Software Development Apprenticeship London, England
Job description
Software Development Apprenticeship
Level 4
Apprenticeship Framework/Standard
Software Developer
Duration - 30 months
Location - London
Salary - £22,915
Entry requirements
A minimum of 2 GCSE’s Grade 4 (C) and above including Maths and English language plus 2 A Levels at grade A*-D or equivalent.
As part of the qualifications above you should have an A-Level (A*-D) or GCSE (A*-C) in an IT subject (or equivalent) or existing knowledge of any programming language including conditional statements, arrays, loops and error handling.
You are not eligible for this scheme if you currently hold or are working towards a qualification at the same or higher level in a related subject or have already studied content from the qualification for this scheme.
You must be 18 years of age by 11th September 2023 to be eligible for this scheme.
Job overview
Our software teams write the computer programs which keep London moving. Learn to write professional, high quality code using a wide range of technologies, whilst gaining experience on some of London’s largest and most familiar software systems.
What will I be doing?
As an apprentice, your 24-month development programme will be made up of up to 4 placement rotations. Our aim is to equip you with the range of skills and experience you need for your successful career. We also understand that everyone’s career is different, so every apprentice’s journey is unique. Here’s an idea of what yours could look like:
Year 1
Initial training – 1 month
You meet fellow apprentices who are starting their software development scheme at the same time as you. Over four weeks you are introduced to the fundamentals of writing object-orientated C# and learn how to test your code, whilst in a supportive and friendly group setting. This informal training is led by current developers from our teams, including recent apprentices, and equips with you the knowledge and confidence to start your first placement.
Placement 1 – Full-stack Developer - 6 months
Working in a team, under the guidance of an experienced developer, you create a responsive React web application, which allows London Underground staff to view train timetable information relevant to their station. You collaborate with end users to understand their requirements and demonstrate your product, as it evolves, to get their feedback. Your team also creates a C# API, running in Microsoft’s Azure Cloud, which feeds data to the web application. Using pair programming, within a Scrum team, you’ll learn how to deliver high quality, clean code with extensive automated tests.
Placement 2 – Revenue Systems Developer – 6 months
Using C# and Azure, your team delivers a scalable platform for calculating the charges related to road usage. With guidance from Microsoft engineers, you learn how to select the right technology from their ever-changing range of products. Extend your knowledge of testing and learn how to optimise the performance of components before they’re released and then how to monitor the live systems for any issues.
Year 2
Placement 3 – Web Developer – 6 months
You’ll add new features to TfL’s websites, to improve the experience of Oyster & Contactless customers. By your third placement, you’ll be working more independently, picking up your own tasks from the team’s backlog, delivering fully tested components of software for review by your team.
Placement 4 – App developer – 6 months
Join the team creating TfL’s mobile apps, with the opportunity to learn Android or iOS development. Combine this with your increasing knowledge of C# to create secure backend services in Azure which push data to devices.
The first placement is fixed, subsequent placements are mutually agreed to ensure you gain experience on the widest possible range of technologies, tools and teams, as this is one of TfL’s key differentiators.
Where can this career take me?
Our scheme equips you with the skills and knowledge to deliver enterprise software. The experience you gain with large business critical solutions will make you stand out from the competition. You could roll-off as a Developer – Responsible for delivering discrete software stories within a Scrum team, which meet business requirements, are fully tested and meet our standards for code quality. From here you could progress to a Senior Developer and then become a Technical Lead, accountable for a team’s software design and implementation, including setting the quality standard.
What training and support will you get?
You will be working towards a Level 4 qualification as a Software Developer.
Typically, you will be required to attend four residential training courses within your first year, each course lasting between 3 and 4 days.
Whilst on the scheme, we’ll support your technical development through a wide range of on-the-job practical experiences and placements. We’ll also support your professional development through a combination of classroom-led training courses, online training courses, mentoring opportunities and structured networking opportunities. You will receive one-to-one support throughout the programme from your scheme sponsor and your Line Manager. You’ll also be connected to a ‘buddy’ who will be a more experienced apprentice from the scheme.
What do we look for?
Everything we do as an organisation is to ensure that our evolving city remains future-proof for millions of Londoners. Our talented apprentices form a vital part of that vision, so it’s important that we find the best people to help us do this. We’re looking for people who are;
- Fascinated by new technologies and motivated to learn them
- Enjoys sharing knowledge, both receiving & giving
- Intrigued by new problems and refinement of their solution, with a good eye for detail.
As a member of the team, we’ll give you responsibility and the opportunity to add value. If you are excited by inspiring and influencing the future of London then this is the career path for you.
Meet our apprentice
“As a software development apprentice, I have gained confidence and a variety of skills, both in technology and problem solving, from working within a supportive and inspiring team. Who would have known 8 months ago that I would be capable of designing, coding, and testing a full stack application.” – Lily Software Development Apprentice
