Apprentice Software Engineer

Job Description – Apprentice Software Engineer

The Opportunity

Our client is recruiting for an Apprentice Software Engineer to join their team in Stoke-on-Trent .

The Level 4 Software Developer apprenticeship programme that we are offering , will allow you to kick-start your career in an industry that is constantly evolving, dynamic and transformational.

The steps you take will provide you with valuable first-hand experience, knowledge, skills and qualification to help really drive your career forward. We are here to guide and support you every step of the way!

The Position

Apprentice Software Engineer

Level 4 Software Developer

16 months + Assessment

Stroke-on-Trent (Hybrid) - open to WFH after a few weeks 

9am – 5:30pm

£18,000 - £22,000

Role and Responsibilities:

Since 2021, we’ve been working hard to bring gigabit-speed full fibre broadband to thousands of homes across the UK. Our mission is simple: to connect people. We deliver broadband that’s fast, reliable, and hassle-free—putting our customers at the centre of everything we do.

We're in the midst of an exciting growth phase, with bold plans for the future. To help us achieve them, we’re looking for talented individuals who share our ambition and can inspire us as we take the next step in our journey.

Our team is inclusive and diverse—everyone is welcome, and you’re encouraged to be yourself. Culture matters deeply to us. We believe work should be enjoyable, and we back that up with ongoing training and support, great benefits, and a vibrant, energetic team environment .

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences, and we strive to ensure everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to thrive.

· This is a genuine engineering role, not a support position. As a Software Engineer Apprentice, you will work as a contributing member of our platform engineering team from day one — writing real code, contributing to real platform changes, and learning on a live, production-grade OSS/BSS estate that directly connects customers to full-fibre broadband and mobile services across the UK.

· You will complete your Level 4 Software Developer Apprenticeship through an approved training provider, with 20% of your working time dedicated to structured off-the-job learning. The remaining 80% is spent in-team, building hands-on engineering skills under the mentorship of an experienced platform engineer.

The programme is structured in two phases. In the first phase you will develop a strong general software engineering foundation alongside hands-on exposure to the company’s core network configuration and service management platforms. In the second phase, you will specialise in either customer platform development or integration engineering — directed by business need and your developing strengths. What matters most at entry level is curiosity, logical thinking, and the drive to build capability fast. The specifics can be learned.

What You Will Do

Months 1–4 — Bootcamp (Foundation Phase)

• Complete an intensive technical bootcamp with your training provider — covering software fundamentals, object-oriented programming, REST APIs, databases, Git, and automated testing
  
• Begin self-directed exploration of key concepts relevant to the company’s platform estate
  
• Join team ceremonies as an observer: stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, and governance reviews
  
• Begin building familiarity with the company’s platform landscape — how a customer order flows from request through to a live network connection
  

Months 4–12 — Core Platform Development

• Contribute to configuration, development, and automation work on the company's network management platform — the system that drives provisioning, device configuration, and service activation across the physical network
  
• Develop working knowledge of the company's cloud-native BSS platform for mobile service management — covering subscriber provisioning, order management, billing workflows, and REST API integration
  
• Write and maintain integration code — REST API consumers, Webhook listeners, and data transformation logic — connecting the company's platforms to downstream network and billing systems
  
• Contribute to Python automation scripts used across operational tooling — reporting, data processing, and system health monitoring
  
• Work within source control and CI/CD practices — Git, branching, pull requests, and automated build and test pipelines
  
• Continue structured off-the-job learning with your training provider and build your apprenticeship portfolio
  

Months 12–18 — Specialisation Phase Depending on business need and your developing strengths, you will specialise in one of the following two pathways:

Customer Platform Engineering

• Develop deeper capability in our company's customer-facing platform — CRM configuration, guided customer journey development, workflow automation, field service management, and low-code and pro-code development
  
• Work towards relevant vendor certifications in the customer platform domain
  
• Contribute to platform releases, CI/CD deployments, and source-driven development practices
  

Integration Engineering

• Develop deeper capability in our company's integration and connectivity layer — .NET (C#) integration connectors, API contract development, event-driven architecture, and system-to-system workflow automation
  
• Work towards relevant vendor certifications in the integration and cloud development domain
  
• Contribute to integration connector builds, Webhook implementations, and pipeline automation
  

Desired Qualities, Skills and Knowledge:

Experience

· What We Are Looking For

· Essential

o 5 GCSEs grade 4/C or above, including Maths and English (or equivalent)

o Genuine curiosity about how software systems work, particularly in a business context

o Logical thinking and a methodical approach to problem-solving

o Good written and verbal communication skills

o Ability to work collaboratively and ask for help when stuck

o Not currently enrolled on another apprenticeship or holding a Level 4+ qualification in a closely related field

· Desirable (not required — we will teach you)

o Any exposure to C# or .NET — even through online courses or self-study

o Familiarity with REST APIs and JSON data formats

o Any Python scripting experience, even basic

o Interest in how networks and telecommunications infrastructure work

o Interest in how cloud platforms handle billing, provisioning, and subscriptions

o A Level 3 qualification in a STEM subject

· Key Competencies & Behaviours

1. Curiosity and Learning Drive You actively seek to understand how things work, not just how to complete a task. You use documentation, your team, and your own initiative to build knowledge continuously.

2. Attention to Detail You check your work before raising it for review. You understand that errors in a live platform have real consequences for real customers.

3. Collaboration You communicate clearly, ask for help when stuck, and contribute positively to a team that depends on shared understanding of a complex platform.

4. Ownership You take responsibility for the tasks assigned to you and follow them through to completion. You don't wait to be chased.

5. Adaptability You respond positively to changing priorities and feedback. A live telecommunications platform is never static — you evolve with it.

6. Professional Development You engage fully with your apprenticeship programme, protect your 20% study time, and take your certification targets seriously.

Ownership — integration work often runs across squad boundaries. You need to be the kind of engineer who follows a problem through to resolution rather than handing it off at the first boundary

Eligibility Criteria Individuals must have a valid and eligible residency status to apply for this role.

About ITP We help employers develop their best talent and inspire the next generation through apprenticeships, mentoring and training, we’re plugging the UK’s digital skills gap to provide a workforce for the future.

If this sounds like the role for you, get in touch! Once we receive your application, one of our team will be in touch to help you with the next stage.

The ITP are working on behalf of a third party to advertise their vacancy. By submitting your CV, you agree to be contacted by The ITP and your information to be passed on to a third party.

Safeguarding and Values Commitment

The ITP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful appointment to this role will require satisfactory completion of recruitment checks.

At the ITP, we are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners and creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We expect every team member to:

• Uphold and champion our values, code of conduct, and safeguarding principles.
  
• Take personal responsibility for understanding and adhering to all safeguarding procedures and policies.
  
• Promote a culture of safety and wellbeing through a proactive “do no harm” approach.
  
• Recognise and act on their responsibility in supporting, strengthening, and enforcing safeguarding practices across all areas of work.
  
• Understand and meet any role-specific safeguarding duties — including, in this position, actively identifying and reporting concerns, engaging in relevant training, and modelling safe and inclusive behaviours in all apprentice interactions.
  
•  
  

At the ITP, our company culture is important to us, and all employees and consultants are expected to operate in line with our values:

· We change lives - We strive to make a difference for our apprentices, clients, members, ourselves, and our team on a daily basis. We push for diversity and inclusion in our industry by challenging perceptions. We embrace individuality. We believe that everyone is equally important.

· We are genuine and honest - We breed trust amongst clients, apprentices, members, and the team. We take responsibility for our words, actions, and results. We are human. We encourage one another through honesty and transparency.

· We are innovative and unique - We are empowered by innovation. We strive to make the impossible, possible. We are proud to be the only organisation of our kind, of who we are and how we got here.

· We are Personable - We remind ourselves what it’s like to be in others shoes. We have authentic conversations; we are real and so are our relationships.

· We are stronger united - We share our knowledge and experiences. We celebrate one another on our achievements. We value and encourage one another because we win or lose as a team.