This Apprenticeship will not be available for delivery until 1st August 2025.
Introduction
Foundation Apprenticeships offer employed positions for young people, providing them with rich, hands-on experience and a robust mix of:
- Employability skills and professional behaviours.
- Technical knowledge and practical expertise.
- Essential English and maths development.
They blend valuable real-world workplace experience with structured off-the-job learning. This not only helps apprentices grow in competence but also gives clarity and confidence about their future career direction.
Upon completion, apprentices will have achieved the full set of skills, knowledge, and behaviours outlined in the standard. Typical progression routes include direct entry into employment or advancement to Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeships.
For employers, Foundation Apprenticeships provide a unique opportunity to shape early talent. They benefit from:
- Seeing potential recruits in action.
- Accessing a broader, more diverse pool of young learners.
- Up to £2,000 per apprentice under DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules 25/26 (subject to retention and progression).
Software and Data Operative: Apprenticeship Overview
Software and Data Operatives are employed in large and small organisations within the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Their role typically involves:
- Collecting, formatting, and storing data.
- Validating data and identifying errors.
- Supporting software development and testing under supervision.
- Handling the storage, retrieval, sharing, and basic manipulation of data.
These contributions are foundational to the digital functions of the organisation.
Duration & Delivery
- Duration: 8 months.
- Off-the-Job Learning: Minimum of 187 hours.
- Outcome: Certification of full competency in the specified knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
Upon completion, learners can progress on to a higher level IT apprenticeship with support from Achievement Training.
Updated Apprenticeship Assessment Plans
The new apprenticeship assessment approach for Foundation Apprenticeships streamlines the process, ensuring apprentices are evaluated fairly and efficiently.
- On-Programme Assessment: Apprentices are assessed throughout their training, rather than waiting for a final exam.
- Smaller End-Point Assessment (EPA): A focused evaluation ensures apprentices demonstrate essential skills without unnecessary duplication.
- Training Provider Involvement: Providers play a bigger role in assessments, reducing reliance on external assessors.
- Employer-Led Behaviour Assessment: Employers confirm apprentices meet professional behaviour standards, simplifying the assessment process.
These improvements make apprenticeships more flexible, practical, and employer-friendly, helping businesses develop skilled talent efficiently.
Foundation apprenticeships are available for young people aged 16 to 21, and up to 25 for those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), are a care leaver, or a prisoner/prison leaver.
Apprentices that haven’t yet achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, will need to study these subjects as part of their apprenticeship but they won’t be required to pass these qualifications to complete their apprenticeship.
Maximum funding: Up to £4000
Employers in England that pay the levy, can use these funds in their apprenticeship service accounts, to fund foundation apprenticeship training and assessment.
The government will pay the full training costs for foundation apprenticeships for non-levy paying employers.
Under DfE Apprenticeship funding Rules 25/26, an employer qualifies for up to £2,000 per foundation apprentice, subject to retention and progression.