Talent Acquisition Apprentice

Which Role Should I Apply For? We currently have three roles open. If you're looking to kick‑start your recruitment career while completing a CIPD Level 3 qualification, this Talent Acquisition Apprentice role is designed for you.

If you already have some recruitment experience consider our Talent Acquisition Administrator role, or explore our Senior Talent Acquisition Coordinator role if you have established in‑house recruitment experience.

Role Summary

• Responsibilities: As a Talent Acquisition Apprentice at Costello Medical, you will contribute to the smooth running of the company’s recruitment efforts, supporting across various roles and supporting in our rapid growth 
• Salary: £22,500 per annum
• Benefits: Discretionary profit share bonuses paid twice per year, hybrid and flexible working options, generous holiday allowance, private medical insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, full funding for external training, and more
• Role Type: Full-time, temporary apprenticeship
• Start Date: This role will ideally commence in April or May 2026. However, we have other start dates available in early 2026, which occur on a monthly basis
• Application Deadlines: Whilst there are no set application deadlines, we strongly recommend applying as early as possible. The role, or particular start dates, may close when suitable candidates are found ​
• Location: This role is available in our Global Headquarters in Cambridge

About the Role

Are you looking to start your career in recruitment or HR? Do you enjoy organising, supporting others, and delivering great customer service? Are you excited by the idea of working in a fast‑paced environment where no two days are the same?

We are seeking a Talent Acquisition Apprentice to support our growing Talent Acquisition team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone at the very beginning of their recruitment career who is eager to learn, develop new skills, and contribute to a busy and collaborative team.

In this role, you will play a key part in ensuring our recruitment processes run smoothly for various positions across our service offerings and offices. You will support with a wide range of administrative tasks, such as posting job adverts, reviewing applications, booking interviews, greeting and communicating with candidates. Over time, you will gain exposure to the full recruitment lifecycle and develop the knowledge required to progress within the team.

This is a fast-paced, varied and rewarding role where you will learn from experienced Talent Acquisition colleagues and contribute to a positive candidate experience across the organisation.

The successful candidate will work towards the Level 3 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Foundation Certificate in People Practice, which usually takes around 16 months to complete. The apprenticeship training will be provided by BPP and will include tutor support, access to a virtual learning environment and regular webinars. Further details about the apprenticeship can be found here: https://www.bpp.com/courses/leadership-and-management/apprenticeships/hr-support

Career Profile

We offer many opportunities for personal and professional development at Costello Medical. Please click on the following link to read about Emma King’s exciting journey at the company since joining as part of an apprenticeship programme herself in 2016: https://www.costellomedical.com/career-profiles/emma-king.html

About Costello Medical

This role is ideal for someone looking to join an organisation with extensive, global growth plans. At the end of 2025, Costello Medical hit 500 global employees. In 2026, we are due to surpass 600 global employees. This sustained growth has been driven by our exceptional team and an increase in demand from new and existing clients.

We are a global healthcare agency specialising in medical communications, market access, and health economic and outcomes research. We work with a wide range of clients, including the industry’s most successful pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, patient and public health bodies, and charitable organisations.

We have been listed in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list since 2017 and were proud to receive B Corporation accreditation in 2022. Learn more about us, our work, and our mission on our website: https://www.costellomedical.com/

Requirements

About You

The successful candidate will be proactive and eager to take on new challenges with a friendly, positive, and ‘can-do’ attitude. You will also value the opportunity to develop your skills in a dynamic and fast-paced office environment.

Essential requirements for the role are:

• Grade 6 or higher (or equivalent) in GCSE Maths and English; A-Levels would also be an advantage
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects
• Excellent numerical skills
• A commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of HR data and an understanding of its sensitive nature
• A friendly and approachable demeanour alongside a dedication to providing excellent customer service
• Some experience using the Microsoft Office suite is advantageous but not essential, as training would be provided

Benefits

What We Offer

Alongside our award-winning company culture, where every team member is celebrated, respected, and has their voice heard, we are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• A starting salary of £22,500 per annum
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank and public holidays, as well as a holiday buy and sell scheme
• Flexible working hours and the chance to work from home for up to half of your working time after passing probation
• Flexible benefits scheme offering cash payments, additional pension contributions and more
• Private Medical Insurance which offers comprehensive cover on a “medical history disregard” basis
• Paid study leave and funding for external qualifications
• Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection and Life Assurance
• Paid and unpaid sabbaticals based on length of service

Hybrid Working Policy: We believe that having face-to-face time in the office holds many benefits and is central to ensuring that the community we have created, where people have a workplace they belong to and feel part of, is never lost. At the same time, we recognise that homeworking can improve work life balance, reduce commuting times and costs, and provide the opportunity to juggle personal commitments.

Therefore, we offer flexible working arrangements that allow our colleagues who have passed probation to work from home up to half their time, measured across a 2-week rolling period. During your probationary period (normally the first 6 months of the role), you will be able to work from home 1 day per week.

Learn more about our full reward package and the other benefits of working for Costello Medical: https://www.costellomedical.com/careers/benefits-package-in-the-uk/

The Application Process

You are required to submit your CV and a cover letter via our online application form. In your cover letter, you must explain why you think you would be suited to the role and why you would like to join Costello Medical, with examples to support both.

Then, our recruitment process includes a telephone interview with a member of the Talent Acquisition team. If successful, this will be followed by a short assessment (made up of a proofreading task and written exercise) and a formal interview with senior members of our Talent Acquisition team. Our standard recruitment process lasts around 2-3 weeks, however, this can be adapted if necessary.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and, throughout the recruitment process, there are a number of reasonable adjustments we can provide: https://www.costellomedical.com/reasonable-adjustments/

Please note that, whilst we embrace AI to innovate and improve processes, your role may involve working with confidential data that cannot be uploaded to AI. Therefore, it is important for us to assess your own skills and abilities, so we recommend that you do not rely solely on this technology to generate any application materials.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that this role does not meet the eligibility criteria for visa sponsorship and you will therefore need the right to work in the UK independently from the company.