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Future People Professional - HR Support Apprenticeship

Level 3

Summary

Study level

Undergraduate

Award

Apprenticeship

Part time

15 months, plus end point assessment

Location

Nationwide

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Education for everyone, everywhere

Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.

You decide how and where to study

We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.

Full support both online and on-site

We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.

Strong focus on employability

You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

This Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship is designed for individuals working in HR administration, recruitment support, employee records, onboarding or people operations roles who want to build broader HR knowledge and practical workplace confidence.

The Future People Professional Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship is a workforce capability programme designed to strengthen people operations, employee support and organisational effectiveness.

As organisations grow, people management becomes too important to manage informally. Inconsistent HR processes, poor onboarding, unsupported managers and reactive HR administration can create risk, reduce efficiency and weaken employee experience.

This apprenticeship helps develop reliable internal HR capability by giving apprentices the practical knowledge and confidence to support recruitment, onboarding, employee records, HR systems, manager queries, policy application and people processes.

The programme combines core HR knowledge with workplace-based application, supporting learners to deliver high-quality, compliant and customer-focused HR services. Apprentices will develop the confidence to support managers and employees, apply HR policies in practice and contribute to effective people management and organisational performance.

By the end of the apprenticeship, learners will be able to operate as effective HR Support professionals, helping their organisation deliver consistent, responsive and professional people support.

This apprenticeship is suitable for individuals working in, or moving into, HR support, people operations, recruitment or employee administration roles.
It is also suitable for employees who are already supporting activities such as contracts, onboarding, employee records, recruitment activity, candidate communication, HR systems or employee queries.

The programme is particularly useful for early-career HR professionals, emerging people professionals, employees beginning an HR career pathway and smaller organisations looking to professionalise HR capability without needing a large HR function.

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Course details and modules

This apprenticeship is delivered through a structured learning journey, beginning with onboarding and progressing through five defined phases. The programme builds capability from foundational HR knowledge through to applied HR practice, service delivery, people data, reporting and End Point Assessment preparation.

Modules

You’ll begin your apprenticeship by reflecting on your current role, responsibilities and development goals. This helps you build a clear understanding of where you are starting from and what you want to achieve.

You’ll develop confidence in your role as an HR professional, understand programme expectations and begin your learning journey with a clear sense of direction and purpose.

Phase 1: Business Acumen and the Role of HR

Months 2–4
You’ll develop an understanding of how your organisation operates, including its structure, purpose and the products or services it delivers.
You’ll explore how external factors and market conditions influence organisational priorities.
You’ll also learn how your role fits within the wider organisation and how HR supports business objectives. This will help you understand how different teams work together and how effective HR support contributes to organisational success.

Phase 2: Employment Law, Equality and Ethics

Months 5–7
You’ll build a strong understanding of employment law, HR policies and ethical practice, and how these apply within your organisation.
You’ll learn how to apply HR policies appropriately in workplace situations, supporting fair, lawful and consistent people management.
You’ll also develop confidence in recognising when issues need to be escalated and how to support managers in handling people-related challenges.

Phase 3: The Employee Lifecycle and HR

Months 8–10
You’ll develop your understanding of key HR processes across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management and development.
You’ll learn how to maintain accurate HR records, prepare and interpret HR reports, and communicate effectively with colleagues and managers.
This phase focuses on building strong, trust-based relationships and delivering a professional HR service.

Phase 4: People Data, Reporting and Insight

Months 11–13
You’ll develop the skills to use HR systems, tools and data effectively in your role, supporting accuracy, compliance and consistency in HR processes.
You’ll learn how to respond to HR queries, provide advice to managers and deliver high-quality customer service.
You’ll also build your ability to use data and insight to support decision-making and improve HR service delivery.

Phase 5: EPA Success Toolkit / Gateway to Impact

Months 14–15
In the final phase of the taught programme, you’ll consolidate your knowledge, skills and behaviours and apply them within real workplace and assessment contexts.
As part of the assessment preparation, you’ll complete a consultative workplace project and prepare for End Point Assessment.
This phase supports readiness for both the professional discussion and submission of the consultative project, supported by reflective practice and structured preparation

Final Apprenticeship Assessment

At the end of the programme, apprentices complete an End Point Assessment, where they demonstrate their knowledge, skills and behaviours through real workplace application.

The EPA is designed to assess an apprentice’s ability to apply HR support principles in a practical organisational context.

The End Point Assessment includes:

A consultative work-based project or initiative, demonstrating the ability to plan and deliver HR activity
A professional discussion focused on the apprentice’s development throughout the programme

The assessment provides clear evidence that apprentices can operate as effective HR Support professionals, delivering compliant, high-quality and customer-focused HR services within their organisation.

Study options

Your apprenticeship is supported through four key online platforms, each designed to help you learn, apply, and track your progress effectively:

BUD – The central hub for your learning journey. Here you will follow the Diagnose, Develop, Demonstrate, Debrief cycle, apply your learning in the workplace, and build your portfolio of evidence over time. BUD is also where you will record your off-the-job hours.

iLearn – This platform hosts key learning content and interactive knowledge checks that mark the end of each monthly learning cycle. iLearn helps you consolidate your learning throughout the programme and provides links to live workshops and pre-recorded webinars.

Zoom – All live workshops and Academic Skills sessions are delivered via Zoom, giving you interactive, real-time learning experiences.

Teams – Your orientation, first day of learning, and ongoing coaching sessions take place on Teams, providing a space for collaboration, support, and communication with your coaches.

It’s been absolutely brilliant. The development days allow us to bounce ideas off each other and gain experience from people with different backgrounds. It really brings our online learning to life. I really look forward to attending these.

Rob Wyatt

Senior Leader Masters Degree Apprenticeship

During your orientation, you will receive a full introduction to each platform, ensuring you know how to access and make the most of the tools available throughout your apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is delivered through online learning, live virtual teaching and workplace-based application.

Delivery includes:
Self-guided online learning
Recorded webinars
Live virtual teaching sessions
1:1 coaching and support
Progress reviews
Workplace-based project application

Apprentices are expected to complete an average of 6 hours of off-the-job learning per week to support completion of the programme requirements.

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What you need to study with us

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.

Eligibility

Be in employment in a job with responsibilities aligned with the apprenticeship standard

Have evidence of funding eligibility from their employer

Hold a GCSE Grade A*-C /9-4; OR a have completed recognised Access Programme or equivalent. Please note:
All applicants will undertake an initial assessment in English and Maths competency

Applicants must achieve a minimum of Level 1 to demonstrate readiness to study and ensure appropriate support to succeed on programme

Meet DfE apprenticeship funding residency requirements

Remain in contracted employment for the duration of the apprenticeship, including EPA

English and Maths Requirements for Apprentices

To help you succeed in your apprenticeship, it's important you have the right level of English and maths. Here’s what you need to know:

If you're aged 16 to 18 and don’t already have, or cannot provide evidence of, a Level 2 qualification (GCSE or equivalent) in English and/or maths, you’ll be required to study these subjects as part of your apprenticeship. This is a mandatory part of your training.

If you're 19 or older and don’t already have, or cannot provide evidence of, a Level 2 qualification in English and/or maths, your employer will decide whether you need to take standalone qualifications during your apprenticeship. This offers more flexibility based on your role and development needs.

Course fees and funding

The apprenticeship funding band for this programme is £4,500.

For levy-paying employers, the full cost of the apprenticeship can be covered through the apprenticeship levy.

For non-levy paying employers, a proportion of the programme cost is paid by the employer, with the majority funded through government co-contribution, subject to the latest apprenticeship funding rules.

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Meet the faculty

Here at Arden University we strive to provide a fresh and unique approach to your business and management education. With ideas and experiences taken from employers and thought leaders across the world, we give you the opportunity to put proven business skills and techniques into practice during your studies. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.

Professor Dilshad Sheikh

Dean of the Faculty of Business

Career prospects

related courses

This apprenticeship provides a strong foundation for long-term HR and people careers.

Successful apprentices may progress into roles or development pathways linked to:

HR Advisor
People Advisor
HR Coordinator
People Operations Coordinator
Recruitment Coordinator
Talent Coordinator
Employee Experience Coordinator
HR Systems or HR Operations roles
Wider people professional roles

The programme helps learners move beyond reactive HR administration and develop the confidence, professionalism and people capability needed to take on greater responsibility within HR and people teams.

Industry skills

Throughout the apprenticeship, learners will develop practical workplace skills in:

Business administration and professional practice
Written and verbal communication
Stakeholder engagement
Organisation and prioritisation
Time management
Data handling and digital systems
Producing accurate business documents
Problem-solving and decision-making
Continuous improvement
Workplace project delivery
Reflective practice and evidence building

These capabilities ensure you can contribute to organisational performance, drive innovation and foster a positive organisational culture.

Professional recognition

Successful completion of this apprenticeship demonstrates occupational competence against the Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship Standard.

Apprentices will be able to evidence their ability to apply HR support principles in a real workplace context and contribute to compliant, consistent and effective people management.