Data and IT Support Apprentice

Summary

We are looking for an eager candidate to join us as a Apprentice. You will support the Head of IT & Data, and the Data Manager in helping Speech and Language UK become more data-centered through the management, engineering and reporting of data for relevant teams, SMT and Speech and Language UK customers.

Wage

£25,849 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Data engineer (level 5)

Hours

All details willbe confirmed upon interview.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 9 June 2025

Duration

1 year 9 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

Duties:

Assist the data manager and external IT/data partners by inputting to the development of new data services, features, functionality or reports
Key support in helping us put in place increasingly powerful, self-service reporting that will support our teams to make evidence-driven decisions in support of our organisation’s 5-year strategy
Build your knowledge and experience using low-code tools and query languages such as SQL
Help develop the corporate data model in Dynamics 365, Azure and other core systems
As part of the IT and Data Team, you will be expected to play your part to help protect and manage our data, ensuring good governance is applied to keep our data secure and our practices compliant with all relevant data protection legislation
Build your general IT Operational skills and support the general running and administration of the work of the IT and Data Team.

Where you'll work

Flat 1, Cube Building 17-21
Wenlock Road
London
N1 7GT

Training

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

College or training organisation

QA LIMITED

Your training course

Data engineer (level 5)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Collate, evaluate and refine user requirements to design the data product.
Collate, evaluate and refine business requirements including cost, resourcing, and accessibility to design the data product.
Design a data product to serve multiple needs and with scalability, efficiency, and security in mind.
Automate data pipelines such as batch, real-time, on demand and other processes using programming languages and data integration platforms with graphical user interfaces.
Produce and maintain technical documentation explaining the data product, that meets organisational, technical and non-technical user requirements, retaining critical information.
Systematically clean, validate, and describe data at all stages of extract, transform, load (ETL).
Work with different types of data stores, such as SQL, NoSQL, and distributed file system.
Identify and troubleshoot issues with data processing pipelines.
Query and manipulate data using tools and programming such as SQL and Python. Manage database access, and implement automated validation checks.
Communicate downtime and issues with database access to stakeholders to mitigate the operational impact of unforeseen issues.
Evaluate opportunities to extract value from existing data products through further development, considering costs, environmental impact and potential operational benefits.
Maintain a working knowledge of data use cases within organisations.
Use data systems securely to meet requirements and in line with organisational procedures and legislation.
Identify new tools and technologies and recommend potential opportunities for use in own department or organisation.
Optimise data ingestion processes by making use of appropriate data ingestion frameworks such as batch, streaming and on-demand.
Develop algorithms and processes to extract structured data from unstructured sources.
Apply and advocate for software development best practice when working with other data professionals throughout the business. Contribute to standards and ways of working that support software development principles.
Develop simple forecasts and monitoring tools to anticipate or respond immediately to outages and incidents.
Identify and escalate risks with suggested mitigation/resolutions as appropriate.
Investigate and respond to incidents, identifying the root cause and resolution with internal and external stakeholders.
Identify and remediate technical debt, assess for updates and obsolescence as part of continuous improvement.
Develop, maintain collaborative relationships using adaptive business methodology with stakeholders such as, business users, data scientists, data analysts and business intelligence teams.
Present, communicate, and disseminate messages about the data product, tailoring the message and medium to the needs of the audience.
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of prototype data products and how these integrate within an organisation’s overarching data infrastructure.
Assess and identify gaps in existing tools and technologies in respect of implementing changes required.
Identify data quality metrics and track them to ensure the quality, accuracy and reliability of the data product.
Selects and apply sustainable solutions to contribute to net zero and environmental strategies across the various stages of product and service delivery.
Horizon scanning to identify new technologies that offer increased performance of data products.
Implement personal strategies to keep up to date with new technology and ways of working.
Collate, evaluate and refine user requirements to design the data product.
Collate, evaluate and refine business requirements including cost, resourcing, and accessibility to design the data product.
Design a data product to serve multiple needs and with scalability, efficiency, and security in mind.
Automate data pipelines such as batch, real-time, on demand and other processes using programming languages and data integration platforms with graphical user interfaces.
Produce and maintain technical documentation explaining the data product, that meets organisational, technical and non-technical user requirements, retaining critical information.
Systematically clean, validate, and describe data at all stages of extract, transform, load (ETL).
Work with different types of data stores, such as SQL, NoSQL, and distributed file system.
Identify and troubleshoot issues with data processing pipelines.
Query and manipulate data using tools and programming such as SQL and Python. Manage database access, and implement automated validation checks.
Communicate downtime and issues with database access to stakeholders to mitigate the operational impact of unforeseen issues.
Evaluate opportunities to extract value from existing data products through further development, considering costs, environmental impact and potential operational benefits.
Maintain a working knowledge of data use cases within organisations.
Use data systems securely to meet requirements and in line with organisational procedures and legislation.
Identify new tools and technologies and recommend potential opportunities for use in own department or organisation.
Optimise data ingestion processes by making use of appropriate data ingestion frameworks such as batch, streaming and on-demand.
Develop algorithms and processes to extract structured data from unstructured sources.
Apply and advocate for software development best practice when working with other data professionals throughout the business. Contribute to standards and ways of working that support software development principles.
Develop simple forecasts and monitoring tools to anticipate or respond immediately to outages and incidents.
Identify and escalate risks with suggested mitigation/resolutions as appropriate.
Investigate and respond to incidents, identifying the root cause and resolution with internal and external stakeholders.
Identify and remediate technical debt, assess for updates and obsolescence as part of continuous improvement.
Develop, maintain collaborative relationships using adaptive business methodology with stakeholders such as, business users, data scientists, data analysts and business intelligence teams.
Present, communicate, and disseminate messages about the data product, tailoring the message and medium to the needs of the audience.
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of prototype data products and how these integrate within an organisation’s overarching data infrastructure.
Assess and identify gaps in existing tools and technologies in respect of implementing changes required.
Identify data quality metrics and track them to ensure the quality, accuracy and reliability of the data product.
Selects and apply sustainable solutions to contribute to net zero and environmental strategies across the various stages of product and service delivery.
Horizon scanning to identify new technologies that offer increased performance of data products.
Implement personal strategies to keep up to date with new technology and ways of working.

Your training plan

Introducing QA’s brand new Level 5 Data Engineer apprenticeship programme, meticulously designed to provide learners with a strong foundation for the development of advanced technical competencies, enabling comprehensive professional and personal growth.

This specialised apprenticeship curriculum comprehensively covers essential knowledge and skills crucial for the proficient design, development and management of intricate data systems.

Learners will be equipped to skilfully architect, administer, and transform data into actionable insights tailored for consumption by Data Scientists, Data Analysts, and Business Intelligence professionals, empowering organisations to drive innovation, optimise business processes, and catalyse informed decision-making.

A natural progression having completed this programme would be onto our DTSL6 Degree Apprenticeship Programme data pathway.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

any subject -- x2 (grade A-Level)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Team working
Non judgemental
Basic knowledge of Excel
Data Analysis experience
Awareness of DAMA

About this company

We are Speech and Language UK – we want every child to face the future with confidence. For 1.9 million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feels like an impossible hurdle. Speech and Language UK is dedicated to supporting children and young people with speech and language challenges. Our mission is to ensure that every child can develop the necessary skills to face the future with confidence. Challenges with speech and language affect around 1.9 million children in the UK – or 1 in 5 children - making it a significant issue that impacts various aspects of a child's life, including their academic progress, emotional well-being, and future opportunities.

After this apprenticeship

90% of QA apprentices secure permanent employment after completing their apprenticeship: this is 20% higher than the national average.

Benefits:

Competitive salary
Defined contribution pension scheme with Aviva. Employer contribution: 4.5%, minimum employee contribution: 3%. This is offered as a salary exchange arrangement. Annual 1:1 "pension surgeries" with Speech and Language UK's pension advisors
Life cover for 4x annual salary with MetLife. Members have access to a GP24, a 24/7 virtual GP service 365 days a year
Confidential employee assistance programme (including structured counselling sessions) and wellbeing resources
Free annual flu vaccination
Cycle to work scheme
28 days annual leave per annum (plus bank holidays), rising to 30 days after five years continuous service
Perkbox - Employee benefits and celebration platform providing hundreds of exclusive perks for staff ranging from discounts on shopping, entertainment and family days out, to gym memberships and rewards
Enhanced family and special leave policies

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