Social Research Apprentice

Our growing Analysis and Insight function, and looking to recruit a research and insight apprentice.   By joining us as an apprentice you will be working towards Social Researcher Degree Apprenticeship.

Contract: Initially a fixed term contract for 48 months to cover the lifetime of the apprenticeship. On successfully passing your apprenticeship qualification, we are committed to offering a suitable permanent position.

Working hours: 35 hours per week is full time. As an apprentice you will be spending 20% of your time on off-the job learning, which includes attending lectures/tutorials with your training provider. Where possible, we are open to considering part time/flexible working patterns. Please let us know in your application your desired working pattern.

Salary: £25,207

Location: London docklands

Our permanent hybrid policy sees us all working at least four days across a fortnight in the office.

The purpose of your role 

This is a role will help us to drive evidence-based decisions across the Financial Ombudsman Service and build our capacity and capability across a range of analytical tools and approaches.  The work will be focused on:  

Researchers use a range of methods; for example, they design and gather data on surveys that aim to quantify panel views, conduct interviews and focus groups that explore what people think in greater depth, and run experiments to decide what kinds of transformation activities work best. Alongside this, researchers often make use of transferable and in demand coding skills to analyse and visualise large amounts of data.  They use these results to provide recommendations to business leaders. Social research helps make the service better and fairer by using data and research to guide decisions. 

This apprenticeship will provide you with a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and skills, real world experience of applying these in an impactful way to drive service improvements for consumer and financial services providers business. This apprenticeship will give you the academic knowledge and practical experience of research methods, techniques and their application.  As your knowledge builds you will be asked to identify research needs, and work with others to design and specify research appropriate to the situation.  To then deliver impact from your research, you will develop and use skills to analyse and interpret your results, and work with internal and external stakeholders to implement evidence-based business change. 

You’re accountable for… 

You will be asked to work on a number of key analytical and insight work areas as part of a Business Analysis and Insight area, with the primary aim of developing and using your insight and research to support the organisation in making the best decisions from the best evidence. 

Initial accountabilities could include: 

• Building your understanding of our organisation, alongside an understanding of a number of qualitative and quantitative analytical tools, methodologies and approaches. 

• Working on projects with support and guidance from other colleagues within the research group.  These will include areas such as: understanding and developing insights from our consumer and business survey data, both quantitative and qualitative; and using our existing research to identify examining trends across different consumer groups in the awareness, understanding  and trust in our organisation.   

• We will also build your ability to ensure any analysis - and the data and research it is based on - is quality assured, documented and fit-for-purpose. 

• As required, providing analytical and insight support or advice to projects across the organisation.  You will be supported by more experienced colleagues, but equally begin to work with more independence over time. 

 Your skills/ experience includes… 

 We are seeking candidates  

• who have the desire and potential to develop an academic and practical understanding of the breadth and depth of modern social research techniques.  These techniques range from qualitative research methods (e.g., focus groups and guided interviews), statistical and data interpretation skills and the ability to synthesise findings to support evidence-based decisions.   

• you will demonstrate the aptitude to be a strong qualitative and quantitative researcher, capable of identifying opportunities to improve the service we provide to our customers and support our work to improve the financial services sector in the UK.   

• We don’t expect you to have studied any social research or social sciences previously, but we are keen to know what interests you about the subject.  

Other requirements…  

• On enrolment onto the apprenticeship (September 2025) will need a minimum of 96 UCAS points under the 2017 tariff point system to enrol onto the prorgamme this September.  You can check how many UCAS points you have by using the  UCAS Tariff Calculator  

• You will have achieved 5 GSCEs at grade A-C, including English and Maths (or equivalent qualification) 

• On enrolment onto the apprenticeship (September 2025) you will not be in full-time education in, or receiving of funding for other learning programmes.  

• You will need a full UK Right to Work for the duration of their apprenticeship, and have valid and eligible residency status and be resident in the UK for 3 years before the start of the apprenticeship. Full eligibility details can be found here at Annex A. If you are not sure if you meet the residency requirements, then please contact us before applying. 

How to apply

To apply, please upload a current CV, which includes your qualifications. If you are still studying include your predicted grades. We will be review your qualifications to ensure you are eligible for the apprenticeship you have applied for.

Applications need to be submitted by 23:50 on 23 May. Due to high application numbers this advert may end earlier than the date specified, so please don't delay and apply now!

We welcome internal applications, to apply you must have passed probation and have no live development plans in place

The recruitment process

Once you have applied, the recruitment process is as follows:

Online tests: The team will review your qualifications once the job advert has closed. If you meet the qualification requirements you will be emailed tests to complete, which must be completed within 72 hours. The tests are:

·       Cognitive Ability test to assess your problem solving, critical thinking & attention to detail

·       Workplace Behaviour Assessment, to evaluate if you’d be happy in the role applied for.

On-demand Video interview: If you pass the previous stage you will be sent on-demand video interviews to complete. This is your opportunity to tell us why you have applied for an apprenticeship, and how you feel you would be a good fit for the apprenticeship you applied for. You have 72 hours to complete this step. If you are successful, you will be invited to an interview.

We partner with Criteria to deliver the assessments & video interview. You can visit their website to learn more about the platform & read their privacy notice.

Face to face interview: If you are successful after the video interview, you will be invited to an interview with your future team. Here we are looking to understand if you have the skills to excel in the apprenticeship. It is also your opportunity to learn more about the Financial Ombudsman Service & what you’ll be doing as an apprentice. A full job profile is available on request and will be provided to candidates shortlisted to the first stage of the assessment process.

Reasonable adjustments: When you apply for a role there is a questionnaire to complete, which is where you can inform us if you may require any adjustments to the recruitment process. Some examples of things we can put in place may include: extra time for online assessments or video interview, alternative formats for on-demand video interviews. 

​Why Financial Ombudsman Service?

We are a values led organisation. Our values define our culture, influence our decisions, and underpin our vision and strategy.  They set out how we play our PART through Purpose, Ambition, Respect and Trust. You can learn more about our values here: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/who-we-are/aims-values

We also offer an attractive, competitive salary and flexible benefits to suit our people. Here’s a list of some of the many benefits and perks you can get for working with us:

·       25 days holiday entitlement, with the option to buy extra or sell days

·       Generous pension

·       Various Family Friendly Policies, including enhanced maternity pay, carers and dependants leave

·       Employer provided benefits such as Private medical insurance, virtual GP, Critical illness cover, Life assurance cover, to name a few

·       Choice of voluntary benefits including Technology scheme, Cycle to work scheme, Will-writing service amongst others

·       Employee Assistance Programme

·       Extensive opportunities for personal and career development

·       Fully equipped on-site gym open 24 / 7 (London office only)

·       Extensive Well-being resources including on-site therapists (London office only)

·       Beautiful and bright London office looking over the Thames and near to mainline stations

·       Our employee led networks (a couple of examples being our Women's Network, Carers network, and Neurodiverse Network) do fantastic work in educating and raising awareness across a range of experiences and support us in being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. You can get involved, too! 

We’re proud to be an inclusive employer

We view diversity as fundamental to our success and welcome applications from underrepresented groups across all communities.

We’re committed to being a great place to work– attracting and developing people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. We want everyone to perform at their best and feel able to be themselves. We understand that if we’re diverse and inclusive, we’ll better understand different perspectives, which is fundamental to our job resolving financial complaints.   

We welcome applications from Black and other ethnic minority candidates, and female candidates, for all positions and particularly so for senior leader positions as they are under-represented within the Financial Ombudsman Service at this level.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. This means that we will put disabled candidates entering under the scheme through to the next stage of the recruitment process should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidate’s CV/supporting statement. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about any reasonable adjustments you need, please email [email protected] and let us know your preferred method of contact.

Find out more

Check out below channels to find out more about everyday life at the Financial Ombudsman Service – and don’t forget to follow us while you’re there!

·       LinkedIn: Financial Ombudsman Service

·       Our careers page: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/who-we-are/join-us

Good luck with your application!