First Line IT Support Apprentice
SOTA SOLUTIONS LTD
KENT (ME9 8PX)
Closes in 28 days (Friday 17 April 2026)
Posted on 20 March 2026
Contents
Summary
You will provide 1st and 2nd level Service Desk / Remote Support, basic maintenance and low complexity system builds / installation across the Sota Solutions portfolio of services. You will shadow existing permanent members of the team, throughout the learning cycle, until either the end of their programme or until they are ready to move on.
- Wage
-
£21,000 a year
- Training course
- Information communications technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday 08:45 - 17:15
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Friday 24 April 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 4 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Main responsibilities:
- Carry out a wide range of 1st and 2nd level problem/request management and resolution activity, against prescribed service levels and across multiple hardware and software technologies
- Manage calls from customers and log tickets into the Sota Service Desk Management Tool
- Ensure all problems are progressed in line with Sota best practice
- Manage all problems and requests through to resolution and or fulfilment ensuring the customer and ticketing system are updated in a timely fashion
- Appropriately identify and prioritise customer problems/requests to ensure that Sota maintains high levels of customer satisfaction
- To provide basic engineering support in respect of the build, configuration and deployment of new systems into production to support
- Ensure that resolved escalation procedures are complied with in a timely and appropriate fashion
- Continuously strive to improve the efficiency and quality of the service
- Ensure compliance with all policies, processes and procedures mandated by the company
Where you'll work
300 CORNFORTH DRIVE
KENT SCIENCE PARK
SITTINGBOURNE
KENT
ME9 8PX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
QA LIMITED
Training course
Information communications technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Interpret and prioritise internal or external customer's requirements in line with organisation's policy
- Apply the appropriate tools and techniques to undertake fault finding and rectification
- apply Continuous Professional Development to support necessary business output and technical developments
- Operate safely and securely across platforms and responsibilities maintaining the security of personal data of internal and external stakeholders
- Communicate with all levels of stakeholders, keeping them informed of progress and managing escalation where appropriate
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers and other relevant stakeholders
- Manage and prioritise the allocated workload effectively making best use of time and resources
- Complete documentation relevant to the task and escalate where appropriate
- Install or undertake basic software upgrades,either physically or remotely
- Establish and diagnose the extent of the IT support task, in line with the organisation's policies and Service Level Agreements
- Provide remote/F2F support to resolve customer requirements
- Maintain a safe working environment for own personal safety and others in line with Health & Safety appropriate to the task
- Identify and scope the best solution informed by the system data associated with the task
- Test and evaluate the system's performance and compliance with customer requirements.
- Escalate non routine problems in line with procedures
- Use basic scripting to execute the relevant tasks for example PowerShell, Linux
- Carry out routine maintenance across systems, (such as IT, Communications), ensuring organisational compliance at all times
- Apply the necessary security, in line with access and/or encryption requirements
- Use a range of Cabling or Connectors equipment in line with technical requirements for example physically or remotely
- Test and evaluate network environments
- Monitor performance and usage of a network
- Deploy applications on a network
- Set up storage and data access for staff
- Apply necessary security measures, in line with access requirements to a network
- Carry out routine maintenance across network systems, ensuring organisational compliance
- Monitor network-related workloads including DNS and firewalls
- Install or undertake basic upgrades, either physically or remotely
- Establish digital communication or telecommunications systems through, for example cabling and connecting equipment.
- Identify a range of tools and or diagnostic equipment, for example, Hardware or Software components, to resolve Communications or Telecommunications requirements.
- Undertake basic telecommunications activities, in response to an allocated task, designated responsibilities, instructions or customer’s requirements.
- Use information necessary to identify operational issues and rectify or escalate accordingly in line with policy
- Interpret and prioritise internal or external customer's requirements in line with organisation's policy
- Apply the appropriate tools and techniques to undertake fault finding and rectification
- apply Continuous Professional Development to support necessary business output and technical developments
- Operate safely and securely across platforms and responsibilities maintaining the security of personal data of internal and external stakeholders
- Communicate with all levels of stakeholders, keeping them informed of progress and managing escalation where appropriate
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers and other relevant stakeholders
- Manage and prioritise the allocated workload effectively making best use of time and resources
- Complete documentation relevant to the task and escalate where appropriate
- Install or undertake basic software upgrades,either physically or remotely
- Establish and diagnose the extent of the IT support task, in line with the organisation's policies and Service Level Agreements
- Provide remote/F2F support to resolve customer requirements
- Maintain a safe working environment for own personal safety and others in line with Health & Safety appropriate to the task
Training schedule
Information Communications Technician Level 3.
Why choose our Azure Cloud Support Specialist apprenticeship?
The new Microsoft Azure Cloud Support Specialist Level 3 programme has been designed in partnership with Microsoft to build Azure cloud capabilities in your organisation.
This new Microsoft apprenticeship is part of QA's drive to support Microsoft’s Get On 2021 campaign, a five-year initiative to help 1.5 million people build careers in technology and help 300,000 connect to tech job opportunities.
QA’s Azure Cloud Support Specialist Level 3 apprenticeship programme enables the apprentice to:
- Learn on-premises and cloud-enabled technologies and services
- Learn technical content that aligns to and is relevant to employers and the market
- Gain an Azure Fundamentals qualification and a Microsoft 365 fundamentals qualification
- Get an introduction to Windows, Linux and PowerShell
Tools and technologies learned: Learners will learn to use Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows 10, AWS, Linux, PowerShell.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- 3 of any subject (grade 4+ (A* - C))
- Maths & English (grade 3+ (D or above))
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
About this employer
Sota Solutions is a market-leading IT solutions provider specialising in platform hosting, network infrastructure, data centre and business continuity services for small, medium and large enterprises, public sector organisations, as well as other service providers. Established for over 30 years and with a £6M turnover and strong balance sheet, the company’s facilities include two data centres, a disaster recovery suite, a network operations centre, located in a highly secure twenty-five-acre science park campus in Kent. Join us and be part of the tech revolution.
After this apprenticeship
90% of QA Apprentices secure permanent employment after finishing their apprenticeship. Additionally, there may be opportunities to undertake further apprenticeship training as many of our programs offer on-going development tracks.
Benefits:
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Income Protection
- Perkbox Membership
- Free use of on-site swimming pool
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
QA LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022476.
Apply now
Closes in 28 days (Friday 17 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.