Registration Services - Apprentice

Job Introduction

We’re looking for a bright and enthusiastic Apprentice to join our busy team within Registration Services.

This is an entry level position where you’ll handle calls and enquiries from customers who want to book a range of appointments for births, deaths, and marriages and more as well as booking ceremonies or ordering copy certificates.

This role is ideal for you to develop your excellent customer care skills, tact and diplomacy, confidentiality and empathy at times of loss. There’ll also be the opportunity for you to get involved with registering wedding ceremonies, and in making changes to our website and marketing publications.

You’ll support the smooth running of the rooms we use, look after our key systems and generally be a great asset to the team.

Customer skills, excellent accuracy (including spelling), neat handwriting, computer literacy and the ability to work under pressure are a must.

In return, we offer full training and wider development.

This is a fixed term 15-month contract.

Role Responsibilities

• Provide an efficient and customer focused service by processing and responding to incoming communications (post, phone and emails), message taking, copying and distributing information as necessary.
• Recording information accurately on city council systems.
• Communicate respectfully with service users and colleagues, establish a rapport and build honest and trusted relationships.
• Undertake a variety of tasks for the benefit of customers and the Registration Service such as booking appointments, dealing with copy certificate orders, taking telephone payments, supporting citizenship paperwork and events, updating paper and electronic systems, registering marriage ceremonies and other back-office tasks.
• Work towards and successfully complete the Business Administration Apprenticeship at Level 3 within 15 months from the start date.

Ideal Candidate

• Willing to learn and an interest in supporting a statutory service.
• GCSE Grade A-C in English and Maths or equivalent e.g., Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths or demonstrable ability to achieve during apprenticeship (a basic skills assessment will be undertaken as part of recruitment process).
• Strong customer service skills.
• Good written and communication skills.
• Good organisational skills.
• IT literate and ability to use Word, Excel and Outlook to a proficient standard.
• Exceptional attention to detail.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.

• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.

• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.

• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.

• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.