Human Resources Apprenticeship Programme 2027 - Milton Keynes

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Please read before submitting: You may only apply to one apprenticeship programme for our 2027 intake. Submitting duplicate applications will result in them not being considered.

Location: Milton Keynes

Start date: September 2027

Salary: £23,000

Duration: You'll join us in a permanent role from day one while completing an 18-month development programme

Structure: You’re expected to work in the office at least 3 days per week and must live within a commutable distance

Qualification: Level 3 HR apprenticeship

Ready to earn, learn and launch your career? This is more than your first job. You’ll gain real experience, work towards a recognised Level 3 HR qualification and build skills that will shape your future.

If you're curious about how people are supported throughout their careers and enjoy helping others, this could be the perfect first step into a rewarding profession. Join our Human Resources team and learn how we support colleagues, solve problems and help create a positive employee experience.

Our Human Resources team plays a key role in making Howden a great place to work. We support colleagues across the UK and Ireland with everything from welcoming new joiners to supporting managers and employees with questions about work, wellbeing and development.

You’ll join Howden on a permanent role and complete an 18-month development programme designed to develop your technical knowledge, professional skills and confidence to kick start your career.

You will begin with a structured induction before joining our HR team, where you will work alongside experienced colleagues and gradually take on more responsibility.

During the programme, you'll:

• Gain broad experience across HR whilst supporting our HR Advisory team and HR Employee Services team.

• Support colleagues by responding to HR queries and helping maintain accurate employee records.

• Learn how HR processes work by supporting new joiner onboarding and understanding how we support employees throughout their careers.

• Develop your HR knowledge by shadowing experienced HR Advisors and learn how they deal with employee-related cases from start to finish.  

• Build confidence communicating with stakeholders by supporting managers and employees with day-to-day queries and requests.

• Assist with gathering and analysing HR data, helping the team produce regular reports and insights for the business.

• Support our team by helping to maintain up-to-date and accurate HR records.

You'll be:

• A final year or recent school, sixth form or college leaver.

• Someone who enjoys helping others and wants to understand how organisations support their people.

• Comfortable communicating with a range of people, including managers and colleagues at different levels.

• Curious, motivated and eager to learn new skills.

• Able to follow processes accurately and produce high-quality work.

• Someone who takes initiative and is comfortable working independently when needed.

• Empathetic, professional and able to handle sensitive situations appropriately.

• Organised and able to manage multiple tasks effectively.

To be eligible for our apprenticeship, you must:

• Have the full and unrestricted right to work in the UK.

• Have lived permanently in the UK for the last 3 years.

• Have achieved a grade C/4 in GCSE English and Maths.

• Not already hold a qualification that significantly overlaps with the content of this apprenticeship.

Our application process is designed to help you show your potential, not to test what you already know!

• Online application form – no CV required: We believe you're more than just a document, so we won’t ask you to submit a CV. Please upload a blank document on the application form.

• Online gamified assessment: We’ve created games that will help us understand your natural strengths and how you approach different situations. There are no right or wrong answers. You can complete this stage on your phone or laptop, whichever suits you best!
• Pre-recorded video interview: You will record your answers to a few questions using your phone or laptop, giving you the chance to tell us more about yourself in your own time in a relaxed setting.
• Assessment centre: Our final stage is an in-person assessment centre at one of our offices. You'll take part in some fun group activities and meet our team in a relaxed setting. This day is all about getting to know you better and for you to see what it's like to be part of Howden and experience our culture. We'll cover all your travel costs for this day, because where you are now, shouldn’t hold back your future!

At Howden, people are at the heart of everything we do. As an employee-owned business, we believe success is built through collaboration, learning and supporting one another. You'll gain exposure to an exciting global industry, receive structured development throughout the summer and build relationships that could shape your future career.

You'll also benefit from:

• £23,000 and a generous pension scheme.

• Completing fully funded professional qualifications relevant for your role.

• Structured learning and development through our 18-month apprenticeship development programme.

• 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays.

• Access to discounted personal health policies, wellbeing support and a range of employee benefits and insurance products.

Want to know what life at Howden is really like? Visit our Early Careers hub to explore our culture, learn more about the insurance industry, and get practical tips to help you prepare for our recruitment process. It's also a great way to work out which career path suits you best.

You can also follow our TikTok accounts, @earlycareersjo and @millieinsurancecareers, for behind-the-scenes insights into life at Howden, career advice, and application tips from our Early Careers team.

Please read before submitting: You may only apply to one apprenticeship programme for our 2027 intake. Submitting duplicate applications will result in additional applications not being considered.

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.