Digital Skills for Business

Learning Programme Content

The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:

• Qualifications
• Essential Skills
• On/off the job training

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 2 Digital User is 40 credits.

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 3 Digital User is 40 credits.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this framework.

It is, however, recommended that to enter onto the Level 2 Apprenticeship the candidate has English and Maths GCSE’s grade G or above (or equivalent qualifications) and for the Level 3 Apprenticeship it is recommended that the candidate has English and Maths GCSE’s grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications). However, these recommendations are not essential.

Applicants may have prior experience or qualifications in digital technologies but this is not mandatory as training providers and employers will deliver programmes of training based on approved up to date qualifications tailored to meet individual needs, recognising prior qualifications and experience.

Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)

Level 2: Digital User

Level 2: Digital User Qualifications

Participants must achieve the following combined qualifications below.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Combined qualification - 40 credits, 400 hours GLH

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Level 3: Digital User

Level 3: Digital User Qualifications

Participants must achieve the following combined qualifications below.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Combined qualification - 40 credits, 400 hours GLH

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits / 60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Job roles

As organisations in Wales undertake digital transformation of many processes, the digital skills needed to engage with these are becoming ubiquitous across many job roles. There is an increasing need to address the digital skills gap in employment across many sectors in Wales. These digital user apprenticeships provide a route to develop and embed digital skills through on-the-job vocational learning to measurably improve individual and organisational digital capabilities.

These apprenticeships support Mission 3 of the 2021 Digital Strategy for Wales to ‘Create a workforce that has the digital skills, capability and confidence to excel in the workplace and in everyday life’. They align with the specific outcomes:

• employers recognise the value that digital skills and technologies can bring and are investing in the needs of their workforce
• businesses in Wales have access to the skills they need to be able to innovate, improve and grow

According to the No Longer Optional: Employer Demand for Digital Skills report (2019), even amongst low-skill jobs, 70% of all job roles require some form of digital skills. Most jobs require digital skills to communicate, create and edit digital documents, search for information and handle and process organisational data securely.

Level 2: Digital User

The Level 2 Digital User Apprenticeship has been designed with employers in Wales to equip employees with the primary digital skills that they need to be able to perform their role. This Apprenticeship programme is designed to provide a robust vocational route to fulfilling digital skills needs that are integral for employees to take full advantage of digital opportunities in the workplace.

Many roles are covered by this framework and could be within:

• Junior administrative functions of private and public sector organisations handling data and documents.
• Junior healthcare, retail, financial services, engineering and agriculture workers who need to interact with digital systems and automation.
• Operatives working in any sector which make use of data centric digital systems to process and store data of any type in junior roles.

In reality, almost all users of primary digital and data systems of any sort.

Junior office support or administrator

Using digital office software; data handling and processing; internet and email communications

Junior healthcare professional

Using patient data, digital documents and email, and information searching systems,

Engineering technician

Engineering technician Recording information in spreadsheets; completing work task digital documents, searching for information, using email and making presentations.

Junior retail operative

Data processing, order tracking, email communications and collaborative software

Accounts assistant or wages clerk

Using computer accounting or payroll software, spreadsheets and databases

Agriculture workers

Keeping records using databases or spreadsheets, ordering materials, using email, information searching.

Level 3: Digital User

The Level 3 Digital User Apprenticeship has been designed with employers in Wales to improve and expand their work-based digital skills capabilities. This Apprenticeship programme is designed to provide a robust vocational route to fulfilling digital skills needs that are integral for employees to take full advantage of digital opportunities in the workplace.

Many roles are covered by this framework and could either be within:

• Administrative functions of private and public sector organisations handling data and documents.
• Healthcare, retail, financial services, engineering and agriculture workers who need to interact with digital systems and automation.
• Operatives and team leaders working in any sector which make use of data centric digital systems to process and store data of any type in junior roles.

In reality, almost all users of enhanced digital and data systems of any sort.

Senior office administrators

Using digital office software; data handling and processing; internet and email communications

Healthcare professionals and managers

Using patient data, digital documents and email, and information searching systems,

Engineers

Recording and editing audio and video clips; preparing text and images for publication

Retail managers

Data processing, order tracking, email communications and collaborative software

Accounts managers

Using computer accounting or payroll software, spreadsheets and databases

Agriculture managers

Keeping records using databases or spreadsheets, ordering materials, using email, information searching.

Progression

Progression routes into the Level 2 Apprenticeship:

This can be from a variety of routes including directly from school or college with the suggested level of academic qualifications including:

• GCSE, Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Intermediate
• GCE AS and A Level, Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Advanced
• General or vocational qualifications related to the digital or creative industries

Or as career development in an appropriate role with suitable qualifications or recognition of prior learning and experience.

Progression from the Level 2 Apprenticeship:

The Level 3 apprenticeship digital user and digital application support apprenticeship programmes offer successful apprentices the opportunity to further progress in their studies. They can also progress within their job role and pursue their learning by undertaking additional vendor qualifications in digital office and data packages.

Progression routes into the Level 3 Apprenticeship:

This can be from a variety of routes including directly from school or college with the suggested level of academic qualifications including:

• GCSE, Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Intermediate
• GCE AS and A Level, Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Advanced
• General or vocational qualifications related to the digital or creative industries

Or as career development in an appropriate role with suitable qualifications or recognition of prior learning and experience.

Progression from the Level 3 Apprenticeship:

The Level 4 digital content and data apprenticeship programmes offer successful apprentices the opportunity to further progress in their studies and specialise. They can also progress within their job role and pursue their learning by undertaking additional vendor qualifications in digital office and data packages.

Equality and diversity

It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.

The protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.

Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.

Employment responsibilities and rights

Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory.  But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18-year group) receive a company induction programme.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government Apprenticeships Guidance.

Further information may be obtained from:

Welsh Government

DfES-ApprenticeshipUnit@gov.wales

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