Business Support Assistant - Working for Essex

About the role

Business Support Assistant

Fixed Term, Part Time

£25,081 per annum (full time equivalent)

Location: Colchester

Please note that this position is being offered as a Part-time post 18.5 hours per week. Fixed Term Contract or Secondment until the 28th February 2026.

Actual salary earnings based on 18.5 hours per week £12,540 per annum.

In line with an Anywhere Worker - please be aware that the successful candidate will be expected to be able to attend the office on a regular basis. The candidate could be required to work in the office up to 2-3 days a week on some weeks, while other weeks may offer greater flexibility for home working. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate a high level of flexibility to accommodate these changing demands and varying office attendance requirements.

The Opportunity

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK and is undergoing significant transformational change to further enhance customer focus, service and delivery. As part of this, the Business Support team will work in specialised Business Centres to promote specialised knowledge and improved service and efficiencies.

The Business Support Assistant works as part of a business support team to deliver effective, routine administrative support to a team or service. Learning and developing an understanding of existing processes and systems, with a good basic knowledge of the Function. Providing routine clerical support to a team/service/Function (e.g., word processing, data entry, updating databases, meeting support, meet and greet, directing customer queries).

Managing day to day work, ensuring this meets ECC and local policies and procedures.

Accountabilities

Providing high quality, efficient and effective Business Support services to internal customers within agreed timescales and SLAs.
Responding to customer requests and queries in a timely and efficient way.
Acting as a professional representative of the Business Support service at a local level, dealing with customers via telephone calls personally or redirecting in line with Essex customer standards.
Providing high quality self-directed clerical support, checking own work and proactively looking to raise standards.
Maintaining confidential records according to Essex County Council policy and guidance.
Providing support to the team or service with the organisation of events, conferences and workshops to ensure high quality events.
Providing support across the team or service in dealing with correspondence, providing meeting support in terms of documentation and finance support in all aspects of documentation processing, in a timely, consistent, and professional manner.
Sharing knowledge and good practice with colleagues and highlighting more efficient ways of delivering customer service.

The Experience You Will Bring

Essential:

Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) including maths and English or an equivalent vocational qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
Evidence of the ability to develop skills and knowledge in role.
Demonstrable experience and competence of MS Office applications and their practical application.
Ability to use computerised systems with a high level of speed and accuracy.

Desirable:

Previous experience of managing electronic or hard copy filing systems.
Ability to communicate in a manner which is easily understood and tailored to meet the needs of the audience.
Experience of dealing with sensitive and/or personal information.
Ability to take ownership of work and fulfil agreed commitments, checking work for accuracy.

To read more about us please visit: Corporate Services

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)) on our careers site

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email christine.simmons@essex.gov.uk

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