HR Apprentice

Shape the future, starting with yours - Join AQA as an HR Apprentice and gain hands-on experience in Human Resources while supporting our mission to improve education. Over this two-year programme, you'll rotate across HR teams, learning about recruitment and employee relations. We will also support you to undertake a level 3 HR support qualification through the apprenticeship levy HR support / Skills England.

What You'll Be Doing

As an HR Apprentice, you'll rotate through three core areas of our HR Department - People Services, Employee Relations, and Talent Acquisition - gaining practical experience and supporting essential people-focused processes.

• People Services - Manage key stages of the employee lifecycle, from contracts and inductions to family leave and terminations. Respond to queries via the Service Portal, maintain accurate HR records to support payroll and reporting, and contribute to continuous improvement while upholding data protection and confidentiality standards.
• Employee Relations - Support the review of core HR policies and assist with employee relations cases using trusted resources like ACAS and CIPD. Help prepare documentation, shadow meetings, and securely manage confidential records. Provide administrative support across processes such as absence reporting and performance plans, and learn how Occupational Health referrals support employee wellbeing.
• Talent Acquisition - Assist with the full hiring process, from organising briefing calls and screening CVs to compiling interview questions and processing offers. Work with recruiters and business support teams to test and implement improvements to our applicant tracking system and maintain accurate supporting documentation.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for a proactive, people-focused individual with strong communication and organisational skills. To be eligible for this scheme, applicants must have at least 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades 4+ (A-C) including Maths and English. Other key qualities we'd like to see include:

• An interest in HR and supporting people
• A curious mindset
• Enjoying working with people as part of a team
• Resilience, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to change and uncertainty

What you'll get out of it:

We offer a fully funded apprenticeship, a supportive team, and the chance to make a real impact in education. You'll gain valuable experience, build confidence, and grow your career in a passionate organisation with a purpose.

Other benefits include:

• A salary of £23,500
• Mentoring from Senior Leadership
• A buddy to guide you through the programme
• Working on real, international projects that make an impact
• You'll take part in an accredited interpersonal skills training programme, including presenting, influencing and problem solving

Join AQA – Where Questions Matter

At AQA, we believe that every journey starts with a question. As the UK's largest exam board and a registered charity, we're driven by a powerful purpose: to advance education by delivering fair, inclusive, and world-class assessment. With over 120 years of expertise, we support more than a million learners annually – and we never aim to let them down. Working at AQA means being part of a team that puts teachers front and centre, reinvests every penny into improving education, and shapes the future of assessment through innovation, integrity, and collaboration.

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Job Type: Apprenticeship

Pay: £23,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee mentoring programme
• Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Manchester M15 6EX