ICT Apprenticeships
What are the best apprenticeships for tech-savvy school leavers?
Are you good with computers? Do you know your cloud from your network?
You could crack the code for a lucrative and diverse career in the digital and ICT sector.
Why ICT is useful for apprenticeships
Most businesses require a digital presence, be it a website, social media channels, or digital security system. Someone who can create, manage, and fix such digital applications is indispensable.
ICT is one branch of computing and digital, with computer science, computer engineering, information systems, and software engineering. Although there is much overlap between the fields of study, ICT primarily focuses on the elements of existing computer systems.
The UK requires more than 3 million people to be skilled in technology by 2025. This is across multiple sectors, including finance, manufacturing, hospitality and healthcare.
Thanks to this need, you will find many ICT-based apprenticeships designed to upskill and diversify the UK workforce.
Transferable skills
We live in a digital world, and understanding software, hardware, and data is a skill that can be utilised across almost every sector.
Whether you are a whizz at coding, can accurately analyse data, or can fix the issues, which can cost businesses the big bucks, you are an attractive prospect to many potential employers.
You will have learned to work with different systems in computing lessons in school. You may have been taught some coding and troubleshooting techniques. Your generation is the most comfortable and prolific users of computers, from PCs to laptops and mobile phones, and opportunities to parlay that knowledge into a potentially lucrative career are abundant.
There is a wealth of ICT and digital apprenticeships designed to teach and hone the invaluable computer skills that may be lacking in some UK businesses.
Intermediate roles
For school leavers, the most important UK apprenticeships are entry-level programmes, also called intermediate or Level 2 apprenticeships. Also useful for older candidates who want to change careers, intermediate apprenticeships give you a base-level knowledge of your chosen subject. They also offer an alternative to higher education, such as attending college and university.
Entry Requirements
The minimum mandatory requirements for a UK apprenticeship are:
- You must be 16 or older
- You must not be in full-time education
- You must have the right to live and work in the UK
Apprenticeships are typically partnerships between businesses and universities and are part-funded by the UK Government. There are national standards that every programme must adhere to.
Each provider will then design their criteria, so you must check the specific requirements of any apprenticeship you plan to apply for.
Depending on the company and branch of IT, you will likely require good GCSE passes in ICT, maths and English.
Don’t be put off from applying if you do not quite meet all the requirements. There may be some opportunity for you to complete the relevant GCSEs or equivalent in the first year of your apprenticeship.
Qualifications gained
Completing a Level 2 apprenticeship will earn you the equivalent of 5 good GCSE passes.
Interesting Level 2 digital and ICT apprenticeships include:
- Technical & Services Internship – Softcat
- ICT Professional Competence – City and Guilds
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Advanced/Higher/Degree targeted at A-Level
The next step after intermediate UK apprenticeships is advanced apprenticeships (Level 3). Next comes Higher apprenticeships (Levels 4 and 5) and finally degree apprenticeships (Levels 6 and 7).
Through apprenticeships, you can climb the ranks of a company or organisation (such as the British Armed Forces), achieve industry qualifications and gain the skills and knowledge to specialise in a particular area.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for an advanced ICT apprenticeship, you will require GCSEs in ICT, maths, English and potentially a more specialised subject, such as data analysis or cloud computing.
To be eligible for higher and degree ICT apprenticeships, you will usually need A levels in maths and a specialism as above.
Other entry requirements include the ability to stay calm in a crisis, adaptability, attention to detail, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Qualifications gained
Completing an apprenticeship earns you a qualification, as follows:
- Advanced apprenticeship = 2 A-Level passes.
- Higher apprenticeship = a foundation degree
- Degree apprenticeship = a full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, depending on your level of study.
Advanced, higher and degree ICT and digital apprenticeships include:
- Software Development – Fujitsu
- Technical opportunities at advanced, higher and degree levels at Samsung UK
Industry Focus
An IT apprenticeship can open many doors to various careers, from business analysts to augmented and virtual reality technicians. Here are a few of the other main sectors you could work in.
As hackers and scammers become more sophisticated, businesses must employ skilled IT technicians who can protect hardware, software and networks from cyber-attacks.
Working in cyber security involves a combination of ‘white hat hacking’ – hacking for preventative or restorative reasons – studying compliance, testing and incident response.
You can specialise in several aspects of cyber security.
Roles in this field include:
- Ethical Hacker
- Cybersecurity Lawyer
- Security Analyst
- Security Engineer
- Developer and Penetration Tester
- Security Architect
- Consultant
- Cybersecurity Sales
You may work for a company or on a freelance client basis.
The UK Government offers Cyber Apprenticeships from Level 4 up to Degree level. You can also check out entry routes into the UK Cyber Security Council.
With just about every company having a website, customers want to be able to purchase or use services, such as paying bills and giving meter readings, without interruptions.
This is where tech support comes in. A specialised form of customer service, customer support technicians ensure any bugs or glitches are fixed quickly, ensuring customers do not take their business elsewhere. They respond directly to customers to locate and solve the problem.
A role like this involves quick but critical thinking. Risk management, digital architecture, and managing and analysing data.
Companies such as Microsoft and Pareto offer Digital Support Technician apprenticeships.
Cloud computing involves delivering digital storage and other computing services through ‘the cloud’ as opposed to local servers or personal computers.
Becoming a cloud specialist means testing and configuring hardware and software, troubleshooting, raising tickets for jobs and resolving them quickly and efficiently.
You will typically work as part of a wider team in an office and help the customer service desk.
Organisations such as QA offer three different Cloud and ICT Level 3 apprenticeships.
Other Opportunities
ICT offers many other opportunities for ambitious school leavers and beyond, including:
- Artificial Intelligence Data Specialist
- Business Intelligence Analysis
- Virtual Reality (VR) specialist
- Augmented Reality (AR) specialist
- Creative Digital Designer
- Data Analyst
- Data Engineer
Conclusion
We hope this guide has given you lots to consider in the world of ICT and computing.
If you would like to know more about any UK apprenticeships or still have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can find ‘apprenticeships near me’ by using our subject and location search filters.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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