Overview:
Organisations of all types and sizes are increasingly applying digital technologies across all their business functions to maximise productivity. The purpose of a Digital Support Technician is to maximise the use of digital office technologies, productivity software, digital communications, including collaborative technologies, and digital information systems to achieve organisational objectives. This apprenticeship programme will take 15 to 18 months and it will lead to a formal qualification of Level 3 Diploma in Digital Support Technician and Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths. Level 3 Digital Support Technician apprenticeship programme offers two pathways to apprentices:
- A Digital Applications Technician helping their organisation and its internal users to maximise the use of digital technologies and exploit changes in technology to meet organisation objectives.
- A Digital Service Technician supports the external customers and clients of their organisation through a wide variety of digital channels, to help them access and receive services, to coach and support them in their use of the digital systems.
Who is it for?
The role of this apprenticeship programme revolves around people who can support and implement these digital operations and digital transformation projects. Furthermore, supporting their service users through online and digital channels, as they develop omnichannel approaches to meeting customer needs, deflect traditional telephone and face-to-face contacts, and to reduce costs. On a daily basis, Digital Support Technicians interact with internal and external users of digital systems. This occupation is found in organisations, small, medium and large, in all sectors, and within the public, private and voluntary organisations. The typical job roles associated with this apprenticeship programme are Digital Coach, Digital Transformation Associate; ICT Support Analyst, Digital Champion, Database Administrator, Data Administrator, Service Centre Operator, Digital Service Advisor, Digital Service Support, Digital Service Agent; Applications and On-line Service Executive.
What will you learn?
The level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship is aimed to develop the following core knowledge, skills, and behaviours:
Apprenticeship (A-Z); Learners
It is a job with training program where the apprentice/ employee gains the knowledge, skills and behaviour on and off a job and get paid. All apprenticeship training programmes end in achieving formal qualification.You can start an apprenticeship with you existing employer or a new employer.
Anyone with the age of 16 and over not in full-time education can apply for an apprenticeship. No prior qualification needed for apprenticeships either some of the employers might require GSCEs (A-C) in English, Math and Science.
Apprentices are entitled at-least to apprentice wage rate (£4.15) if they are either
- Aged under 19
- Aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship.
Example: Emma at age 23 in the first year of her apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £4.15, but from the second year she will be entitled to National minimum wage rate; which is £8.20 per hour.
Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they both:
- are aged 19 or over
- have completed the first year of their apprenticeship
There is no upper limit for employers to pay to apprentices, employers can pay above to apprentice wage rate and National minimum wage rate.
Apprenticeship (A-Z); Employers
There must be a genuine job available with a contract of employment long enough for an apprentice to complete their apprenticeship. Employers must pay an apprentice’s wages and the role must help them gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviour they need to achieve the apprenticeship with support from the employer.
Apprenticeship is an effective and productive way to grow talent and develop a multi-talented, motivated, and skilled workforce. Following are some known facts about apprenticeships (https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers/benefits-of-hiring-apprentice#):
- 86% of employers have said that they were able to develop skills relevant to their organisation with the help of apprenticeships.
- 78% employers claimed that apprenticeships improved productivity in their organisations.
- 74% of employers said apprenticeship helped them to increase the quality of their product or service.
Some other benefits include:
- Adapt the training of an apprentice according to your business needs.
- Highly motivated to learn new skills and grow in your company
- Expansion and upskilling of your workforce.
The government has set-up funding bands to determine the maximum you can spend on each apprenticeship training course through your digital account and employers who do not pay the levy will pay 5% of the training cost of each apprentice they take on and remaining 95% will be paid by the government.
Example: Emma is undertaking a level 3 retail team leader apprenticeship with a non-levy employer. The government has set maximum funding bands for this apprenticeship training is £5000. The agreed training cost between employer and the training provider decided is £5000. Out of total £5000 training cost, the government will pay £4750 and the employer will pay £250.
Example: Ava is undertaking a level 3 radio network technician apprenticeship with a non-levy employer, ABC limited. The government has set maximum funding bands for this apprenticeship training is £15000. The agreed training cost between employer and the training provider decided is £15000. Out of total £15000 training cost, the government will pay £14250 and the employer will pay £750. ABC limited has used employer incentives to pay £750 which they have had received from the government for hiring an apprentice.