Sports Business Administration & Marketing Apprentice - University of Oxford - Sport Department
University of Oxford · Oxford · posted 30 July 2026
Apply on the official government service →No Apprentice League account needed — we never gate applications.
- Few days will be the same. However, we would like to work with an apprentice eager to help shape and embed new business processes which support all our users in their customer journey whether they’re on a mission to get more active, be healthier or attain high-performance competition standards
- You’ll be involved in all facets of the department to understand end to end how things work and be given latitude for your coursework to choose projects where business processes can be implemented or improved
- At the core of a customer service business is marketing, how we add value to our users, and how we capture more value from their continued patronage. Much of the work will revolve around our commercial facing work, be that how we can better engage and retain users in their subscriptions, or how we expand into new business opportunities
- You’ll experience collaboration with colleagues across the university, learning how to manage multiple tasks efficiently while building strong communication and organisational skills
- This is a new role and as such the appointee will be able to help shape the opportunity with management to meet their own development goals and help shape the future direction of our department on behalf of our customers
You will be:
- Passionate about trying a career that helps more people to become more active, more often
- Prioritising your tasks and manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Supporting the team in producing accurate documents, plans, budgets or reports
- Working on customer communications across a range of media that improves our audience reach
- Experiencing the end-to-end business processes that support customer and staff needs, from car park permits to banking, from managing activity timetable to customer newsletters
- Improving customer retention through arranging appointments, calls, follow-ups or assisting with surveys with our customer base to check on satisfaction
- Assisting with the marketing, customer communications and retailing of our products, events, courses and memberships and helping ensure the team are able to track performance
- A creative thinker, identifying opportunities to streamline processes and improve efficiency
- Support colleagues in across finance & business, operations, sports development, grounds or initiatives from the Pro-Vice Chancellor for External Engagement, Sport and Community
We will also wrap around additional learning opportunities and professional development, through webinars or attending events and conferences in support of a professional membership for Chartered Institute for Managing Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). We will purchase this annual professional membership of CIMSPA for the duration of your apprenticeship.
Your training
Duration:
- 15-months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment
Delivery model:
- Work-based training with your employer
- 10 days Business Professionals training at college
- Approximately 12 on-site assessment visits per year
- Off-the-job training will count for at least 6 hours per week of an apprentice’s time at work
Qualifications included:
- Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship standard
End Point Assessment:
- Knowledge test
- Portfolio based interview
- Project/improvement presentation
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
PLEASE NOTE:
- INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD on 3rd September 2026
- PLEASE ENSURE YOU VISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD JOBS PAGE TO READ THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND SELECTION CRITERIA BEFORE YOU APPLY. VACANCY ID IS 187928
- Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated in the job description
As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly by the Apprenticeship Training Provider and will be required to complete initial assessments in English and maths, and book onto a short eligibility assessment telephone call where you can also find out more about the apprenticeship and ask any questions you may have.
PLEASE NOTE APPLICANTS MUST REPLY PROMPTLY TO THESE REQUESTS - PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS/JUNK EMAILS SO THAT YOU DON'T MISS OUT.
By applying for this vacancy, you are giving the Training Provider permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. The Training Provider for this apprenticeship is Abingdon & Witney College.
If you would like to talk to them about the assessments, please call 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 (grade A*-C/9-4 or equivalent) — essential
Where you'll work
- University Sports Complex, Iffley Road, Oxford, OX4 1EQ
Similar apprenticeships
- HR Apprentice - University of Oxford - Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of Oxford · Headley Way
- Accounts Assistant ApprenticeShilton Accounting Services · Brize Norton Road
- Soft Landscaper ApprenticeTwo Oaks Landscapes Limited · Aylesbury
- Apprentice Events, Communications and Administration Assistant - University of Oxford DPAGUniversity of Oxford · Sherrington Road