About the job

Job summary

The role is a fixed-term contract until 31 March 2028

The National Archives is looking for its first ever Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager apprentice. As an archivist apprentice, you’ll learn about and contribute to numerous areas of work across the organisation, from transferring government records to The National Archives and safely preserving them for future generations through to providing public access and engaging researchers, schools and local communities.

Job description

You’ll get involved in various projects, including records management, cataloguing, digitisation, digital preservation, assisting archive users, researching, and developing events and exhibitions. During your apprenticeship, you will learn the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours listed in the national apprenticeship standard. 

The Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager apprenticeships are a new technical training route to becoming a qualified archivist . Launched in 2023, the apprenticeships provide an alternative path for people who face barriers to getting a traditional postgraduate qualification in Archives Management.
Please note therefore that, to be eligible for this apprenticeship, you must not already hold a Level 7 or higher (Master’s, PhD or other postgraduate) qualification.

The Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager apprenticeship consists of a three-year learning period followed by a six-month assessment period. As our Level 7 apprentice, you will spend four days a week working at The National Archives, learning on the job, and one day a week doing off-the-job learning.

We believe that archives are for everyone because archives play an important role in safeguarding the stories of individuals, groups, communities and nations. However, the current sector workforce doesn’t reflect all the communities that archives represent. If you have a passion for archives and could bring a fresh perspective, we encourage you to apply.

About Us
The National Archives is the official archive of the UK government and for England and Wales, making available to the public a vast collection of historical records dating back over 1,000 years. We are also the sector leadership body for archives in England.

Within the beautiful surroundings of Kew, a 10-minute walk from the Underground and Overground stations, The National Archives boasts a collegial working environment and an excellent Civil Service benefits package. This includes flexible working, an on-site gym, and an opportunity to join the Civil Service Alpha Pension Scheme. Putting you at the forefront of our organisation, we are committed to supporting professional development and training for all of our colleagues.

The role will be based at The National Archives’ building in Kew, London, for 4 days a week. The remaining day of each week will be spent on the off-the-job learning. Every two months, this off-the-job learning day will involve travelling to another archive in England for an in-person training session.

Full Job Description attached - see below.

Person specification

How to apply

If you are an internal applicant: please do not use the link on this page. Please apply via your employee Workday account.

If you are an external applicant: to submit your application please click the 'Apply at advertiser's site' button on this page.

You will be asked to confirm your eligibility for the apprenticeship and to answer 3 application questions. You will need to list your previous work experience in the 'experience' section but please do not upload a full CV or cover letter.

Eligibility criteria

- You will be available to begin the apprenticeship at the beginning of October 2024 and can commit to a 3.5-year apprenticeship
- You will be able to undertake the apprenticeship full-time (Monday to Friday) as part-time or job sharing options are not available for this apprenticeship
- You have a Level 2 qualification (GCSE A*-C/9-4 or equivalent) in English and Maths
- You do not have an existing Level 7 qualification in any subject (Master’s, PhD or other postgraduate qualification)
- You have lived in the UK for the past three years

Application questions
1. Tell us about a time when you provided a good service to others. What made your service good? (150 words max)

2. Tell us about a time when you learnt a new skill involving an unfamiliar piece of technology or software. How did you approach learning the skill and how did you overcome any challenges? (150 words max)

3. Why are you passionate about archives? What points would you make to persuade another person that archives should matter to everyone? (150 words max)

In your answers to the three questions above, you may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities.

Please note that you do not need to have experience of volunteering or working in an archive to apply. Selection for the next stage will largely be based on the information you provide in this section. Successful applicants will be invited to a relaxed assessment day to explore candidates potential to carry out archival tasks.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,000, The National Archives contributes £7,290 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Reasonable adjustments:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.