It Technician Apprentice

Level 3 IT Technician

Company: UKRI

Full Address: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX

Weekly Hours Worked: 37

Salary: £20,200 per annum rising annually

Closing Date: 18th February 2024

Interview Date: March 2024

Start Date: September 2024

We are recruiting for an IT Support Apprentice to work at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Didcot. ICT is essential to the science that we support. We need keen individuals to help us in supporting the IT systems required to keep STFC running.

You will be based in our Digital Infrastructure Group with IT professionals where your daily duties will be varied and complemented by formal training with Estio, where over two years you will complete an Information Communications Level 3 Apprenticeship. You will develop and expand your technical competencies required to work within an IT role whilst providing support and assistance to staff and users throughout Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

The Digital Infrastructure Group delivers first-class IT support and services that underpin the STFC scientific programme of activities and partner organisations. We provide a comprehensive network and communications environment to support the science undertaken by STFC alongside other areas such as Service Desk, Applications, Infrastructure and Cyber Security. We support STFC’s projects in big data analytics, machine learning, AI and large computational modelling.

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

With training and support from experts in their fields, you’ll be enthusiastic about developing your knowledge, skills and behaviours, working towards completing your apprenticeship, gaining appropriate qualifications whilst making a real difference in your role.

If working with innovative technologies on world-leading research isn’t enough, you will develop both professionally and as a critical member of the team in an environment you won’t find anywhere else.

Our dedicated Apprenticeship Team will support you every step of the way, helping you make the most of your opportunities and to achieve the goals you already have – and those you have yet to discover!

We provide an opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion. You’ll have access to additional core skills development, access to a community of apprentices across the site, annual Apprentice awards evenings, a number of active sport and social groups across campus, and potential opportunities for overseas placements.

STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, an outstanding index linked pension scheme, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours.

For a list of our full benefits, please visit here.

About the Role

Main duties/responsibilities will include:

• The successful apprentice will have up to three different assignments. In the first year, you will join our Service Desk and our Networks & Communications team for your first two six month assignments. You will gain experience of the organisation and the key services we provide:

Service Desk/Desktop Support

• Day-to-day front-end support including resolving incidents and fulfilling service requests
• Answering the calls, creating tickets, triaging the in-coming tickets created by users and resolving incidents to minimise the end-user disruption
• Software / hardware technical support, including support for Video Conferencing and mobile telephony users, testing hardware, PC upgrades and testing non-standard build software.
• Assist with the purchasing / specifying of new hardware (Laptop / Desktops) and software applications

Networks & Communications

• This assignment will give you networking knowledge on a distributed campus network
• Day-to-day network support including resolving tickets requested by end users
• Management of DNS and DHCP records, VLAN and configuration and port assignments
• Dealing with security incidents and installation of firewall policies
• Configuration of wireless policies and troubleshoot of user issues.
• In your second year you will have the opportunity to undertake a full year placement aligned with your training programme. This will be from the following departments:
• High Performance Computing/Data Centre Operations – the High Performance Computing (HPC) Operations Team provide infrastructure and HPC support for the datacentres at STFC.
• Cyber Security team – Cyber Security help deliver a secure working environment for our scientists to work in, managing threat detection systems and the remediation of vulnerabilities.
• Application Support team – Managing the corporate applications, data environment and collaboration tools at STFC.

Any other Relevant Information

• This role may require occasional travel between sites – normally to Didcot, Oxfordshire or UKRI Head Office in Swindon
• The role may require some manual handling of bulky and moderately heavy items
• The role will require the job holder to operate within a rota basis to ensure coverage to the business within agreed working hours. These are Monday to Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm.

Alongside your role you will also undertake guided learning with Estio via their dedicated virtual learning environment, covering the following subjects:

• Introduction to IT Support
• PC Hardware and Operating Systems
• Server and Infrastructure basics
• Cloud basics
• Principles of Cyber Security
• Networking and Security
• Scripting
• Maintenance methodologies and tools

During your apprenticeship you will be supported in developing a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates the application of the required knowledge, skill and behaviours of a competent Information Communications Technician.

At the end of your apprenticeship, you will undertake an End Point Assessment whereby you will complete a work-based project, covering either the maintenance/repair of systems faults, or support for the roll-out of installation and commission of new systems/upgrades. Following this, you will submit a project report and undertake a professional discussion with an independent assessor, supported by a portfolio of evidence generated throughout your apprenticeship.

Upon successful completion, you will achieve a Level 3 Information Communications Technician Apprenticeship standard.

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, we are looking for the following: (Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills)

Essential:

• Achieved or predicted to achieve 2 GCSE passes at Grade C/4 or above including Maths, English (S)
• Good written communication skills as demonstrated in your CV and Covering Letter
• Quality of Covering Letter – particularly addressing both the essential and desirable criteria, and examples of prior knowledge/experience relevant to this apprenticeship
• Some knowledge of and enthusiasm for computing/IT and/or hardware – your CV and/or cover letter should give example(s) of personal, school or work-based projects that involved learning about and using IT and/or hardware and what you enjoyed

Desirable:

• Experience of PC-based computer systems and applications.
• Experience of Raspberry Pi.
• Some knowledge of Microsoft Desktop Products.
• Some experience of configuring Smartphones.
• Experience in using Microsoft applications, programming language and web design.
• Qualification in a relevant IT field would be desirable, but not essential (please note this must not be higher than a Level 3 IT qualification i.e.
• Level 3 BTEC Diploma).
• Some knowledge of electrical calculations. For example calculation of kWH.

Important Information

To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A*-C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2024, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.

When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. To check your eligibility please click here.

The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe’s largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what’s possible.

We will be in touch after the closing date, however, please reach out on apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org if you have any questions.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.

We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/

You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role.

IT Technician Apprenticeship – Careers Portal Careers

Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.