Become a Digital Support Technician with IT Apprenticeships
Bob Armstrong
20 May, 2024
Apprenticeships are a great way to learn on the job and enter the field of IT. Digital Support Technician is one of our most popular Apprenticeship standards at Firebrand.
Could it be right for you? Let's take a look.
What is a Digital Support Technician?
Also known as Digital Service Support, ICT Support, or IT Operations Technicians, Digital Support Technicians help their company's internal teams and customers use the available digital services, assisting with any issues.
Digital Support Technicians can work in any sector or industry, as virtually every UK business has a digital component. Depending on the scale of their business, they can be part of large, specialised support teams or work more independently, assisting digital specialists.
This is a great first role in tech for someone who would like to be exposed to the way tech teams work and the range of issues that can appear and need to be dealt with, both internally and public-facing.
To succeed in this role, you need to have a knack for problem-solving, customer service flair, and be flexible, personable, and an excellent communicator.
In the UK, Digital Support Technicians make over £32,000 per year.
What does a Digital Support Technician do?
Job responsibilities do vary, depending on company structure. Essentially, Digital Support Technicians help people in their companies fulfil tasks by using technology efficiently and in a cyber-secure manner.
Typical job responsibilities for Digital Support Technicians include:
- maintaining and operating company systems and databases for various departments
- conducting basic software testing and updates
- uncovering and documenting issues, creating an audit trail
- responding to internal and external tech enquiries
- providing customer tech support
- applying information and data security principles, processes, and policies to ensure everything is safe
- communicating effectively through a range of channels, ensuring that both the general public and tech specialists understand what needs to be done
- keeping up-to-date with IT developments, especially in their employer's industry
This varied role can help you discover which areas of tech you're most interested in and would like to specialise in.
If you do a Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship, how can you progress?
After completing a Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship, you can progress to roles with varying degrees of specialisation and different focus.
For example, you can become an IT Operations Technician or Operations Technical Specialist, a Service Centre Operator, or an ICT Support Analyst; you can choose to specialise in Data, such as Database or Data Administrator, or in apps, such as Digital Applications Specialist; depending on the structure of the company you wish to join, coaching can also become part of the job and you may become a Digital Champion or Digital Coach, or, if the business is reviewing its tech, even a Digital Transformation Professional.
On the other hand, many learners find that they would like to enrol in another apprenticeship after they finish this one. As support roles commonly expose them to Networking and Cyber Security, standards such as the Level 4 Network Engineer and Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist are great ways to build upon that knowledge and progress.
Also, it's important to bear in mind that the age of AI is impacting all facets of IT, including Digital Support, so your opportunities and interests may take a different direction altogether.
What is the Firebrand Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship like?
At Firebrand, we specialise in getting people certified fast.
We were the first Apprenticeship provider to adopt the new Digital Standards and, three years ago, we became the first training provider to be inducted into the WorldSkills UK Excellence programmes. Our latest Ofsted rates us as a Good provider, with two of our categories rated as Outstanding. Very proud of that!
Our Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship takes 16 months, 13 months for practical and a 3-month EPA.
This apprenticeship helps learners develop the skills they need to perform all the job duties listed above and achieve a solid foundation in key IT concepts, digital tools, and communication.
We offer two pathways for this apprenticeship standard, depending on the focus you would like to have: Digital Applications Technician and Digital Support Technician.
Our programme is taught through a blended framework of residential and online learning. Throughout the programme, learners are supported by Learning Mentors (from Firebrand as well as at their workplace) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with decades of experience in IT.
Will you get certified?
One of the most important parts of our programme is the fact that we offer learners the opportunity to gain industry-recognised certifications during their apprenticeship. If they pass their exams, upon completing the programme, they can add these certifications to their CVs, which will help them stand out.
During the Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship, learners have the chance to achieve two certifications that are well-known and respected in the world of tech:
Upon apprenticeship completion, they can also apply to be registered in the BCS Register of IT Technicians (RITTech), confirming SFIA Level 3 Professional competence—another valuable asset for their CV!
Interested?
See our latest Apprenticeship vacancies.
About Firebrand
For the past 13 years in a row, we’ve been named one of the Top 20 IT Training Companies in the World.
We specialise in accelerated courses, bespoke solutions, and Apprenticeships that get you certified at twice the speed.
Could one of them be right for you?