Business Support Assistant - Fixed Term

Overview

We currently have an opportunity within our Adult Learning team for an experienced business support assistant to support in maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction for users of the centre.

The successful post holder will support in ensuring the facility is safe, secure, clean and tidy and set up as necessary and ensuring that customers receive appropriate information and advice in a professional, timely and friendly manner.

This post is integral in ensuring that full and complete information is collected, recorded and processed accurately and on time to meet the needs of the service and its funding bodies.

This opportunity is a fixed term/secondment for one academic year, Term Time Only (39 weeks a year), and is for 12 hours per week working 2 evenings 6.15pm - 9.15pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 9am - 3pm on Friday.

This post will be primarily based at Quarrendon Adult Learning Centre but on occasion travel to other centres may be required.

Please note the salary will be pro-rated of hours worked and include holiday pay.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected– only an hour from London on the train. The county has a rich history and heritage and is the birthplace of the international Paralympic movement.

We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.

About the role

The main responsibilities and duties of the role require the post holder to:  

• Provide a responsive ‘front of house’ and assist managers with monitoring of H&S checking within the centre, escalating any issues to a senior member of staff in an appropriate and timely way i.e. IT or premises issues
• Undertake housekeeping tasks as appropriate, to assist with promotional displays, monitoring of notice boards in line with service policy
• Receive and respond appropriately and effectively to, enquiries from staff and customers (in person, by telephone, webchat, email) and provide advice on enrolment, fees and next steps
• Enter data accurately and in the correct format; enrolments, withdrawals and transfers, loaned device records
• Use systems to obtain set reports (i.e. course starting/ course clashes), to provide accurate and relevant information to customers and managers.
• Co-operate with and support service colleagues with preparation of documents, reports and other materials to a clear brief and to defined standards and timescales using established formats and software.
• Make routine arrangements and bookings i.e. updating rooming diaries and liaise with Curriculum Coordinators to ensure all course cancellations and make-up sessions are booked as required.
• Check and record stock levels (Stationary/ utility/ refreshments) and request necessary supplies to ensure equipment and materials are available to colleagues when required.
• Follow established procedures for ordering resources, accept and check delivery of supplies, distributing accordingly.

Please see attached job description for further details. 

About you

The successful applicant will need to:

• Be able to manage and produce accurate data reports as required to support
• Have experience of working with the public
• Possess demonstrable experience of accurately maintaining records and tracking information across various Microsoft product an in-house systems
• Possess good IT skills
• Have the ability to work calmly and accurately under pressure
• Possess excellent customer service skills
• Possess the ability to ensure all paperwork is completed accurately to comply with any audit requirements
• GCSE 9-4 (a-c) or equivalent Level 2 English and Maths (or working towards)

Other information

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Jonathan Rackstraw, Senior Operations Team Leader [email protected]

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 13th July

Interview date: week commencing 21st July

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Ensuring that children and young people in Buckinghamshire reach their potential is a primary focus within our Education service. It’s essential that we provide inclusive and life-long learning opportunities for all of our young people - so we look to raise standards, attainment and aspirations in a number of ways.

Our key priorities include: improving the quality and timeliness of Education, Health and Care Plans and the support families of children with SEND receive; reducing the number of exclusions both permanent and fixed term; and providing the children of Buckinghamshire with the highest quality education possible.

We aim to provide the right support, at the right time for families requiring non-statutory intervention, and provide sufficient, high quality early years and school places for children in Buckinghamshire. Despite Buckinghamshire having a higher percentage of good or outstanding Early Years providers and schools than national averages, we are not complacent.

We are keen to strengthen the services we deliver to provide the children of Buckinghamshire the highest quality education possible.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/