Software Development Technician Level 3

Learn to work with organisations to improve their information systems.

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Apprenticeship overview

Apprenticeships allow individuals to gain practical skills and knowledge while working in real jobs, setting a strong foundation for their careers in the tech sector. Apprenticeships are open to school leavers or existing employees within an organisation. In order to undertake an Apprenticeship you must be supported by an Employer.

  • 24 months
  • Virtual
  • 6 to 8 hours / week

Why study Software Development?

This occupation is found in every sector in organisations ranging from large multi-nationals, public sector bodies and government projects developing multi-billion-pound software solutions to support key projects to small consultancy firms designing bespoke software solutions for clients.

Software development technicians are the supportive entry level team member helping to create computer programs. Some assist in developing the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device. Others assist in developing the underlying systems that run the devices or that control networks.

The key activities that Software Development Technician graduates perform include:

  • Providing input in various phases of the software development lifecycle.
  • Guiding business decisions for technical requirements.
  • Developing a range of various software applications to meet business and technical requirements.
Students studying to be a Software Development Technician
Career advisor providing career support to a student

Enhance your employability

Linked in Profile review alumni access, networking, and interview opportunities. Development of wider skills via our monthly Newsletter and events. We will provide pastoral support to ensure you are developing all the relevant behaviours such as communication, problem solving, emotional intelligence and growth mindset.

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Prerequisites

The ideal candidate will be selected by the employer based on their pre-requisites and screening process.

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

The tools a student needs are as followed:

  • A working laptop running Windows 10 or more, MacOS or any major distribution of Linux.
  • A working microphone and video camera.
  • A stable internet connection.
  • Chromebooks, tablets and phones are not conducive to undertaking the sessions.

Curriculum

  • Fundamentals of all stages of the software development life cycle including development, Quality Assurance, User Acceptance Testing and release.
  • Roles and responsibilities within the software development life-cycle.
  • Roles and responsibilities of the project life-cycle.
  • Different communication methods, how to adapt appropriately to different audiences including collaborative technologies such as discussion threads and document collaboration.
  • The key similarities and differences between different software development methodologies, such as agile and waterfall.
  • Principles of effective teamwork to produce software.
  • Fundamentals of software design approaches and patterns, including when to identify reusable solutions to commonly occurring problems.
  • Organisational policies and procedures relating to the tasks being undertaken, and when to follow them. For example, the storage and treatment of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sensitive data.
  • Fundamentals of computing systems including physical, virtual and cloud technologies.
  • Fundamental principles of algorithms, logic and data structures. For example, how they work using a step-by-step solution to a problem, or rules to follow to solve the problem.
  • Principles and uses of relational and non -relational (nosql) databases.
  • Basic principles of software designs and functional/technical specifications.
  • Key principles of software testing frameworks and methodologies.
  • Principles of pattern recognition such as looking for similarities among and within problems.
  • Fundamentals of breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts.
  • The importance of valuing difference and understanding the protected characteristics named in the Equality Act 2010.
  • Basic principles of emerging technology trends and innovations such as Internet of Things (IoT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Augmented Reality (AR).
  • Awareness of legal and regulatory requirements and their practical application to the role for example, Data Protection, Security, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Data sharing, marketing consent, personal data definition.
  • Fundamental approaches to actions such as sequence, selection and iteration.
  • Basic principles of software project planning including: Risks and dependencies * integration * prioritisation of tasks * escalation of problems * quality.
  • Basic principles of processes and protocols used to ensure internet security, including concepts of security assurance.
  • Key principles of testing for components (including software, hardware, data),interfaces and the resulting service.
  • Basic principles of digital tools and their use in business: tools such as presentation tools * evaluation tools and techniques. such as project management tools.
  • Role and importance of Industry Standards and where to find them (e.g., ISO standards, IETF RFCs).
  • Software development approaches for example object oriented, event driven or procedural.
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Outcomes

  • Development of wider skills.
  • Mental health support.
  • Access to our Alumni community.
  • Support with personal development.
  • Networking events.

Employer Funding

Apprenticeships are funded based on employer Wage Bills. There are two types of employers and funding is based on the employer category you fall under:

A Levy employer with a pay bill of more than £3 million is required to pay the Apprenticeship Levy. Funds can be managed using the Apprenticeship service and spent towards training and assessing Apprentices. The government will apply a 10% top-up to the funds you have in your account.

Maximum funding from the government is capped at £15,000 for the Software Development Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship.

What employer category do I fall under?

For non-Levy paying employers, the government will fund 95% of the cost of training an apprentice, with a 5% contribution from the employer.

For an employer with fewer than 50 employees, the government will fund 100% of the cost for Apprentices aged 16-18, or Apprentices aged 19-24 with an education and healthcare need.

Maximum funding from the government is capped at £15,000 for the Software Development Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship.

What employer category do I fall under?

Frequently asked questions

Will I get a certificate at the end?

How many hours a week do I need to commit to classes and self-learning?

How is the Apprenticeship delivered?

How long is the Apprenticeship?

Can I do an Apprenticeship without an employer?

Is attendance mandatory?

How can I find an Apprenticeship role?

Have a question?

If you’d like to learn more about our Bootcamps and Apprenticeships, a potential partnership or you have any other questions, please contact us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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