Infrastructure Technician Apprenticeship
The primary role of a Infrastructure Technician is to support internal and external customers, helping them to be productive when using technology to do their jobs, by using tools to problem solve and troubleshoot non-routine problems. The job could also include systems support and rectifying issues to maintain the organisation’s productivity. Job roles include Help Desk technician, First or Second Line support, IT Infrastructure Technician, Network Support.
The duration of the programme can be between 12 and 18 months.
Learners completing this apprenticeship will get a certificate of completion, an Award or Certificate for each of the 4 modules that make up the apprenticeship. They will be eligible to apply for a place in the independent Register of IT Technicians. Additionally, they will also be able to sit for the CompTIA A+ exam.
How is my business going to benefit from an Apprentice?
How can I fit this apprentice into my business?
Regardless of whether you are large or small employer, an Infrastructure Technician Apprentice will benefit your business in several ways:
They will have been trained and assessed against a wide range of specially targeted technical skills that can help you set up and maintain an effective and secure IT infrastructure for your business; and be able to deal a wide range of routine and non-routine problems.
Employer groups, representing a wide range of UK businesses, have collectively identified the skills required for this apprenticeship and therefore you can be assured the skills learnt represent industry best practice. They also reflect technology development and practice, both now and in the immediate future.
The above, coupled with our highly experienced apprenticeship delivery team, will ensure that your apprentice will be able to help your business use communications technology more effectively.
Attention will have been also paid to developing their behavioural, thinking, team working and communication skills to ensure that the apprentice is able to contribute effectively in the modern workplace.
The final assessment process which is both independent and broad based will ensure that only apprentices that have shown genuine learning and competence across all areas, both technical and behavioural, will have been successful. They will also be graded on their performance adding to the motivation level and will encourage the apprentices to strive for excellence.
What will this cost my business?
Since April 2017 the way that government funds apprenticeships in England has changed. All businesses operating within the UK with a wage bill of over £3 million are required to contribute to the apprenticeship levy monthly via HMRC. From April 2017 all existing apprenticeship frameworks and new apprenticeship standards (often referred to as trailblazer standards) will be allocated to Government funding bands. Funding bands determine the maximum amount of money that Government will contribute for the training delivery and end-point assessment of each apprenticeship. All approved apprenticeship standards have already been allocated to funding bandings with maximum funding caps. If you take on an apprentice who is between 16 and 18 years old at the start of their apprenticeship, you will receive a payment to help meet the extra costs of employing them. This will be paid to you through the training provider in two £500 instalments at 3 months and 12 months if the apprentice continues in learning beyond this point. Non-levy paying employers will need to contribute 10% of the maximum funding band as published by the Skills Funding Agency for the delivery of training and assessment for their apprenticeship. Levy paying employers will pay the full cost of the agreed funding band using their Digital Apprenticeship account. Where there are no longer funds in this digital account the Government will co-invest 90% of the funding with the levy paying employer being the asked to contribute the remaining 10% on a monthly basis. Levy paying employers can estimate their funding contributions through the use of the free Funding Apprenticeship Systems calculating tool. The agreed funds will be taken from the employer’s digital account to pay the training provider, up to a maximum amount of funding allocated by Government to that particular apprenticeship. For non-levy paying employers the Digital Apprenticeship Service will not be available until at least 2018. They will need to discuss and agree a price with their training provider.
Does the apprentice have to attend college?
The modules will be delivered through a mix of on the job and off the job training. Off the job training can be via classroom sessions or web based remote learning.
Attendance at college will be required for the class room based sessions but these will be a maximum of a one day a week and for a duration of 38 weeks
How is the apprentice assessed?
Apprentices will have their knowledge and skills formally assessed at relevant times during their apprenticeship by a range of tests and practical exercises. This will ensure they are ready to progress through a “Gateway” for the final assessment which is carried out by an end-point assessor who is independent of the employer and Colchester Institute.
This assessment will include
- a portfolio, “showcasing” all the knowledge and skills covered in the 5 modules
- a pre-defined project undertaken in controlled environment to cover a selected set of skills and knowledge
- a Reference from the employer covering how the employer has viewed the apprenticeship in terms of behaviour and performance.
- A final Interview with the Independent End Point Assessor to gather further evidence of learning and to complement the previous three methods. The concluding assessment will then lead to an overall grading decision – pass, merit or distinction.
This readiness to progress to the endpoint assessment will be decided by the employer and Colchester Institute.
What about support in the workplace?
Once they have started their programme, the apprentice will require mentoring and help in satisfying the requirements for endpoint assessment. This will involve: assisting the apprentice in assembling the portfolio to ensure that it meets the entire standard and is to a good quality; working with CI to choose a suitable project that will demonstrate the learning and allow the learner to carry out the project outside day-to-day work; provide a reference letter setting out your view on the quality of the apprentice’s work.
Why should I choose Colchester Institute to support my recruitment and retention?
Colchester Institute is the largest college provider of apprenticeships in Greater Essex. We are expert at connecting the right people, to the right training, to the right business and when it comes to Apprenticeships, our Apprenticeship Advisors can support your business every step of the way. As part of our service we can support your business with: Our team will provide:Apprenticeships – What we can offer
| Level | Level 3 |
|---|---|
| Location | Colchester |
| Duration | Between 12 and 18 months. |
| Campus | Colchester Institute |
| Start Date | Starting employment as an apprentice can occur throughout the year however the start-date for attending college for training, where required, will be communicated post-employment and sign-up |
| Attendance | Maximum of a one day a week and for a duration of 25 weeks |
| Apprenticeship Funding Band (Levy paying employers) | £15,000 |
| Employer Contribution Fee (Non-levy paying employers) | £1,500 |
| What will this cost my Business? | Non-levy paying employers will need to contribute 10% of the maximum funding band as published by the Skills Funding Agency for the delivery of training and assessment for their apprenticeship. Levy paying employers will pay the full cost of the agreed funding band using their Digital Apprenticeship account. |
| Apprenticeship Funding Bands | Apprenticeship Funding Bands |
Disclaimer
All Fees and prices shown on the website are for courses starting in the 2018-19 academic year unless stated otherwise, and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.
The course information describes programmes offered by Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.
The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.
