People Apprentice


Start Your Career in HR with West Dean!

Are you organised, enthusiastic and passionate about working with people? Are you looking for an opportunity to learn new skills, gain valuable experience and build a career in Human Resources? If so, we would love to hear from you!


About West Dean

West Dean is a truly unique place to work, bringing together creativity, heritage, education and hospitality across our beautiful Sussex estate and our London campus. From our internationally recognised centre for arts, design, craft and conservation to our award-winning gardens and historic surroundings, West Dean is a place where people, ideas and creativity come together.


About the Role

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic People Apprentice to join our friendly People Team at our Sussex campus. This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience across a wide range of HR activities while working towards a nationally recognised Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship qualification.

As a People Apprentice, you will play an important role in supporting colleagues across the organisation and helping to deliver an efficient, professional and welcoming People service. No two days will be the same! You will be involved in recruitment, onboarding, payroll support, employee records, HR systems and much more, giving you a fantastic foundation for a future career in HR.


What You'll Be Doing

You will help coordinate recruitment activities, support new starters as they join West Dean, prepare employment contracts, respond to staff queries and maintain accurate employee information. You will also contribute to HR reporting, compliance checks and improving the way we work. Throughout your apprenticeship, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills, build confidence and learn from an experienced and supportive team.


About You

We are looking for someone who is proactive, approachable and keen to learn. You will have strong organisational skills, good attention to detail and confidence using IT, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and SharePoint. You will also understand the importance of confidentiality and enjoy working as part of a team. Previous administrative or customer service experience would be beneficial. Most importantly, you will bring a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and a genuine interest in developing a career in HR.


Your Apprenticeship

Alongside your role, you will complete an 18-month Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship delivered by Chichester College. This combines practical workplace experience with dedicated study time, including day-release attendance at college. You will receive support from both your college tutors and the People Team throughout your learning journey, helping you develop the knowledge and confidence to take your next steps in HR.


Location and Working Hours

The role is based at our Sussex campus, with four days a week working at West Dean and one day a week attending college as part of your apprenticeship. There will also be occasional travel to our London campus.

The position is offered on an 18-month fixed-term contract, working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Your working hours include dedicated training time. The salary is £23,132.20 per annum.


Our Benefits

Alongside a supportive working environment and the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification, our benefits include 33 days of annual leave, including bank holidays, a generous contributory pension scheme, an Employee Assistance Programme, access to Mental Health First Aiders, a cycle-to-work scheme and free entry to West Dean Gardens. You will also enjoy complimentary access to staff events, discounts on retail goods, free and discounted places on short courses at West Dean College, free use of facilities including the swimming pool, library and tennis courts, subsidised bed and breakfast rates, discounts on event hire and food and beverage charges, and free on-site parking at our Sussex campus.


How to Apply

If you are ready to take your first steps into HR, develop your skills and make a real contribution to a busy and varied People Team, we would love to hear from you!

Apply through the West Dean careers website.

• Please view the People Apprentice Candidate Pack 10 2026 document (opens in a pop up)