Legal Apprentice (Information Governance)

Harlow District Council

Essex (CM20 1WG)

Closes in 6 days (Sunday 11 October 2026)

Posted on 30 September 2026

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Contents

Summary

We have an excellent opportunity for an Apprentice to join our Legal Services Team as an Information Governance Apprentice. This is a two year position supporting the Council’s Legal Services department whilst undertaking a L4 course in Data Protection and Information Governance.

Wage

£25,947.47 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Living Wage

Training course
Data protection and information governance practitioner (level 4)
Hours
Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 December 2026

Duration

2 years

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

  • This is an administrative post working to deadlines, requiring excellent written and verbal skills
  • This role includes supporting the Council to ensure it meets legal obligations under the relevant legislation and regulations, which has an impact on Council information
  • Assist with the management of requests for information received under FOIA and EIR and Subject Access Requests and to prepare responses
  • Assist with the management of internal and third-party personal data sharing requests under DPA 2018 and GDPR and prepare responses
  • Assist with the processes and requirements for compliance with and re-accreditation of the Legal Service’s LEXCEL accreditation
  • Assist with the purchase order and invoicing processes

Where you'll work

Civic Centre
The Water Gardens
Harlow
Essex
CM20 1WG

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

LONDON VESTA COLLEGE LIMITED

Training course

Data protection and information governance practitioner (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use IT systems to manage, share and store information in accordance with data protection requirements and organisation policies.
  • Communicate complex subjects in simple terms through different media (such as face to face meetings, emails, reports and presentations) to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
  • Prepare documentation and materials for review and ratification.
  • Working at times under time pressure, prioritising their workloads in order to raise and resolve areas of concern such as individual rights, breach management, FOI requests and information sharing.
  • Being able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation, showing the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing environment.
  • Undertake data collection, data analysis, data presentation and date storage such as data incidents.
  • Interpret regulation and legislation, share best practice and advise stakeholders on its application.
  • Identify organisation needs and how these are applied to enquiries.
  • Interpret and apply sector guidance appropriately.
  • Undertake investigations and interviews in order to assess a data breach.
  • Gather, analyse, use and share data to inform risk assessment and make judgements on actions to take.
  • Make decisions on data protection and information governance issues raised and ensure that any areas of concern are escalated to the stakeholders.
  • Provide day to day support, specialist advice, guidance and training across the organisation and external stakeholders for all matters regarding information governance and data protection.
  • Identify potential data solutions and evidence the way in which they could improve data management.
  • Use IT systems to manage, share and store information in accordance with data protection requirements and organisation policies.
  • Communicate complex subjects in simple terms through different media (such as face to face meetings, emails, reports and presentations) to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
  • Prepare documentation and materials for review and ratification.
  • Working at times under time pressure, prioritising their workloads in order to raise and resolve areas of concern such as individual rights, breach management, FOI requests and information sharing.
  • Being able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation, showing the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing environment.
  • Undertake data collection, data analysis, data presentation and date storage such as data incidents.
  • Interpret regulation and legislation, share best practice and advise stakeholders on its application.
  • Identify organisation needs and how these are applied to enquiries.
  • Interpret and apply sector guidance appropriately.
  • Undertake investigations and interviews in order to assess a data breach.
  • Gather, analyse, use and share data to inform risk assessment and make judgements on actions to take.
  • Make decisions on data protection and information governance issues raised and ensure that any areas of concern are escalated to the stakeholders.
  • Provide day to day support, specialist advice, guidance and training across the organisation and external stakeholders for all matters regarding information governance and data protection.
  • Identify potential data solutions and evidence the way in which they could improve data management.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Any subject (grade A*-C)
  • Any subject (grade A*-C)
  • Any subject (grade A*-C)
  • English (grade A*-C)
  • Maths (grade A*-C)

A Level in:

  • Any subject (grade A*-C)
  • Any subject (grade A*-C)

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
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

About this employer

Local authority for Harlow in Essex, responsible for local services for residents, visitors and businesses. The council is run by 33 councillors, who form the Full Council. They are elected by the local community and serve for a period of four years, with one third of the council being re-elected every year. Whilst elected councillors set the policies, paid employees (council officers) put them into practice. The council employs around 400 staff. These include housing officers, customer advisors and staff responsible for a wide range of services. These services include Housing, Regeneration, Culture and Community; Environment  and Public Protection. Working for Harlow gives you the chance to make a practical and positive difference to the lives of people living and working here. Staff benefits include generous annual leave, flexible working, Local Government Pension Scheme, training and development opportunities, staff benefits scheme, cycle to work scheme, health and wellbeing support and more.

http://www.harlow.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave entitlement, health and wellbeing initiatives, employee assistance programme and development opportunities, and employee benefits scheme, positive work / life balance.

Disability Confident

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).

It is expected that this Level 4 qualification would lead to becoming an officer or assistant, working in industries such as local government and law. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LONDON VESTA COLLEGE LIMITED

recruitment@harlow.gov.uk

01279 446070

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000056397.

Apply now

Closes in 6 days (Sunday 11 October 2026)

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