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Summary

Business administrators can be employed in small and large businesses in the public, private and charitable sectors. The role may involve working independently or as part of a team and will involve developing, implementing, maintaining and improving administrative services. The responsibilities of the role are to support and engage with different parts of the organisation and interact with internal or external customers. With a focus on adding value, the role of business administrator contributes to the efficiency of an organisation.

The business administrator is expected to deliver their responsibilities efficiently and with integrity – showing a positive attitude. The role involves demonstrating strong communication skills (both written and verbal) and adopting a proactive approach to developing skills. The business administrator is also expected to show initiative, managing priorities and own time, problem-solving skills, decision-making and the potential for people management responsibilities through mentoring or coaching others.

Typical Job Role
Business Administrator
Duration
18 months

Programme Delivery
SGS has elected to deliver the on-programme learning using the Level 3 Diploma for the Business Administrator The 7 mandatory units making up this qualification are listed below. In addition, learners will be required to select one relevant optional unit.
The standard is assessed by a range of methods to meet all the knowledge, skills and behaviours. Evidence will be collated within a portfolio of evidence. To achieve the full Level 3, all units of the Diploma must be passed, meeting the assessment criteria. College attendance for the delivery of the Diploma is mandatory for all apprentices.

Resources
Registration fees are included and resources will be available through Smart Assessor, the e-portfolio platform used by the college for apprentices.

Maths and English
This apprenticeship requires learners to achieve maths and English at Level 2. Typically, it is realistic for learners to progress up one level during the apprenticeship. At interview, we will carry out an assessment to determine current literacy and numeracy levels.  We will take account of any support needs in determining the suitability of learners for this apprenticeship.

Assessment overview
The End Point Assessment (EPA) consists of three elements, all of which may be completed online. All assessment methods need to be passed. Each assessment method should directly assess the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) of the Standard.
Our recommended End Point Assessment Organisation is City and Guilds.

Knowledge Test
The apprentice undertakes a multi-choice test to last a maximum of 60 minutes and include 50 equally weighted multi-choice questions with four possible answers each.

Portfolio-based Interview
The interview is for 30-45 minutes and scored out of 100 by the Independent End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). The Portfolio of Learning provides a structure for this conversation. Evidence is gathered on-programme and the employer should facilitate this through relevant tasks and support. The interview assesses understanding and learning shown in the

Portfolio.
The interview assesses:
Understanding of the portfolio to validate competence shown
Self-reflection of performance, demonstrating knowledge and how appropriate skills and behaviours have been applied
Judgement and understanding to explain appropriate examples.

Project Presentation:
The apprentice delivers a presentation to the EPAO on a project they have completed or a process they have improved. The presentation lasts 10-15 minutes, with a further 10-15 minutes for a Q&A session. 

The presentation should summarise the aim, outcome and responsibilities of the KSBs shown in the project. The presentation should demonstrate how they approached a task and the skills shown in doing so, building towards how they would improve the results going forward.
The presentation is expected to be produced using Microsoft Office PowerPoint or Prezi, demonstrating a minimum level of IT skills.

Weighting and grading of assessment methods
Each part of the EPA has a pass mark of 60% and must be passed in order to pass the overall apprenticeship. Grade boundaries are provided below for each method. The percentage scored for each of the Assessment Methods is to be rolled-up into an overall percentage to decide the grade for the apprenticeship. The following weighting is to be used:

Knowledge Test – 20%
Portfolio Interview – 40%
Project Presentation – 40%
The overall pass mark is 60% and a distinction can be awarded for higher levels of attainment.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours for the Business Administrator Apprentice
A Standard contains a list of the skills, knowledge and behaviours an apprentice will need to have learned by the end of their apprenticeship.  A portfolio will be compiled throughout the apprenticeship to reflect this and will include evidence collated from the work place such as, but not limited to; emails, letters, reports, presentations, appraisal information, and witness testimonies.

Knowledge

• The organisation
• Value of their skills
• Stakeholders
• Relevant regulation
• Policies
• Business fundamentals
• Processes
• External environment factors

Skills

• IT
• Record and document production 
• Decision making
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication
• Quality
• Planning and organisation
• Project management

Behaviours

• Professionalism
• Personal qualities
• Managing performance
• Adaptability
• Responsibility

20% Off-The-Job Training
“Off-the-job training is a statutory requirement for an apprenticeship. It is training which is received by the apprentice, during the apprentice’s normal working hours, for the purpose of achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship.”