The apprentice will develop into the role of a Network Engineer - learning how to design, install, maintain and support communication networks within an organisation or between multiple organisations. They will understand network configuration and administration, the cloud and monitoring tools; and be able to give technical advice and guidance.
On the 16 month programme; the apprentice will learn the principles of networking, protocols and associated technologies, and how to:
Typical job roles: Network Technician, Network Engineer, Systems Engineer & Network Administrator
As part of their apprenticeship, your apprentices must sit a number of pre-selected exams which they will need to pass to gain their Network Engineer Apprenticeship qualification at a Pass, Merit or Distinction grade. Apprentices are also assessed by Firebrand against Ofqual-regulated Knowledge Standards as part of their programme.
All Firebrand apprenticeships contain a number of different elements required to complete and pass the qualification. For example, some elements include a summative portfolio, Off-The-Job training, Ofqual-regulated Knowledge Module exams with BCS and sometimes vendor qualifications.
Exams and certifications aren't mandatory and not all Firebrand training courses attended by apprentices include an exam voucher. Employers can purchase vouchers when apprentices have gained the relevant work experience if they wish to. Apprentices can still succeed in achieving their apprenticeship qualification without taking non-mandatory exams.
Once apprentices have completed their apprenticeship they are officially recognised by the British Computer Society (BCS) for entry onto the register of IT Technicians, confirming SFIA level 3 professional competence.
At the core of all Firebrand apprenticeships is a clear, strong and supportive working relationship between apprentices, employers and Firebrand.
We all have responsibilities that should be understood and observed by us all, to guarantee we succeed on everyone’s terms. We expect all employers to commit to:
Apprentices develop into the role of a Network Engineer - learning how to design, install, maintain and support communication networks within an organisation or between multiple organisations. They will understand network configuration and administration, the cloud and monitoring tools; and be able to give technical advice and guidance.
Our core training offer for each apprenticeship covers all Knowledge Module content in the Standard, as well as any additional requirements detailed in the Occupational Brief. Our recommended offer for each apprenticeship (including any mandatory courses) is set out below, including details of the Knowledge Modules each course covers.
Apprentices get a range of market-leading accelerated training as part of their qualification – typically between three and five courses per apprenticeship - giving them fundamental skills at speed. By extending training days, we shorten course durations by up to 50% compared to traditional courses for the same product or skillset. This means apprentices get back to the office faster, equipped with the same skills as their professional colleagues and ready to put them into practice.
Your Network Engineer programme is fully customisable, so you can change it to suit you as an employer or apprentice. In the table below, we've pre-selected the most popular Firebrand courses that align to the Occupational Brief in the government Standard for this apprenticeship. You can substitute these for optional courses up to the same value, where the same Knowledge Standards are covered.
Where more than one course covers the knowledge module requirements, we list the alternatives, allowing employers to choose what courses apprentices take while ensuring they cover all requirements for the standard. We also offer bespoke product options for some apprenticeships, allowing apprentices to specialise in particular systems used in their business.
Courses with knowledge standards highlighted in red cannot be substituted.
Every Standard has a number of Knowledge Modules associated with it, which must be covered – and evidence of cover provided - to gain the apprenticeship.
We regularly review the content of these modules to understand the content and how this maps against our portfolio of more than 700 accelerated training courses.
Knowledge Modules for this Standard:
All apprentices undertaking a Standard need to pass an End Point Assessment (EPA) before they’re awarded their qualification.
The EPA includes assessment of a portfolio of evidence, a final project and an interview with an independent assessor. Firebrand exclusively delivers apprenticeship Standards, which are replacing the old-style Frameworks and have been developed by employers to reflect the need of their industry.
We have an EPA agreement with the British Computer Society (BCS), the largest digital EPA provider, for all apprenticeships. Learn more about EPA here.
All apprentices spend a minimum of 20% of their time on ‘off the job’ training. Apprentices don’t need to be called away from their job one day a week - in fact, they don’t even need to leave the office.
Learn the facts about the off the job requirement:
Apprentices gain key knowledge – supporting their classroom training with Firebrand - through online training from a range of over 300 specialist digital training courses, provided by our learning partners Pluralsight and Springboard:
Apprentices spend most of their apprenticeship learning at work. Firebrand’s structured delivery ensures apprentices learn everything they need to know – and everything you want them to know – without neglecting their day-to-day role.
We’ll provide you with a detailed month-by-month timetable to show the learning to be delivered that month and the support required from employers and Firebrand. Everyone supporting the apprentice receives a copy of the timetable, helping us work together and avoiding any surprises along the way.
For further information about Firebrand Training call free on 0800 081 6022 or email us
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