Apprentice Welfare Support Officer | £30,000 + on-call allowance + excellent benefits | Permanent | Onsite

Are you passionate about supporting young people and ensuring their well-being? Do you thrive in a role where empathy, communication, and safeguarding are at the heart of what you do? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

We’re looking for a dedicated Apprentice Welfare Support Officer to join our Academy Quality & Compliance team. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of apprentices during their residential stays, ensuring they feel safe, supported, and set up for success.

Working hours & location

This is a full-time (36.75 hours) role based onsite at our preferred hotel in Berkshire, covering the following evening and morning shifts:

Sunday – Thursday: 16:30 – 23:00
Monday – Thursday: 08:15 – 09:30
Friday: 08:00 – 09:45

Hotel accommodation, evening meal and breakfast per shift will be provided. During non-working hours, an overnight on-call allowance of £15.00 (flat fee) will be paid per night, and additional £15.18 hourly rate call-out pay.

What you'll be doing

Be the first point of contact for apprentices staying at our preferred hotel, offering emotional and social support.
Ensure safe arrivals and enforce soft curfews for 16–18-year-olds.
Identify and resolve welfare issues, escalating safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Liaise with hotel staff and internal teams to ensure a smooth and supportive experience.
Contributing to the Apprentice Personal Development program

Skills and experience that will set you up for success:

Proven experience in pastoral care or welfare, especially with young people in educational or residential settings.
Good understanding of safeguarding and Prevent policies.
Excellent communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
Confidence in handling safeguarding concerns.
The ability to manage time effectively, stay organised, and handle sensitive information with discretion.
Willingness to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.
Training in Safeguarding & Prevent in Further Education

Did you know...

Research tells us that men are more likely to apply to jobs if they meet only 60% of the criteria, whereas women often hesitate or don't apply unless they meet all of the criteria. This difference in application behaviour can contribute to the gender gap in career advancement and opportunities.

We know the perfect candidate doesn't exist! If you think you have what it takes but don't tick every box, we'd still encourage you to apply - it could be a perfect fit!

Perks & Benefits

Salary - £30,000 dependent on skills & experience + on-call allowance.

10% non-contributory pension
29 days holiday (inclusive of Christmas shutdown) + public holidays
Group Life Assurance (equal to 4 x basic salary)
Group Income Protection (after 6 months’ service)
Salary Sacrifice schemes (cycle to work, home & tech scheme)
Enhanced and competitive parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender or family structure
Financial Coaching & Wellbeing Platform
Health Cash Plan (cash back on eligible medical treatments)
Benenden Health Care (opt-in benefit)
Reward & Recognition Programme
Discounted gym membership
Sports & Social club
Payroll charitable giving
Subsidised on-site restaurant
Free on-site parking

What we do

At the cutting edge of automotive research in the UK, Thatcham Research has a unique role in shaping the design of new vehicles and influencing ever higher standards of safety, security and repair. With an on-site Crash Laboratory, Repair Technology Centre and Training Academy, our research expertise is driving some of the very latest automotive developments in technology, materials and standards in this fast moving and highly technical industry.

Our Gamston facility is one of the UK’s leading sites for active safety, trialling and assessing the latest crash avoidance and driver assistance technologies.

Our Values

As an organisation that believes a strong set of Values are key to our organisational success and a sense of belonging for all colleagues, we ask that you understand, represent and apply our Values of Fearless, Inquisitive, Resourceful, Supportive and Trusted and demonstrate these Values throughout the recruitment process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace which values diversity and embraces each individual's authentic self. We are proud to champion a culture where colleagues freely share their diverse perspectives, recognising that these contribute to our innovative spirit. Our journey of growth and understanding is continuous as we actively invest in diversity training, workshops, and partnerships to ensure positive change.

Beyond our partnerships with the Automotive 30% Club and Women in Data (WiD), we collaborate with various organisations to advance equity not only in gender but also across ethnicity, age, disability, social mobility, LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and thinking. Our aspiration is to create an environment where everyone thrives, achieves, and experiences a genuine sense of belonging.

Recruitment process

We’re proud to manage our recruitment in-house and believe this direct approach enables us to give you the best possible Employee Experience we can – which starts right here, your application! We’re continuously striving to improve the candidate journey, and transparency (or communication) is a key area of focus – yes, even with salary & benefits.

What can you expect from our recruitment process?

Regular updates on the progress / outcome of your application
An initial telephone screening call with a Talent Acquisition Partner
First interview with the hiring manager, usually via Teams
Second/Final interview, in-person at our office (we may give you a role specific task to present on!)
Personalised feedback following your interview – because everyone deserves that!
An opportunity to give us your honest feedback in a short survey on all of the above

Check out our post on using AI during your application and interview!

We’re committed to removing barriers. If there are any adjustments we can make to better support you, please let us know when you apply.

All applicants must have Right to Work in the UK.

If you experience any technical issues when completing your application, please get in touch at people.team@thatcham.org and we’ll be happy to help.

To ensure fairness and protect your data, we’re unable to accept applications or CVs via email. The best way to apply and to stay updated on your progress, is through our online application form.

Thatcham Research

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Apprentice Welfare Support Officer