Software Development Technician

Apprenticeship Information

On successful completion of the programme, the apprentice will be awarded a Level 3 Software Technician Apprenticeship, which allows you to join the Register of IT Technicians (RITTech) – the independent competency standard provided by the British Computer Society (BCS) for technical professionals.

During the apprenticeship the learner will attend classes and 1-1 coaching calls that will cover the full variety of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required for the standard. These include studying modules in:

• Software Development Methodologies
• SQL and Data Structures
• Python
• HTML5 Web Development

Apprenticeship Structure

This apprenticeship programme runs in cohorts and have dedicated academic start dates. The apprentice will be required to attend 19 full day teaching and learning classes for this apprenticeship programme. These teaching and learning days are a requirement for the apprentice to learn the needed knowledge, skills and behaviours to develop as a Software Technician and to achieve their apprenticeship assessments.

The EPA period for this apprenticeship is a maximum of 3 months.

Breakdown of Apprenticeship Programme

Stage 1 – Induction & Initial Assessments 
During this stage, Velocity Academy will complete the apprenticeship on-boarding process with you and your employer. During this, the apprentice will complete an induction to your apprenticeship programme and the apprentice will also complete initial screening assessments for their functional skills.

Stage 2 – Your Learning
During stage 2, the apprentice will receive their tuition attendance dates for their required apprenticeship programme. These tuition dates will be hosted through Velocity Academies Online Live Classrooms and lead by your dedicated programme lead. The apprentice and the employer will also be invited to an apprenticeship review meeting every 9 weeks with their apprenticeship programme lead. 

Stage 3 – Mock EPA Activities
As the apprentice gets towards the end of their apprenticeship programme, they will be preparing for their End-Point Assessment (EPA) activities. Consider these as the final summative assessments that will lead to the apprentice achieving their apprenticeship. During this time, the apprentice will be conducting mock assessments with their programme lead.

Stage 4 – End-Point Assessment & Graduation
This is the final stage of the apprenticeship programme. The EPA activities are lead by the awarding body and the apprentice will be allocated an assessor from the awarding body to complete their assessments with. Once the apprentice has completed these assessments and passed them, they would then be ready for graduating from their apprenticeship programme.

Apprenticeship Units

Along with having coaching calls every 3 weeks to support the build of the apprentice portfolio, the apprentice will also complete the following units in our online live classrooms:

Module 1 – Software Development Methodologies

Module 2 – SQL and Data Structures

Module 3 – Python

Module 4 – HTML5 Web Development

We are aware that some apprentices may need to develop skills in specific languages. In this instance, the Skills Coach will be able to create an individual learning plan to suit the apprentice to build these skills. An example of this could be the apprentice is required to learn Java, this can be embedded along with a number of other languages.

Payment Information

Programme Payments

As a Non-Levy employer (SME), you’ll have an annual pay bill of under £3m. Non-Levy paying employers will share the cost of training their apprentices with government – this is called ‘co-investment’; the government pays 95% towards to the cost of apprenticeship training with the employer paying the remaining 5%.

Small, Medium Employer (under £3m annual payroll)

• £75.00 per learner per month (5% employer contribution *10 months = £750) + VAT

Small Employer Incentive

The government recognises that smaller employers have historically played a very important role in helping young and disadvantaged people into the workforce. They continue to support small employers to take on younger Apprentices (16-18).
So, for employers with fewer than 50 employees, the government will pay 100% of the Apprenticeship training costs for these individuals.
£1,000 is available to any employer taking on a 16-18 year old apprentice, or a 19-24 year old with an EHC plan; also available for Levy employers.

Levy Employer (over £3m annual payroll)

• On Programme: £800 per learner per month * 15 months = £12,000 (80%)
• End Point Assessment: £3,000 (20%)
• Total Cost = £15,000