Software Application Tester Apprentice

INSPIRE ATA LIMITED

Horsham (RH13 5PY)

Closes in 24 days (Friday 15 May 2026)

Posted on 21 April 2026

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Summary

This apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and professional training in one of three technical career paths: Application Testing, Developer Support, or IT Support. You will work alongside experienced professionals, receive structured training, and develop the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Software development technician (level 3)
Hours
Days and shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Friday 22 May 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

  • Learn to design and execute test cases for software applications
  • Assist in identifying, documenting, and tracking software defects
  • Gain experience with manual and automated testing techniques
  • Support quality assurance processes and testing activities

Where you'll work

Unit 3, Foundry Court
Foundry Lane
Horsham
RH13 5PY

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

Software development technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Write simple code for discrete software components following an appropriate logical approach to agreed standards (whether web, mobile or desktop applications) under supervision
  • Apply appropriate secure development principles to specific software components at all stages of development
  • Support development of effective user interfaces
  • Make simple connections between code and defined data sources as specified
  • Test simple code and analyse results to correct errors found using unit testing under supervision
  • Conduct a range of test types under supervision , such as Functional and Non -Functional.
  • Apply structured techniques to problem solving, including carry out simple debug of code
  • Follows organisational and industry good coding practices (including for naming, commenting etc.)
  • Solve logical problems, seeking assistance when required (including appropriate mathematical application)
  • Support the creation of simple software documentation and visuals to effectivelycommunicate understanding of the program
  • Define functional and non -functional requirements such as use cases, storyboards, user stories, performance and accessibility.
  • Work within operational requirements such as health and safety, budgets, brands and normal business protocols
  • Develop user interfaces as appropriate to the organisations development standards and the type of software development being developed
  • Build scripts in line with work instructions for deployment into the relevantenvironment
  • Follow simple software designs and functional/technical specifications in line with work
  • Follow simple testing frameworks and methodologies in line with work instructions
  • Follow company, team or client approaches to continuous integration, version and sourcecontrol as instructed
  • Support the communication of software solutions and ideas to technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Apply algorithms, logic and data structures in a supported context in line with workinstructions
  • Follow work instructions to contribute to building a given design whist remainingcompliant with security and maintainability requirements
  • Apply techniques to break down complex problems.
  • Demonstrate how Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can be used to frame and measuredesired outcomes
  • Implement secure code in appropriate languages of different types which is maintainable, readable, functional.
  • Design simple software solutions to meet a requirement using tools and techniques, such as waterfall and agile
  • Work in a shared code base with appropriate etiquette and tools, such as modularity and data definition
  • Use simple debugging techniques, such as interactive debugging, print debugging, remotedebugging
  • Implement test plans under supervision to show that a test plan is implementable in practice and implementation conforms to the plan.
  • Develop and use simple acceptance criteria.
  • Apply and maintain procedures and security controls to ensure confidentiality, integrityand availability
  • Use collaboration tools and technologies for source and version control to enable workingtogether on common projects, regardless of physical location,
  • Follow instructions to ensure client data is held securely under supervision e.g., not using personally identifiable information in test systems, making sure personal actions comply with ICO regulations
  • Use collaboration tools and technologies for writing technical documentation for, and adapting to, specific audience(s). e.g., technical, non-technical, internal, external
  • Write simple code for discrete software components following an appropriate logical approach to agreed standards (whether web, mobile or desktop applications) under supervision
  • Apply appropriate secure development principles to specific software components at all stages of development
  • Support development of effective user interfaces
  • Make simple connections between code and defined data sources as specified
  • Test simple code and analyse results to correct errors found using unit testing under supervision
  • Conduct a range of test types under supervision , such as Functional and Non -Functional.
  • Apply structured techniques to problem solving, including carry out simple debug of code
  • Follows organisational and industry good coding practices (including for naming, commenting etc.)
  • Solve logical problems, seeking assistance when required (including appropriate mathematical application)
  • Support the creation of simple software documentation and visuals to effectivelycommunicate understanding of the program
  • Define functional and non -functional requirements such as use cases, storyboards, user stories, performance and accessibility.
  • Work within operational requirements such as health and safety, budgets, brands and normal business protocols
  • Develop user interfaces as appropriate to the organisations development standards and the type of software development being developed
  • Build scripts in line with work instructions for deployment into the relevantenvironment
  • Follow simple software designs and functional/technical specifications in line with work
  • Follow simple testing frameworks and methodologies in line with work instructions
  • Follow company, team or client approaches to continuous integration, version and sourcecontrol as instructed
  • Support the communication of software solutions and ideas to technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Apply algorithms, logic and data structures in a supported context in line with workinstructions
  • Follow work instructions to contribute to building a given design whist remainingcompliant with security and maintainability requirements
  • Apply techniques to break down complex problems.
  • Demonstrate how Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can be used to frame and measuredesired outcomes
  • Implement secure code in appropriate languages of different types which is maintainable, readable, functional.
  • Design simple software solutions to meet a requirement using tools and techniques, such as waterfall and agile
  • Work in a shared code base with appropriate etiquette and tools, such as modularity and data definition
  • Use simple debugging techniques, such as interactive debugging, print debugging, remotedebugging
  • Implement test plans under supervision to show that a test plan is implementable in practice and implementation conforms to the plan.
  • Develop and use simple acceptance criteria.
  • Apply and maintain procedures and security controls to ensure confidentiality, integrityand availability
  • Use collaboration tools and technologies for source and version control to enable workingtogether on common projects, regardless of physical location,
  • Follow instructions to ensure client data is held securely under supervision e.g., not using personally identifiable information in test systems, making sure personal actions comply with ICO regulations
  • Use collaboration tools and technologies for writing technical documentation for, and adapting to, specific audience(s). e.g., technical, non-technical, internal, external

Training schedule

Why choose our Junior Developer Level 3 apprenticeship?

QA’s Junior Developer Level 3 apprenticeship develops digital skills and provides the technical grounding needed to become a well-rounded, entry-level programmer. Junior Developers work as part of a software development team to build simple software components on web, mobile or desktop apps to be used by other members of the team as part of larger software development projects. 

QA’s Junior Developer Level 3 apprenticeship programme enables the apprentice to:

  • Explore a wide range of skills including Python, C#, Java, SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, Microservices and cloud
  • Interpret simple design requirements for discrete components of a project under supervision
  • Implement code which other team members have developed to produce required components

Gain the following qualifications upon successful completion of the Junior Developer Level 3 programme: 

  • Software Development Technician Level 3
  • BCS Certificate in Systems Development Context and Methodologies
  • BCS Certificate in Programming

Tools and technologies learned: Apprentices will learn to use Python, C#, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and Git.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • 6 including Maths (grade 4 (C) or above)
  • 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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working

About this employer

Inspire ATA are a flexi-job provider, so you will be employed by Inspire ATA and placed with Detego Global for your apprenticeship.

Detego Global are the creators of the Detego® Unified Forensics Platform, an end-to-end suite of modular digital forensics tools which are used globally by military, law enforcement, intelligence agencies and enterprise organisations. With today's investigators faced with an onslaught of digital devices and the corresponding mass of data that is created, Detego® has become the go to toolset to rapidly acquire, analyse and act on evidence and intelligence.

Detego Global is proud to employ the brightest software development talent, led and supported by a world class senior management team from the military, law enforcement, government and technology fields. The company is headquartered in Horsham, United Kingdom with additional offices in Washington, USA, Singapore and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Company benefits

  • Eligible for an NUS card for discounts in shops and restaurants
  • Eligible for an apprenticeship oyster card
  • Remote learning
  • Prizes and vouchers to be won (apprentice of the month)

After this apprenticeship

After this apprenticeship there is the potential full-time employment for the right candidate upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

QA LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000027227.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Friday 15 May 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.