Digital Forensics Apprentice
West Midlands Police
Snow Hill Queensway (B4 6GH)
Closes on Tuesday 4 August 2026
Posted on 3 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Working in the Digital Forensic teams, you will utilise a range of equipment, and tools, to support the recovery of evidence from digital devices, seized in a variety of investigations. Digital Forensic Apprentice will learn and develop practical skills in a range of digital practices and services offered by West Midlands Police.
- Wage
-
£26,703 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
- A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs
- Comprehensive benefits including pension, Blue Light Card, and employee assistance programme.
- Training course
- Digital forensic technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
Shift pattern - TBC.
36 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 4 November 2026
- Duration
-
2 years 3 months
- Positions available
-
8
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
- Supported by Digital Forensic staff, use a wide range of commercial and specialist digital forensic and video analysis software and hardware tools
- Working under instruction, to provide assistance to the Digital Forensic Examiners
- Safe handling of forensic exhibits to ensure continuity, confidentiality, and security is maintained at all times
- Develop a practical understanding of the principles of digital evidence and how it is used to support investigations and criminal justice processes
- Develop, and evidence, an understanding of Digital Forensic good practice methodologies (ISO17025/17020 standards, FSR Codes, ACPO Principles of Digital Evidence and other legislation), used in the examination of computers, mobile phones, CCTV, and other digital devices
- Produce a professional development portfolio by completing an accredited course of study and training courses. Also achieving, and maintaining competence to support a range of digital evidence activities and administrative tasks
Where you'll work
Lloyd House
Snow Hill Queensway
B4 6GH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BLUELIGHTSDIGITAL LTD
Training course
Digital forensic technician (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Use appropriate terminology defined by the forensic science regulator and included in standard operating procedures.
- Standard operating procedures for a range of digital forensic capture and preservation processes.
- Apply standard methodology in a safe and effective way while working in operational environments.
- Demonstrate confidentiality, integrity, and availability limitations of secure devices and best practice methods for preserving evidence.
- Implement limitations of competency and authority and escalate when necessary.
- Considered decision making.
- Adhere to powers of seizure/examinations and legislation. Demonstrate compliance with this through the appropriate use of standard forms.
- Adopt communication methods suitable for audience. Using technical language where appropriate.
- Identify, set up and use a range hardware components and devices.
- Demonstrate correct use of write blocking techniques.
- Manage applications software relevant to the role.
- Show an ability to troubleshoot real-world device and network issues effectively and diagnosing and correcting common software, hardware, or connectivity problems.
- Use features and functions of common specialist digital forensic tools and software. Selecting based on suitability.
- Understanding the responsibilities of data management.
- Provide preservation advice for physical evidence (DNA, fingerprints) for new digital exhibits, taking into account anticontamination and cross contamination.
- Apply continuity of evidence and appropriate recording of a chain of evidence or an exhibit for disclosure purposes.
- Produce notes documenting activity undertaken during the capture and preservation processes; including the appropriate use of digital evidence/case management systems.
- Produce evidential continuity witness statements and demonstrate how to present in a courtroom or professional enquiry
- Navigate and inform a quality management system information associated with reporting, corrective action, validation, verification, individual competency and peer review.
- Conducting dynamic risk assessments, taking into account the safety of all parties and using PPE.
- Apply strategies to develop personal resilience and maintain welling, know how to access organisational support mechanisms.
- Process technical information effectively and accurately to provide critical thinking to issues and problems.
- Use appropriate terminology defined by the forensic science regulator and included in standard operating procedures.
- Standard operating procedures for a range of digital forensic capture and preservation processes.
- Apply standard methodology in a safe and effective way while working in operational environments.
- Demonstrate confidentiality, integrity, and availability limitations of secure devices and best practice methods for preserving evidence.
- Implement limitations of competency and authority and escalate when necessary.
- Considered decision making.
- Adhere to powers of seizure/examinations and legislation. Demonstrate compliance with this through the appropriate use of standard forms.
- Adopt communication methods suitable for audience. Using technical language where appropriate.
- Identify, set up and use a range hardware components and devices.
- Demonstrate correct use of write blocking techniques.
- Manage applications software relevant to the role.
- Show an ability to troubleshoot real-world device and network issues effectively and diagnosing and correcting common software, hardware, or connectivity problems.
- Use features and functions of common specialist digital forensic tools and software. Selecting based on suitability.
- Understanding the responsibilities of data management.
- Provide preservation advice for physical evidence (DNA, fingerprints) for new digital exhibits, taking into account anticontamination and cross contamination.
- Apply continuity of evidence and appropriate recording of a chain of evidence or an exhibit for disclosure purposes.
- Produce notes documenting activity undertaken during the capture and preservation processes; including the appropriate use of digital evidence/case management systems.
- Produce evidential continuity witness statements and demonstrate how to present in a courtroom or professional enquiry
- Navigate and inform a quality management system information associated with reporting, corrective action, validation, verification, individual competency and peer review.
- Conducting dynamic risk assessments, taking into account the safety of all parties and using PPE.
- Apply strategies to develop personal resilience and maintain welling, know how to access organisational support mechanisms.
- Process technical information effectively and accurately to provide critical thinking to issues and problems.
Training schedule
- Digital Forensic Technician Level 4
- At employers work place
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 or above)
- English (grade 4 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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
Essential:
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team of Digital Forensic examiners
- Possess good communication skills (both verbal and written) in support of training staff and delivering innovative technologies
- Be enthusiastic, hardworking and flexible
Desirable:
- Cat B (Van) driving licence
- Full UK driving licence
About this employer
West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in the country, serving the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, alongside the districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull, and Dudley.
Against this backdrop, the force handles more than 2,000 emergency calls every day, while patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have made significant improvements in reducing overall crime, improving call response times, and increasing arrest rates. This work can only continue with the right people, therefore as an employer of choice, we are looking for the right people who can serve and protect our communities.
https://www.westmidlands.police.uk (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be able to apply for a permanent position is there is one available, but there is no guarantee.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BLUELIGHTSDIGITAL LTD
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000040516.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 4 August 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.