HR (people operations) apprentice

Closing date for applications: 2nd January 2026

Salary: £24,328.00

Reports to: People operations manager

Department: People

Location: Manchester

Number of roles: 1

Start date: September 2026

Join the team at Channel 4 and gain hands-on experience in HR functions.

If you are looking for an opportunity to gain work experience and a qualification, then an apprenticeship at Channel 4 might be for you.

At Channel 4, our People Team lives and breathes what makes us “Altogether Different.” Inspired by our core behaviours Include, Innovate, Grow, and Get it Done we champion diversity, creativity, and collaboration. Our people-first approach ensures every employee feels supported and empowered to do their best work and are valued just as much as our viewers.

We are always striving to keep things simple and agile, using smart data and feedback to engage and understand our colleagues just as we do our viewers. By supporting our people managers and by trying to view our processes through their eyes, we can better share expertise to help create a high-performance, inspiring culture where everyone can thrive and make a difference.

During your apprentice you will support the People Operations Team in general completing all (daily, weekly, monthly & yearly) operational tasks and duties, gaining a variety of experiences, skills and knowledge within the people operations function at Channel 4, alongside the wider People team, whilst assisting with their personal growth and development.

This role sits alongside the people assistants’ team and reports, in turn, to the People Operations Advisor. You will work alongside and collaborate, when needed, with both the wider People Operations & Experience Team and The People Team.

Key experiences

• Support the other People Assistants in maintaining confidential and personal employee data information within the 4people (HR) system (Sage People).
• Support in the optimising and testing of software updates and changes to 4people to ensure our systems remain secure, user-friendly and reflective of current policies and processes to the wider organisation.
• Collaborate with the wider People Operations & Experience Team & People Systems Manager to troubleshoot and resolve 4people system issues and queries.
• Assisting the People Partners with note-taking for ER cases when and if needed.
• Support employees with their full employee life cycle (onboarding, family leave, job changes, leavers etc).
• Support and manager monthly administration surrounding payroll processing.
• Manage multiple inboxes for any and all people, policy and process queries and help deliver the department SLA’s.
• Being first line support for both employees and managers across the wider business, this includes query completion and query escalation were needed.
• Assisting in the ongoing maintenance and updates of policies, processes and flows to ensure they remain relevant.
• Ensure that all employee data is accurate and up to date at all times and undertaking any data cleanse exercises when and if needed.
• Understand and adhere to the principles of GDPR.
• Keep abreast of and research legislative changes that may impact HR functions, updating documentation as required.
• Support all administrative processes around the annual pay process, salary changes, promotions, leavers, and maternity (including maternity meetings) and contract extensions.
• Support the People Operations Team during ad-hoc and annual projects.
• Assist the Reward team in delivering the key cyclical projects, including annual pay and bonus review.
• Assist the Reward team in the collation of employee remuneration data when needed.
• Assist the Pension & Benefits team with the Benefits renewal cycle and any ad hoc Benefit projects when needed.

Knowledge, skills and experience

As part of the application process you’ll be asked to tell us how you meet the essential criteria listed below. When answering this question think about examples from your experience so far, this doesn’t need to be professional experience but could be academic, from volunteering or a part-time job.

We’ve provided some examples beside the first four criteria of experience that could demonstrate you have these skills. Please note you do not need to use these examples, they are just here for guidance and you should draw from your own personal experiences.

• Verbal and written communication skills
  • Verbal - e.g. experience of dealing with customers or working as part of a team.
  • Communication – e.g. writing emails, completing an application form or essay, or if you have a hobby that involves creative writing.
• Attention to detail – e.g. Cashing up on tills or proofreading coursework.
• Organisation skills and ability to prioritise tasks – e.g. Planning events whether personal or for professional purposes, as well as managing work life balance, for example working whilst doing coursework/exams
• An understanding of and a passion for Channel 4's remit
• Confirm you have Maths & English GCSE Grade C (4) or above
• Strong administrative experience, with demonstrable ability to handle confidential and sensitive material
• Proven ability to prioritise tasks, use initiative, and manage tasks from multiple areas/people effectively
• Keen eye for detail
• Ability and experience to work well within a small team

About our apprenticeships

Our apprenticeships are full-time, with four days per week spent working in a C4 department and one day per week completing the formal learning parts of the apprenticeship. You’ll spend 60% of your working week in your office base and 40% working from home.

The formal training provided will consist of workshops, tutorials, webinars, coaching and in some cases residential boot camps. You can read more about the qualification being offered for this apprenticeship below.

If you’d like some tips on writing your application before you apply, please watch our YouTube video, How to Write an Outstanding Application.

• Qualification offered with this apprenticeship: HR Support Level 3
• Length of apprenticeship: 18 months

Am I eligible to apply?

• You must be 18 years old or over at the time the scheme starts to apply. There is no upper age limit.
• You’ll need to have a Grade C (4) or above in Maths & English GCSE
• You can’t have already completed the qualification being offered or similar at the same or higher level
• Our apprenticeships are aimed at school leavers and people who do not have a degree. If you have a degree, please visit the Channel 4 Jobs website.

Channel 4 behaviours

At Channel 4, we have four core behaviours that underpin everything we do. These are outlined below, and we will be assessing candidates on these behaviours throughout the recruitment process.

• Include We’re Altogether Different so let’s give each other a bear hug, team up and trust each other to collaborate arm-in-arm. Don’t just listen: listen to understand.
• Innovate Don’t just rinse and repeat: don’t just go through the motions. Challenge positive and embrace change. Experiment & take smart risks.
• Grow Question everything and school yourself. Be generous with your knowledge with others and seek feedback from them. Be clear with your objectives.
• Get it done Make your time at Channel 4 count. Be a solution-finder, not a finger-pointer. Prioritise, decide and then act – always commercially.

Alternative application formats

We are committed to making the application process accessible. If you would like to discuss suggestions for alternative formats, or have any questions about the recruitment process in general, please contact us at apprenticeships@channel4.co.uk

Take a look at our access page for more information, which you’ll find by clicking here. You can also watch our YouTube video, Demystifying Interview and Workplace adjustments.

Relocation

If you need to relocate in order to take up this opportunity, we can offer you support towards the financial costs of moving. This includes a contribution towards your deposit and first months’ rent, plus visits to your new city to look for accommodation.

The programme aims to offer opportunities to those currently underrepresented in the TV industry, so we are particularly keen to hear from Deaf and/or disabled people, ethnically diverse people and people from lower socio-economic groups.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.