Data Engineer Apprenticeship - Level 4
Job description
- Job grade: Executive Officer
- Contract type: Fixed term
- Length of employment: 2 years
- Business area: Data Products Services and Governance
- Type of role: Digital, Engineering, Information Technology
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours
- Number of jobs available: 5
Location
This role is aligned to ONS hybrid working principles, which are based on attending the office with purpose. The postholder will be expected to contribute to the organisation’s overall 40% office attendance, in line with business and role requirements.
The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.
Please note only candidates living and working in either England or Wales will be eligible to apply for this role due to the requirements of the apprenticeship providers.
About the job
Job summary
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime and migration.
If you are interested in an exciting career in data and technology and want to become a highly skilled tech professional, we are seeking 5 people who are passionate about data and technology to join our Data Engineering teams on an apprenticeship programme. If you are looking for a career change, or perhaps a school leaver looking at alternatives to full-time class-based learning this may be the perfect opportunity for you.
We are looking for candidates who want to make the most of data, love a challenge, and want to make a real difference in the quality of National Statistics. You do not have to be skilled in data engineering as full training will be provided, along with a nationally recognised qualification through an apprenticeship provider.
Do you have a desire to learn how to translate technical concepts into non-technical language and to learn what communication is required between internal and external stakeholders?
Do you have a desire to learn how to build extract transform load (ETL) pipelines that facilitate the movement and transformation of data across ONS systems?
Do you have a desire to learn how to optimise the performance of our queries and data pipelines.
Do you have a desire learn how to use industry wide tools such as Python, SQL, Cloudera Data Platform and Google Cloud Platform?
Would you like to find opportunities for innovation with new tools and uses of data?
Then we'd like to hear from you..
Please note - We will be holding a candidate information session on Monday 9th November at 12:00 noon. If you're interested in finding out more, please join here - Click here
Job description
The roles will be working in Data Products, Services and Governance (DPSG), which sits centrally within ONS, provides a cross-ONS capability for data, including data access and preparation, and the provision of data and linked data products.DPSG develops and manages the systems and processes that underpin the distribution of data across ONS and beyond. DPSG provides data to ONS, academia, wider government, and other external users in a safe and controlled way, supporting and encouraging users to maximise data utility, enabling innovation and statistical and research use.
As a Data Engineer Apprentice, you will study towards a Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship and combine your job and hands-on experience with virtual learning and will include one to-one with tutors and mentors, tutorials, and research projects.
You will work with appropriate technologies as a Data Engineer apprentice, you’ll gain the technical expertise to take your career in an exciting new direction. By the end of the apprenticeship, you will have achieved an industry-standard qualification and have the skills to progress your career in line with your aspirations.
Responsibilities
- Identify, collect, and migrate data to/from a range of internal and external systems.
- Use a range of analytical techniques such as data mining, time series forecasting and modelling techniques to identify and predict trends and patterns in data.
- Assist with data quality checking and cleansing and how to resolve issues.
- Assist production of data visualisation including performance dashboards and reports.
- Summarise and present the results of data analysis to a range of stakeholders
- Application of coding standards. Write clear and well documented code in Python using industry and organisational best practices
- Business Analysis/ User requirements validation;
- Matching and linking of datasets using statistical matching techniques;
- Become familiar with Cloud developments and technology
Part-time candidates will be considered, subject to a minimum of 30 hours per week, apprenticeship provider requirements and business needs.
What qualfication will I get?
The programme will be 2 years and will be delivered by assigned external training providers. The apprenticeship will support apprentices to develop their capability in data engineering. As well as training and support from the external training providers you will have support from a dedicated, highly experienced data engineering mentor.
All apprentices who successfully meet the scheme's milestones will receive a Level 4 Data Analyst Diploma.
You will gain experience to help you work towards your qualification, as well as attending formal training and other development opportunities that will consist of 20% off the job learning.
You will develop other skills that will aid you in the workplace, such as organisation, communication, the ability to work under pressure, teamwork, and lots more, giving you a real and valuable insight into the industry.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Can manage own workload, and work effectively as part of a team, to ensure deadlines or outputs are met.
- Can analyse information or evidence from a variety of sources to draw conclusions and inform decision making.
- Can communicate complex or technical ideas, both in writing and verbally, to stakeholder with differing levels of knowledge or experience.
- Identifies opportunities to make improvements and gets the support of relevant people to implement the changes.
- Takes opportunities to develop own skills and share knowledge with colleagues.
- A passion for technology and a keen technical interest.
- You must reside and work in England or Wales.
- You must have been at least 16 years old by 31st August 2026.
- You must not already have an equivalent qualification of the same type, content, and level (or higher). (Example computer science degree)
- You must not be in fulltime education or undertaking another apprenticeship at the same time.
- You should hold a GCSE in Maths and English at Grade C or above, an equivalent qualification, or relevant experience in lieu of a qualification may be considered.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
Security Clearance
For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Please note: We will reach out to you once the advert has closed to confirm eligibility for this role, this will be via an e-mail. Please check you e-mails.
Visa Sponsorship
ONS are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants are expected to hold a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are applying on a time-limited visa, this will need to be valid for at least 18 months at point of application.
Right to Work and Nationality Requirements
To work at the ONS, candidates must meet both UK right to work and security clearance requirements (where applicable).
If you are unsure whether you meet the appropriate right to work or security clearance eligibility criteria, please refer to the guidance on or contact the recruitment email provided in the advert before applying. Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected and employment offers being withdrawn.
Application Process
Number of Stages: 2 stage process
Stage 1: Application
Stage 2: Interview
Stage 1 – Application
The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, CV, skills, experience, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.
A personal statement is required at application stage, the maximum word count allowed is 1250 words, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
In instances where a high number of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted, and candidates will be invited to interview based on merit order, i.e., those with the highest scores.
When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritised. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.
Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.
Stage 2 – Interview
If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours listed in the job advert.
You will be required to provide a 5 minute presentation at interview. The presentation topic will be emailed to candidates who have passed the initial online application stage, 1 week prior to interview. This presentation will assess candidates against the Success Profiles Behaviour Communicating and influencing.
Interviews will be in person in our Newport and Titchfield offices:
Titchfield: Segensworth Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 5RR
Newport: Government Buildings, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP10 8XG
Please note: Travel expenses will not be reimbursed. You will also be required to bring valid photo identification to your interview.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
Important Dates
- Supplier and SC Eligibility checks from 18/11 - 25/11. Please be aware we will be sending all candidates an e-mail to complete an eligibility form and to give your permission to share contact details with the supplier.
- Sift will be conducted from 30/11/2026
- Interviews will be from 16/12/2026 and some interviews will be held in the New Year.
- Apprenticeship are planned to start in April 2027, subject to security clearance and onboarding of the successful candidates.
For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Government Digital and Data Recruitment
- Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : About.You@ons.gov.uk
Further information
Attachments
| 2721 Advert 4B Fixed Term Between One and Two Years - ONS National v1-00 (3) Opens in new window (pdf, 134kB) |
| Flexibilities.1 Opens in new window (pdf, 47kB) |
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