Cyber Security Apprentice

MARCHWOOD POWER LIMITED

Southampton (SO40 4BD)

Closes on Thursday 31 July 2025

Posted on 25 June 2025

Print

Contents

Summary

Join the MPL team, who are highly skilled in keeping this leading-edge power station running reliably and efficiently. In addition to technical skills, you will develop a range of leadership and interpersonal skills necessary for engaging with stakeholders. This apprenticeship will support in producing a well-rounded technical cyber leader.

Wage

£21,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£21,000 starting salary with yearly increases subject to performance.

Training course
Digital and technology solutions professional (level 6)
Hours
Working from the main power station site near Southampton. The working week is Monday to Friday. With Core hours between 09:00 and 15:00. Hours either side if this are agreed with your line manager.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 22 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 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

The Cyber Security Apprentice will have the responsibility of supporting key cyber functions and day-to-day operations of cyber processes and solutions.

Marchwood Power being in the gas and energy industry, provides the opportunity to learn and develop skills within operational technology in addition to IT, data privacy and third-party security management. The apprentice will support in ensuring day-today plant operations are not compromised through pro-actively working to secure our environments, utilise technical solutions and coordinate with the business departments to ensure policy and process is understood and followed.

To be able to achieve this, the following skillsets will be developed and utilised throughout the apprenticeship:

  • Effective communication at all levels of the business.
  •  Interaction with governing bodies, assurance frameworks, and regulation.
  • Project management.
  • Using theoretical knowledge to solve real-life problems.
  • Interpersonal skills.
  • Commitment to professional standards.

Where you'll work

Oceanic Way
Marchwood Industrial Park
Marchwood
Southampton
SO40 4BD

Training

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

College or training organisation

UNIVERSITY OF STAFFORDSHIRE

Your training course

Digital and technology solutions professional (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Analyse a business problem to identify the role of digital and technology solutions.
  • Identify risks, determine mitigation strategies and opportunities for improvement in a digital and technology solutions project.
  • Analyse a business problem in order to specify an appropriate digital and technology solution.
  • Initiate, design, code, test and debug a software component for a digital and technology solution.
  • Apply relevant standard processes, methods, techniques and tools. For example, ISO Standards, Waterfall, Agile in a digital and technology solution project.
  • Manage digital and technology solutions projects. For example, identifying and resolving deviations from specification, applying appropriate Project Management methodologies.
  • Work effectively within teams, leading on appropriate digital technology solution activities.
  • Apply relevant organisational theories. For example, change management principles, marketing approaches, strategic practice, and IT service management to a digital and technology solutions project.
  • Apply relevant security and resilience techniques to a digital and technology solution. For example, risk assessments, mitigation strategies.
  • Initiate, design, implement and debug a data product for a digital and technology solution.
  • Determine and use appropriate data analysis techniques. For example, Text, Statistical, Diagnostic or Predictive Analysis to assess a digital and technology solutions.
  • Plan, design and manage simple computer networks with an overall focus on the services and capabilities that network infrastructure solutions enable in an organisational context.
  • Report effectively to colleagues and stakeholders using the appropriate language and style, to meet the needs of the audience concerned.
  • Research, investigate, and evaluate innovative technologies or approaches in the development of a digital and technology solution.
  • Apply relevant legal, ethical, social and professional standards to a digital and technology solution.
  • Identify and define software engineering problems that are non-routine and incompletely specified.
  • Provide recommendations as to the most appropriate software engineering solution.
  • Use appropriate analysis methods, approaches and techniques in software engineering projects to deliver an outcome that meets requirements.
  • Implement software engineering projects using appropriate software engineering methods, approaches and techniques.
  • Respond to changing priorities and problems arising within software engineering projects by making revised recommendations, and adapting plans as necessary, to fit the scenario being investigated.
  • Determine, refine, adapt and use appropriate software engineering methods, approaches and techniques to evaluate software engineering project outcomes.
  • Evaluate learning points arising from software engineering work undertaken on a project including use of methods, analysis undertaken, selection of approach and the outcome achieved, in order to identify both lessons learnt and recommendations for improvements to future projects.
  • Extend and update software development knowledge with evidence from professional and academic sources by undertaking appropriate research to inform best practice and lead improvements in the organisation.
  • Analyse client needs and determine how to advise them strategically through improved business processes, new ideas, or technology solutions.
  • Effectively communicate value add to the client through a variety of media. For example, presentations, written reports, Storytelling in a professional setting through performing socio-technical process improvements in a range of environments.
  • Make evidence based recommendations taking into account risks, costs, and benefits.
  • Participate in walk-throughs for Information Technologies, to identify, document and evaluate key risks within a client’s organisation.
  • Perform stakeholder analysis to identify, determine and deepen understanding of system requirements and develop client relationships.
  • Effect change within an organisation through evaluation of a new system, process or initiative.
  • Ensure legal and ethical requirements are accommodated in the development of digital and technology solutions.
  • Evaluate the  success of new systems, processes, or initiatives.
  • Use requirements elicitation, analysis and documentation to produce an acceptable solution for business problems or further opportunities.
  • Conduct Process Analysis, Definition, Mapping and Modelling within a business situation without supervision.
  • Produce Use Cases which are of value to all stakeholders of a system.
  • Use tools and benchmarking to support modelling and requirements gathering and recommend approaches to team members as required.
  • Produce a business case to scope a proposed project including business benefits and recommendations.
  • Use products of analysis in the design and development of a system.
  • Evaluate the impacts of model selection and how they inter-relate with each other when generating business analytics.
  • Recommend and use appropriate software tools to implement Business Analysis tasks and outcomes.
  • Discover, identify and analyse security threats, attack techniques and vulnerabilities and recommend mitigation and security controls.
  • Undertake security risk assessments for complex systems without direct supervision and propose a remediation strategy relevant to the context of the organisation.
  • Recommend improvements to the cyber security approaches of an organisation based on research into future potential cyber threats and considering threat trends.
  • Manage cyber security risk.
  • Use appropriate cyber security technology, tools and techniques in relation to the risks identified.
  • Lead cyber security awareness campaigns and evaluate their effectiveness.
  • Analyse cyber security requirements against other design requirements for systems or products, identify conflicting requirements and recommend appropriate solutions with clear explanation of costs and benefits.
  • Lead the design and build of systems in accordance with a security case to address organisational challenges.
  • Define Data Requirements and perform Data Collection, Data Processing and Data Cleansing.
  • Apply different types of Data Analysis, as appropriate, to drive improvements for specific business problems.
  • Find, present, communicate and disseminate data analysis outputs effectively and with high impact through creative storytelling, tailoring the message for the audience. Visualise data to tell compelling and actionable narratives by using the best medium for each audience, such as charts, graphs and dashboards.
  • Identify barriers to effective analysis encountered both by analysts and their stakeholders within data analysis projects.
  • Apply a range of techniques for analysing quantitative data such as data mining, time series forecasting, algorithms, statistics and modelling techniques to identify and predict trends and patterns in data.
  • Apply exploratory or confirmatory approaches to analysing data. Validate and and test stability of the results.
  • Extract data from a range of sources. For example, databases, web services, open data.
  • Analyse in detail large data sets, using a range of industry standard tools and data analysis methods.
  • Identify and collate stakeholder needs in relation to computer network requirements, plans and designs.
  • Plan, design, document, and develop the relevant elements of a computer network within an organisation or between organisations, taking into account customer requirements (performance, scale), constraints (budget, equipment availability), and define policies for their use.
  • Monitor performance and ensure networks are configured correctly and perform as expected by designers or architects. Undertake capacity management and audit of IP addressing and hosted devices.
  • Investigate, troubleshoot and resolve data network faults in local and wide area environments, using information from multiple sources, Physically or Remotely by console connection. Recommend and implement short term fixes to restore service and, or, quality of experience and recommend longer term changes to prevent recurrence or reduce impact of future occurrences.
  • Implement computer networks from a design including testing and validation. This includes populating variables in configurations, for example, IP addresses and subsequent application of configuration to equipment such as routers, switches, firewalls.
  • Secure network systems by establishing and enforcing policies, and defining and monitoring access. Support and administer firewall environments in line with IT security policy.
  • Research and evaluate emerging network technologies and assess relevance to current network requirements. Provide an objective opinion on how new features and technologies may be incorporated as required by the organisation.
  • Investigate security concerns or attacks. For example, Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS), port scanning, assessing key metrics and indicators, evidencing the chosen steps to mitigate.
  • Analyse a business problem to identify the role of digital and technology solutions.
  • Identify risks, determine mitigation strategies and opportunities for improvement in a digital and technology solutions project.
  • Analyse a business problem in order to specify an appropriate digital and technology solution.
  • Initiate, design, code, test and debug a software component for a digital and technology solution.
  • Apply relevant standard processes, methods, techniques and tools. For example, ISO Standards, Waterfall, Agile in a digital and technology solution project.
  • Manage digital and technology solutions projects. For example, identifying and resolving deviations from specification, applying appropriate Project Management methodologies.
  • Work effectively within teams, leading on appropriate digital technology solution activities.
  • Apply relevant organisational theories. For example, change management principles, marketing approaches, strategic practice, and IT service management to a digital and technology solutions project.
  • Apply relevant security and resilience techniques to a digital and technology solution. For example, risk assessments, mitigation strategies.
  • Initiate, design, implement and debug a data product for a digital and technology solution.
  • Determine and use appropriate data analysis techniques. For example, Text, Statistical, Diagnostic or Predictive Analysis to assess a digital and technology solutions.
  • Plan, design and manage simple computer networks with an overall focus on the services and capabilities that network infrastructure solutions enable in an organisational context.
  • Report effectively to colleagues and stakeholders using the appropriate language and style, to meet the needs of the audience concerned.
  • Research, investigate, and evaluate innovative technologies or approaches in the development of a digital and technology solution.
  • Apply relevant legal, ethical, social and professional standards to a digital and technology solution.

Your training plan

Apprentices will undertake the level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship programme delivered by University of Staffordshire.

Teaching will be a mix of on the job and off the job training delivered face to face in university and online weekly sessions. The programme is delivered using a blended learning model.

Back in company, you will begin working towards an end point assessment in order to achieve your degree apprenticeship, cover many required tasks and theories to ensure full competence.

Apprentices will attend university for 1 week of study per semester each academic year.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices will achieve their BSc (Hons) in Digital and Technology Solutions.

For candidates who do well and wish to progress, there is the opportunity to progress further certification.

More training information

The apprenticeship is designed to provide the learner with a broad set of functional skills whilst also providing specialist skills within cybersecurity. You will be equipped to deliver technical solutions that secure, transform and digitalise the business.

During the apprenticeship, you will be exposed to a range of opportunities and challenges that teach the value of technology investment and security. You will develop strategic, operational and project management skills that will drive our business's development and align with business needs.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade Grade A*-C/4-9 or equivalent)
  • Mathmatics (grade Grade A*-C/4-9 or equivalent)

BTEC in:

A Levels, BTEC or equivilant (grade Minimum 112 UCAS Points)

Desirable qualifications

BTEC in:

Computing (grade Pass or above)

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Passion for technology
  • Understanding of networking

Other requirements

You will need to be able to travel to the University of Staffordshire for academic block release (three weeks per academic year. Whilst your place of work will be at Marchwood, Southampton. All candidates must be able to achieve Security Check (SC) clearance under UK National Security Vetting (NSV) regulations.

About this company

Marchwood Power Limited owns and operates a £380 million natural gas-fired combined cycle (CCGT) power station on Marchwood Industrial Park. Marchwood Power Station began commercial generating electricity in December 2009 and was officially opened the following month. The facility uses the latest technology to ensure maximum energy efficiency and minimise impact on the environment. It is currently one of the most efficient power stations in the UK. Impacts on the environment and nearby communities are strictly controlled.

https://www.marchwoodpower.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Cyber Security is dynamic and is becoming more critical across all industries, especially the energy industry.

Cybersecurity is an ongoing and ever-evolving objective for MPL. With the support of the Head of Cyber, the apprentice will likely progress into an effective resource for ensuring our ongoing compliance and maturity across the whole business through leveraging their expertise of all cyber domains.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF STAFFORDSHIRE

Apprenticeship Recruitment Team

apprenticeshiprecuitment@staffs.ac.uk

08001692148

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000327929.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 31 July 2025

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.