Vacancy -- Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Pathway Apprenticeships

Recruitment Principles

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

Post details

Team Support - £22,150 - £25,620
£19,240
18 months
37 hours per week. Applications from those wishing to work part-time are welcome, but you will need to be able to work at least 21 hours per week to give sufficient time to complete the apprenticeship
Locations are likely to include Merthyr, Llandudno, Treforest.

Our Apprenticeships

Do you have an interest in technology and how it can be used to improve services and make them easier to use?  Are you enthusiastic about problem solving and coming up with new, creative ideas? Do you have good communications skills and like to get to the root of a problem?  If so, the Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) Pathway Apprenticeship can offer you the first step towards a career in the digital, data and technology profession.

The DDaT Pathway Apprenticeship is an 18 month Level 3 apprenticeship in ICT, Software, Web and Telecoms with a starting salary of £19,240 and a position within Welsh Government.

 

What will I do as a DDaT Pathway Apprentice?

You will work alongside digital, data and technology (DDaT) professions in teams across Welsh Government who are making our services and websites better.  Welsh Government has DDaT professionals working in a range of areas including:

  • Health
  • Tourism
  • Education
  • Environment

During your apprenticeship you will have a minimum of two placements, offering the opportunity to see the breadth of work being done across Welsh Government.  During these placements you will develop a range of skills, such as:

  • Coding
  • Testing
  • Website development
  • IT Security
  • Business analysis
  • Agile working
  • Making effective use of data
  • Presenting information in creative and interesting ways
  • Communication skills
  • Organisational skills

Placements will also give you a flavour of the different roles within the DDaT profession allowing you to consider your future career options. 

Once you have successfully completed the DDaT Pathway apprenticeship you will be eligible to apply for the Level 4 Specialist DDaT Apprenticeship, which will allow you to specialise in a particular role within the profession.

 

What qualification and training will I get?

You will study for Level 3 apprenticeship in ICT, Software, Web and Telecoms.  As well as getting the best possible work experience, you will attend college sessions and meet regularly with your tutor who will support you through the qualification.

The classroom based sessions will last for a minimum of 18 months. You’ll spend 80% of this time developing your skills on your placements and 20% doing classroom training, online learning, self-study, or completing assignments. To achieve your Level 3 apprenticeship certificate (a qualification in its own right), you will need to successfully complete all your work, assignments, exams and produce a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates all the competencies included in the standard.

You will receive additional training and support from the digital, data and technology profession within Welsh Government as well as having access to Welsh Government training and development.

 

Where can I work?

DDaT Pathway Apprentices are expected to be flexible and willing to travel for training and placements.  

The training for the cohort will be held in Cardiff to ensure there are sufficient numbers to run the sessions.  We will endeavor to minimise the number of trips you will need to make and ensure that the trips you do make are meaningful with additional opportunities available.  We envisage that you will need to spend up to 4 weeks training in Cardiff for the duration of the apprenticeship and these will be grouped as one week bootcamps. The cost of travel for training can be recovered.

By applying for this apprenticeship, you will be willing to work in one of the following locations:

  • Merthyr
  • Llandudno
  • Treforest

We will consider your location preferences when assigning you to postings but we cannot guarantee we will be able to offer a placement in your preferred location.  We will consider requests to work in specific locations based on personal circumstances like caring responsibilities.  Tell us your preferred locations in the 'Additional Information' box. You will only be offered the loactions you have stated in your application regardless of merit order. 

Please be aware that your location of post may change as your posting changes, this will never be more than an hour from your first location and will be on a case by case basis and discussed with you at the interview or induction process. 

This opportunity does give you the chance to move around the organisation into different posts as and when there is availability within the teams, as stated above this may be in different offices taking into account reasonable adjustments and travel details. 

 

What are you looking for in a DDaT Pathway Apprentice?

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Interested in technology
  • Passionate about improving the way things are done
  • Open to change and trying new things
  • Good at problem solving
  • Logical and methodical
  • Analytical


What are the entry requirements?

To be eligible to apply you:

  • will be at least 16 years of age by 16th of September 2019.  There is no upper age limit
  • will not be in full-time education when you start in December 2019- Janurary 2020
  • don’t need any specific qualification. If you already hold a qualification at Level 3 or above in ICT, Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals or a similar subject, you may not be eligible for this apprenticeship scheme (if in doubt please check by e-mailing WGApprenticeship2019@gov.wales
  • will need to meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements to apply.

Our selection process

To apply, you'll need to complete the online application form then provide a Personal Statement document answering the questions below in the supporting document attachment option.

1.     Think about an example of technology improving an aspect of daily life (for example a new app, a device or a website).  In no more than 500 words, tell us how you think technology improved the aspect of daily life and what you think the positive and negatives are of this example.
2.     Why do you want to study for an apprenticeship at Welsh Government? 300 words.
3.     Tell us about a piece of work you have delivered successfully using your IT and digital skills? You can include an example from any aspect of your education, work or social life. 300 words.
4.     What skills have you learned from your education, work or social life that would be important in your role in Welsh Government? Please bear in mind the “we are looking for someone who is:” listed in the advert. 300 words. 

You will also need to complete the ALS recommendation from below. Please add the attached document to your Personal Statement.

ALS Recommendation form

You should aim to write around 500 words for the first question, and then around 300 words each for the remaining questions.   Also, remember to tell us your preferred location in the 'Additonal Information' box.

Once you’ve submitted your application form, the selection process will consist of the following stages:

  • Stage 1 - First stage sift on Question 1 and eligibility checks
  • Stage 2 - Second stage sift on Questions 2, 3 and 4
  • Stage 3 - Interviews and vetting
  • stage 4 - West Test

Step by Step Guidance


Welsh language requirements

Welsh language is a good skill to have and is desirable but not essential for these roles. We encourage Welsh speakers at all levels to apply for these posts as we want to increase the bilingual capability of the Digital, Data and Technology Profession within Welsh Government. We have a range of roles with opportunities to put your skills to use. We can also help you to learn or improve your Welsh if you want to.

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability or support to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

All interviews will be held in Cardiff with exception to the Llandudno post, however, if any reasonable adjustments need to be made due to a disability please do contact the email above so that alternative arrangements can be made. 

We offer reasonable adjustment at all stages of our recruitment. Please ensure that you make us aware as soon as possible if there is any adjustment that you may need to complete your application or at interview. As an Employer we offer Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

As part of our commitment to encouraging disabled people to apply to the Welsh Government we will offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum requirements for the post.

Welsh Government has adopted the social model definition of disability, which recognises that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments or health conditions or who use British Sign Language. We are committed to removing barriers so that all (or potential new) staff can perform at their best. The Equality Act 2010 uses the medical model definition of disability (“a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term impact on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities”).

We guarantee to interview anyone who is disabled, whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence for the role and any qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential.

If you have an impairment or health condition, or use British Sign Language and need to discuss reasonable adjustments for any part of this recruitment process, or wish to discuss how we will support you if you were to be successful, please contact the sharedservicehelpdesk@gov.wales

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Language/Iaith' menu at the top of this page to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh by clicking the 'Gwneud Cais' button at the bottom of the Welsh advert.

The Welsh Government recruits using the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Candidate Writing Guidance 

Candidate Interview Guidance

Contact details for further information

General information about the Apprenticeships, including an FAQ document, is available on our web page. If you can't find the information you're looking for, contact the Corporate Shared Service Centre Helpdesk on 03000 255454 or SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales


Closing date

16/09/2019, 16:00

This vacancy is closed to applications.