Talent Acquisition Operations Apprentice

Music is Universal
 
It’s the passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music who help make us the world’s leading music company. From A&R to finance, legal to digital, sales to marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business that leads in everything it does.

Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of neurocognitive variation.

We will always seek to make appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs and working styles. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for you from application onwards, including alternatives to the online form or to disclose a neurocognitive condition, please email UniversalMusicCareers@umusic.com.

Talent Acquisition, Operations Apprentice

The Talent Acquisition team at UMG UK is responsible for attracting, engaging and hiring the talent that will shape the future of our business and the wider music industry. Working across labels, commercial teams and corporate functions, the team delivers a modern, inclusive and business-aligned hiring approach that balances strategic partnership with operational excellence.

As part of the People, Inclusion & Culture function, Talent Acquisition plays an important role in building the capability UMG UK needs to thrive. This includes delivering exceptional candidate and hiring manager experiences, strengthening workforce planning, embedding inclusive hiring practices and creating meaningful entry routes into the business through Early Careers programmes.

The Talent Acquisition, Operations Apprentice is an important part of this model. The role supports the smooth day-to-day running of recruitment activity while providing an accessible and developmental entry route into the music industry and the Talent Acquisition profession.

The Role

The Talent Acquisition, Operations Apprentice provides essential operational and administrative support across the Talent Acquisition function, helping to ensure recruitment activity runs smoothly, accurately and professionally.

Reporting to the Head of Talent Acquisition, you will support key areas of Talent Acquisition delivery, including interview scheduling and coordination, candidate communications, ATS data integrity, offer administration, reporting and dashboards, and recruitment marketing activity.

The role offers a blend of operational coordination and data-focused responsibility. Alongside supporting day-to-day recruitment activity, you will develop an understanding of how recruitment systems, data, reporting and dashboards are maintained and used to support the Talent Acquisition team and wider business.

This is a developmental opportunity designed to provide hands-on experience across Talent Acquisition Operations while building your skills, confidence and understanding of how a modern in-house recruitment function works.

You will play an important part in creating a seamless candidate journey and maintaining high standards of organisation, communication and process support across the team.

We are looking for someone who is highly organised, proactive and eager to learn, with a genuine interest in people, recruitment and the music industry. You will bring strong attention to detail, a positive approach and a willingness to get involved in a range of operational and data-related activities.

You do not need previous Talent Acquisition or HR experience. What matters most is your motivation, potential and willingness to learn.

Your Application

As part of your application, please submit your CV along with a short covering letter explaining why you are interested in developing a career in Talent Acquisition Operations.

• We would love to understand what interests you about this area of Talent Acquisition, the skills or qualities you think you could bring to the role, and what you hope to learn and develop through the apprenticeship.
• You do not need to have previous experience in Talent Acquisition or HR. We are interested in your motivation, curiosity and potential, so please use your covering letter to tell us why this opportunity appeals to you and why you would like to start your career in Talent Acquisition Operations at UMG UK.

Key Responsibilities

• Support interview scheduling and coordination across a range of roles, ensuring interviews are arranged efficiently and professionally.
• Help manage candidate communications, ensuring updates are timely, clear and contribute to a positive candidate experience.
• Maintain accurate information within our Applicant Tracking System (ATS), supporting strong data integrity and process compliance.
• Assist with offer administration and related recruitment documentation.
• Provide administrative support across the Talent Acquisition function, helping to keep recruitment processes organised and running smoothly.
• Support the preparation and maintenance of recruitment reports, dashboards and trackers, including contributing to regular team updates.
• Assist with the administration and distribution of Talent Acquisition dashboards and reporting to the Talent Acquisition team and wider People, Inclusion & Culture team.
• Support recruitment marketing activity, including job posting, campaign coordination and attraction materials.
• Work closely with colleagues across the wider Talent Acquisition team to support hiring activity across multiple areas of UMG UK.
• Help ensure recruitment processes are delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with agreed standards and timelines.
• Contribute to a professional, inclusive and welcoming candidate journey through strong organisation, communication and attention to detail.
• Support the coordination of meetings, interviews, assessment activities and other Talent Acquisition or Early Careers events where required.
• Build your knowledge of Talent Acquisition systems, processes, reporting and best practice through hands-on experience and your apprenticeship development.
• Take an active role in learning and development opportunities, building your capability and confidence across Talent Acquisition Operations and data.

Skills and Experience

Must Have

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• A proactive attitude and genuine willingness to learn.
• The ability to manage tasks effectively and stay organised in a busy environment.
• Confidence using basic digital tools and systems, such as email, calendars, spreadsheets and documents.
• A positive and professional approach when communicating with candidates and colleagues.
• An interest in recruitment, people, operations and/or the music industry.
• The ability to work collaboratively and contribute positively as part of a team.
• A willingness to take ownership of tasks and support others where needed.
• Curiosity about how systems, processes and data can help a team work effectively.

Nice to Have

These are helpful but not essential. We encourage you to apply even if you do not have experience in all of these areas.

• Previous administrative, customer service, coordination or office-based experience.
• Experience using systems, databases or tracking tools.
• Some experience working with spreadsheets or data, such as Excel or Google Sheets.
• An interest in Talent Acquisition, HR or Early Careers.
• Experience supporting events, scheduling or communications.
• An awareness of the importance of candidate experience and inclusive communication.
• An interest in music, entertainment or the creative industries.

Key Behaviours

• Approaches work with enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to learn.
• Takes pride in accuracy, organisation and completing tasks to a high standard.
• Communicates clearly, professionally and respectfully.
• Supports others with a positive and collaborative mindset.
• Demonstrates reliability and accountability in day-to-day work.
• Shows care and attention when contributing to the candidate experience.
• Adapts well to new situations and responds positively to feedback.
• Brings energy and commitment to learning new skills, systems and processes.
• Represents UMG UK positively and professionally in all interactions.
• Contributes to a team culture that is inclusive, supportive and solutions-focused.

What You’ll Gain

• This apprenticeship will give you practical experience of how Talent Acquisition operates within a global music business.
• You will have the opportunity to develop skills across recruitment operations, candidate experience, systems, data and reporting while working alongside experienced Talent Acquisition professionals.
• Through a combination of hands-on experience and apprenticeship learning, you will build your understanding of the recruitment lifecycle and develop transferable skills in organisation, communication, stakeholder support, systems and data.
• The role is designed to provide a strong foundation for someone interested in building a future career in Talent Acquisition Operations, Talent Acquisition, HR or a related people profession.

Additional Supporting Information

This role is an important part of UMG UK’s Talent Acquisition operating model, supporting the smooth running of recruitment activity while also creating an inclusive pathway into the organisation and the wider music industry.

The Talent Acquisition, Operations Apprentice will help us maintain high standards of operational delivery and contribute to a seamless and professional candidate journey. At the same time, the apprenticeship provides meaningful development and exposure to both operational and data-driven aspects of Talent Acquisition.

This opportunity is particularly suited to someone who is organised, motivated and curious, and who is excited by the opportunity to learn, develop new skills and begin their career within a people-focused and culturally dynamic environment.

Just So You Know…

The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive, and exhaustive statement.

Job Category:

Amplify U - Apprenticeships