford - Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences
University of Oxford · Headley Way · posted 29 July 2026
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You will be passionate about starting your career in Human Resources and excited about the opportunity of becoming an apprentice at the University of Oxford. You may be starting your career or you may be looking for a career change.
You will be provided with the opportunity to develop full knowledge of the HR lifecycle, from planning recruitment and on-boarding new staff, to the end of fixed-term contracts and retirement planning. You will work to support the HR team with induction and payroll, reward and recognition, employee relations, and engagement. You will regularly interact with all members of the department and will learn to provide advice on university procedures and policies covering a range of issues such as employee welfare, maternity/paternity and absence management. You will provide a professional, high-quality customer-focused service.
Responsibilities:
- The HR Apprentice will be fully trained to provide essential support to the NDCN HR team
- Act as first point of contact for enquiries from employees, line managers and the general public by telephone, email and face to face, answering straightforward questions or redirecting as appropriate
- Learn how to manage the HR inbox where required, dealing with appropriate queries or directing emails to the relevant HR contact.
- Learn how to use the University’s HR system, PeopleXD, to enter confidential, personal data, and assist with data entry into internal databases and spreadsheets
- Accurately maintain all confidential electronic and paper-based personnel files
- With support, prepare a wide range of written communications including; contracts, letters and wider communications. This could include drafting and updating information on the HR pages of the website, and helping to prepare training material. Edit job advertisements and job descriptions to ensure that they comply with University guidance and best practice
- Learn about recruitment processes, assisting with the administration of recruitment exercises which will include; placing advertisements, generating letters to applicants and preparing short listing packs
- Assist with maintaining personnel files, ensuring accurate records are kept, that they are complete and up-to-date, and support our project to move our physical files to electronic
- Develop skills and understanding that contribute to the development and continuous improvement of HR activities
- Assist in preparing HR metrics and various reports for the termly Committees and monthly meetings
- Assist with the delivery of projects across the HR team; working with different team members on a varied array of projects, liaising with colleagues across the department to gather information and support successful delivery
- Book meeting rooms and make administrative arrangements in support of HR team activities
- Learn how to manage the recording and tracking of sickness absence and annual leave using PeopleXD or similar HR system. Act as first point of contact for associated queries
- Gather information for visa applications where necessary
- Assist with the compilation of data for HESA returns, HR Data returns and run ad hoc reports from the HR database when required
- Learn how to monitor end of probationary periods and visa expiry dates and highlight any issues to the Senior HR Advisor
- To develop and maintain the NDCN academic visitor database
- Run monthly Staff in post and other PeopleXD Reports. Manage HR data quality
- Undertake other duties in the department from time to time as determined commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of this post, and any other reasonable request
Your training
Duration:
- 13 months practical training period, plus 6 months for End Point Assessment
Delivery model:
- Work-based training with your employer
- Day release during term time (approximately 1 day a week for 1 year)
- Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (7 days at college for each, if required)
- Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work
Qualifications included:
- CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice
- Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship
End Point Assessment:
- Consultative project
- Professional discussion
Where it leads
- Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their apprenticeship and that is just the start of their career
About University of Oxford
We are the largest employer in Oxfordshire with around 17,000 staff working in and around Oxford in a huge range of roles. Our apprentices are never on their own and will benefit from a supportive environment working in collaboration with the rest of our committed team. You will also be supported by the central apprenticeship team and you will join our growing network of apprentices within the university. You will have the opportunity to become an apprenticeship ambassador for the University and region. We will provide you with a welcoming and inclusive workplace, offering support and development opportunities that will enable you to progress and do your best work. We recognise diversity as our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, and we aspire to build a truly diverse community, which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.
Things to consider
BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE VISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD JOBS PAGE AND READ THE FULL ADVERT AND ACCOMPANYING JOB DESCRIPTION AS THIS PROVIDES DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE ROLE - JOB REFERENCE 187783
- You will be passionate about starting your HR career and excited about the opportunity about becoming an apprentice at the University of Oxford. You may be starting your career or you may be looking for a career change.
- Please note that the Training Provider is required to assess your current ability in Maths and English as part of the application process, even if you already have your English and maths qualifications.
- In applying for this role, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College the permission to access your Learner Record and to contact you in order to carry out required pre-screening checks.
Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to complete a series of initial assessments and eligibility checks prior to start. As a new Apprenticeship applicant, you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments, please call us on 01235 216216.
We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.
Skills they're looking for
Entry requirements
- GCSE Maths and English Language (grade A*-C/9-4 or equivalent) — essential
Where you'll work
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU
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