Apprentice Employer Support Administrator Review

Most of my day is taken up with reviewing submissions that come in for teacher's pensions. This consists of checking for errors and compiling them from all establishments onto one spreadsheet. The other part of my job is helping employers with, and answering questions about, the contribution submissions they make and correcting errors on their end or correcting previously submitted errors. This is done both through email and on phone calls.

I have learned new skills through the apprenticeship which includes project planning skills (i.e. what tools to use when planning). I have also developed existing skills through the apprenticeship like using Microsoft office tools that I hadn't used since college so it helped teach new aspects of office and also bring the skills I already had back to the front of my mind.

The programme has some ups and downs. It is good because while there are deadlines on the work it can still be worked on at your own pace and doesn't necessarily need completing in order. The tutor's I have had have all been friendly and helpful. However some of the work structure isn't great with some of the earlier deadlines being harder to complete because they required more job role knowledge than I had at that time.

For the most part the apprenticeship is well structured with the modules being well spaced out to give enough time to complete them if you choose to go through them one at a time in order. However some of it isn't as well structured with work that should be done near the start of a module being put at the end.

Capita is pretty good at supporting me. They allow me to take the time I'm supposed to to get my apprenticeship work done. When I ask for assistance with completing a bit of work or need them to do something for me for a module it will get done. It may take a bit of time to get done but will be done.

I get a reasonable amount of help from the training provider with my apprenticeship. Whenever I have asked questions in group sessions or 1-2-1's about some work I'm stuck on my tutor will answer and help me to understand what I need to do or how best to do it. I'm also told I can email them with any questions I have and I expect they would be helpful and prompt with their answer but have not needed to.

Most of my qualification helps me to perform my role better. There are modules on Microsoft office which I use in my role so more knowledge on that was helpful. Also helpful was providing training and responding to and giving feedback. There were also some aspects that are not helpful for my role which includes planning and managing projects.

Due to working from home and everyone being scattered across the country it is hard to do things with work. I know there are some events that take place near the office that my team is based at that people go on. But I don't live near the office so am unable to take part.

Yes

The answer would be a maybe as it depends on the person and whether I think they would be suited to the job or not. However as Capita is very big and my role is one small part of one aspect of capita there will probably be something for anyone however I don't know what other departments are like.

This largely depends on job role. If the member is applying to an area outside of teacher's pensions then there isn't much advice I can give as I don't know the teams. Within teacher's pensions I would say take a look at pension types and how they work so it is less daunting when you start work. The application process wasn't to difficult and they tell you what is expected of you at each step.