Vocational.uk The route, drawn out

Business, Retail & Logistics

Business Administrator

Run the systems, records and coordination that keep an organisation working.

Steady demand Level 3 apprenticeship
Typical pay once qualified
£24,000 – £34,000
Training length
1.5 years
Apprenticeship standard
Business administrator
Where to train
320 providers listed

The route, drawn out

DWG FAF4 · 5 stops · 1.5 years to qualify
  1. Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
  2. Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
  3. 1.5 years Fully qualified around £24k
  4. +3–5 years Experienced up to £34k
  5. Then Team leader or supervisor (level 3) next step

The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.

What the job is

Business administration is the most widely available apprenticeship in the country, in every sector from law firms to hospitals to construction companies. You will handle correspondence, records, scheduling, finance processes and projects, and learn how an organisation actually functions.

It is a genuine career starter: many administrators move into HR, finance, project management or operations within a few years, often funded by the same employer.

A typical day

  • Manage correspondence, records and filing systems
  • Coordinate meetings, diaries and travel
  • Process invoices, orders and basic finance tasks
  • Produce reports, presentations and data summaries
  • Improve processes and support projects

How you get in

  • Usually GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths, or Functional Skills
  • Organised, reliable and comfortable with software
  • Good written communication
  • Some employers use short written or IT tests

Where it leads

  • Team leader or supervisor (level 3)
  • Specialise in HR, finance, procurement or project support
  • Associate project manager (level 4)
  • Operations or office management

Where to train for this

320 colleges and training providers on our list cover Business Administrator training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.

East Midlands 15
East of England 22
London 24
North East 16
North West 36
South East 33
South West 20
UK-wide 48
West Midlands 30
Yorkshire and the Humber 24
East Scotland 6
North Scotland 7
West Scotland 9
North Wales 3
South Wales 12
West Wales 2
Northern Ireland 10
Channel Islands 2
Isle of Man 1

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