Libraries and Archives Apprentice WCC625072

Job Details:

Salary range : £29,193 per annum.
Work location : Paddington and Pimlico Libraries, London, W2
Hours per week : 36
Contract type : 2 x Temporary up to 18 months
Vetting requirements : Enhanced DBS Check 
Politically Restricted post : Yes
Closing date : 12 October 2026
Interview date : To be confirmed

About Us:

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF KAKOLI’S PASSION AND DRIVE

Children’s Services in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Where inspirational people like Kakoli are dedicated to encouraging everyone they work with to be the very best they can be.

Ever since she was a child, Kakoli has believed that children are the ones who’ll change the world for the better. Who’ll create the future we all wish for. And she always knew her calling was to get on the front line and help those who might not be as fortunate as herself.

Driven and passionate about making a difference, she first joined Westminster as a Social Work Assistant, and her managers immediately saw she had huge potential, so they encouraged her to apply to study for a degree in social work. She passed with flying colours, and over the next fourteen years worked as a frontline Social Worker, a Senior Social Worker, a Deputy Service Manager and is now one of our Service Managers.

Kakoli’s vision is as clear now as it was all those years ago – to encourage and support children, and help them grow in safe, vibrant communities. Her achievements are many, but she’s most proud of the fact that these days Westminster doesn’t ‘do things for families’ but ‘does things with families’. And she believes this huge but subtle difference to the way we work has allowed thousands of children in Westminster to fulfil their potential and live their dreams.

The Role:

As Libraries and Archives Apprentice you can make your own powerful contribution to Westminster’s success. We’re focused on developing the most inclusive library service in the U.K. and when you join us you’ll make an important contribution to our ambition as we provide inspirational spaces where everyone in our communities can read, learn and connect. You’ll also be an enthusiastic, creative and engaged ambassador for our work as you carry out a wide range of customer-facing duties.

Depending on the location of the library you’re working in, your responsibilities may include answering enquiries, offering information and using signposting to promote the use of our facilities. Helping to organise an easily accessible service that encourages our customers to develop the confidence and skills to read, learn and connect, and supporting them as they make informed choices about their health and wellbeing, you’ll also empower them to use our self-service equipment, PCs and the other resources we offer.

Helping to organise, promote and facilitate exciting events will be another key task – these will provide opportunities for children and adults to connect with each other and enjoy our facilities. We’ll also expect you to develop an understanding of our operations, including health and safety, our IT equipment and financial processes, and undertake some routine administrative tasks. These could involve opening and closing the library, membership processes, stock management, timetabling, cash handling and ordering supplies and services.

Please refer to the for more information.

About You:

This is a fantastic opportunity to take your first steps on your journey as a member of our Library and Archives service, and to be a success you’ll be an enthusiastic reader and learner with a strong desire to share this passion with the adults and children who use our facilities.

With a well-developed knowledge and interest in literature, the arts, music, current affairs and other areas of our connected world, you’ll be a confident user of the internet, applications, platforms, computers and other devices, and be capable of demonstrating their use to our customers.

As this is a front-line, public-facing role you should be friendly and approachable, with excellent communication skills. A collaborative team worker, you’ll also be ready to connect with our creative partners and other stakeholders, and people from the diverse communities we serve.

Committed to taking responsibility for your own learning and development, you should have Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths. However, if you haven’t achieved this yet, we’ll offer you all the support you need as you work to become a valuable member of our team.

Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.

What We Offer:

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is Our Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit

As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working. The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.