Support Services Lead Admin - (Student placement)

Support Services Lead Admin - (Student placement)

UK Defence Academy, Swindon, SN6 8LA

12-month FTC (Year in industry placement)

£24,159 per annum plus benefits

Starting September 2025

Are you currently studying at university and looking for a placement?

Do you want to join a programme that will give you the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and concepts learned in the classroom to real business situations?

At Serco, we believe in empowering our colleagues to achieve their full potential. Our year in industry placement is designed to provide you with a comprehensive and enriching experience that will set the foundation for a successful career.

As part of this role you will work in the Support Services department to gain an overall knowledge of some of the following areas that Support Services are responsible for:

• Finance and Payroll
• Travel
• PA support
• Purchasing
• Welfare support
• Medical Centre support
• MOD administration support
• Events, Protocol and Defence Engagement
• 3rd Party Income Generation Events
• Security and Vetting
• Serco uniforms and staff induction
• To provide administrative support to the Leadership team and assist with special projects
• To provide cover for other Lead Administrators during periods of increased workload or absence.
• Continuously examine processes and make recommendations for improvements.
• Be proactive within the department and assist your colleagues and customers to achieve a high level of service

Who we are looking for:

• Strong Academic Background: Currently enrolled in a relevant degree programme with a solid academic record.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Ability to articulate ideas clearly and work effectively with others.
• Problem Solving Abilities: Creative thinkers who can approach challenges with innovative solutions.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Passion and Commitment: A genuine interest in making a positive impact through their work.

The Defence Academy sits within a beautiful and secure site which hosts 2 lakes and is surrounded by acres of scenic woodland. The Academy trains the future commanders and staff officers of all three UK Armed Services and those from many countries around the world. Other benefits of working on this site include:

• Free, secure onsite parking.
• Opportunity to join many sports and activity clubs (heavily subsidised subscription costs).
• Gym membership, the site boasting 2 fully equipped gymnasiums.
• 18-hole golf course (annual membership circa £375).
• Fully equipped riding stables, with the opportunity for lessons.
• Other sporting facilities include tennis courts, Astro-turf football pitches and much more.

What we offer:

• Salary: Competitive salaries with annual reviews
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Holidays: 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Training and development: We offer a wide range of learning opportunities with over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Wellbeing: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, BUPA Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, Simplyhealth cash plans to claim back money towards healthcare costs, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres
• Discounts: Save across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• ShareSave scheme: Helps you save regularly with the choice to buy Serco shares at a discount at the end of your savings period
• Employee networks: Dedicated networks where colleagues can come together to find support, share challenges, discuss ideas, network and be part of a community
• Charity: Support a charity or organisation with a paid volunteering day each year. You can also choose to donate to your favourite charity tax-free, through our Payroll Giving Scheme.

Due to the nature of the organisation, all employees of Serco are required to be security cleared (SC). If successful in your application, we would support you with the SC process. As a guideline only, you would normally need to have been a UK resident for the last 5 consecutive years.

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To discover more about our careers in Defence, meet our team, and to find out more about what we offer, please follow this Link. We're also a signatory of the UK Governments Women in Defence Charter, to find out more please click here.

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens, we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. As a proud Disability Confident Leader and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard, disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. 

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