Receptionist and Business Support Assistant

Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. The starting salary for this role is £28,546 per annum, working 36 hours per week. Be the first point of call at Surrey Fire & Rescue Service! Are you an organised, professional and customer-focused administrator looking for a role where your work genuinely makes a difference? Surrey Fire & Rescue Service is seeking a Receptionist & Business Support Assistant to become a key member of our Business Support Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of a busy emergency service organisation, providing essential support to operational crews, managers, partners and members of the public. As the first point of contact for our Headquarters, you'll play a vital role in creating a professional and welcoming experience for visitors while ensuring vital communications, information and administrative processes run smoothly across the Service. This is a full-time, office-based position located at Surrey Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters in Reigate. Due to the nature of the role, an on-site presence is essential to provide reception services, visitor management and day-to-day operational support. You will be based at our headquarters Monday to Friday. Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service (pro-rated for part time opportunities) Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents About The Role No two days are the same in this varied and fast-paced role. You will welcome visitors and provide a friendly, professional reception service while managing the Surrey Fire & Rescue switchboard, ensuring calls are handled and directed efficiently. Acting as the first point of contact for enquiries received by telephone, email and in person, you will play a key role in delivering excellent customer service and supporting colleagues across the organisation. This role also involves coordinating meetings, training events and workshops, as well as producing, formatting and quality-checking reports, presentations, newsletters and other communications. You will maintain intranet pages, communication portals and contact directories, support managers and frontline teams with a wide range of business administration activities, and ensure records, databases and business systems remain accurate and up to date. Working closely with contractors, facilities teams and internal departments, you will help resolve issues quickly and effectively. You will also be responsible for handling sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion, while identifying and implementing improvements to business processes and ways of working. Shortlisting Criteria In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours : Experience in a reception, administration or business support role with exceptional customer service and communication skills. Experience operating a switchboard or handling high volumes of calls. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities. Excellent attention to detail and accuracy. Confidence using Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and SharePoint. The ability to work independently whilst being a supportive team player. A calm, professional approach when dealing with urgent or sensitive matters. Minimum of 3 GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics. We're looking for someone who thrives in a busy environment and enjoys helping others succeed. If you're an organised and proactive administrator who enjoys delivering excellent customer service and wants to contribute to an organisation that supports and protects local communities, we'd love to hear from you. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Matthew Millar via email or on MS Teams. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 06/09/2026 with interviews planned to follow. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.