Digital and Technology Solutions Professional (Network Engineer) - Degree Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Summary
The Digital and Technology Solutions Professional apprenticeship equips individuals with the knowledge and capabilities needed to thrive in the ever-evolving digital world. It is designed for ambitious apprentices and forward-thinking employers who understand the value of technology in driving business success.
This apprenticeship develops versatile professionals capable of solving complex problems using digital technologies across diverse functions and sectors—from finance to healthcare, manufacturing to retail. At the heart of this training is a focus on designing, delivering and supporting innovative technology solutions that improve performance, resilience and customer experience.
One key specialism within this apprenticeship is Network Engineering. Network Engineers are critical to any organisation’s infrastructure, leading the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of robust communication networks. They ensure networks are not only efficient and secure, but resilient and adaptable in a world of increasing cyber threats. From managing cloud configurations and monitoring systems to responding rapidly to technical issues, they are the go-to experts who keep businesses connected and operating smoothly.
For employers, this apprenticeship helps build a future-ready workforce. For apprentices, it provides a pathway to a high-demand, high-impact career—developing both technical excellence and real-world problem-solving skills. It's more than training; it's about becoming an enabler of digital transformation.
Apprenticeship standard dates
| Start date | Location | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
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21 Sep 2026
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Online
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Next steps
As an Employer
If you would like to offer this as an apprenticeship vacancy within your organisation, enrol one of your existing employees on this apprenticeship or simply find out more about supporting an apprenticeship within your organisation, please complete the Enquire Now form above and a member of our Business Development Team will be in touch within 2 working days to advise you on next steps.
As an Apprentice
If you are interested in securing an apprenticeship as a Network Engineer, please visit our Vacancies page to check for any suitable roles.
If there are currently no roles available, please submit an enquiry form using the Enquire Now button above to register your interest. We will use this information to let you know when a suitable vacancy becomes available and also to advise you of any courses we offer that might advance your career goals in the meantime.
Key information
Entry Requirements
If you're fascinated by data and technology and wish to influence strategic decision-making in businesses, then the Digital and Technology Solutions Professional apprenticeship could be the perfect fit for you. This course will equip you with skills to gather, organise, and analyse data, providing invaluable insights to help your organisation respond swiftly to market trends.
You'll be positioned at the intersection of real-time data proliferation and business strategy, enabling you to anticipate and manage demand, costs, and revenue, while identifying potential risks and opportunities. Perfect for those aiming to work in technology-focused roles, this apprenticeship can set you on a path to making a significant impact within your organisation through digital and technological advancements.
How will the Apprenticeship be funded?
As the employer
How your apprenticeship is funded will depend on whether or not you pay the Apprenticeship Levy. If you do pay the Levy, your apprenticeship will be funded out of this, provided you have sufficient monies available. If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy, 95% of the apprenticeship will be funded by the Government, with the remaining 5% being funded by you. There may also be some further incentives offered by the Government which we will be able to advise you of when setting up your apprenticeship. Either way, B&FC's Business Development Team will be on hand to help you navigate the funding arrangements and support you through this process.
As the apprentice
One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is that, as the apprentice, you are not required to fund your training. You will also receive a wage for the work that you do with minimum hourly rates set by the Government. Your employer can choose to pay you more than the minimum wage, but they cannot pay you less. For details of current minimum wage rates for apprentices, please visit the Government website.
Terms and conditions
Please visit our Student Terms and Conditions page for more information.
What will my Apprentice learn?
Knowledge
Your apprentice will develop a strong understanding of:
- How to analyse, optimise, and recommend improvements to network systems for enhanced performance and efficiency.
- The principles of designing secure operational networks, including the integration of appropriate security tools and protocols in line with organisational requirements.
- Network architectures, including hardware, software, and operating systems, and how to plan and implement effective upgrades.
- Technical specifications and requirements for network systems and how to interpret them to design and support resilient infrastructure.
- How to document and maintain accurate records of network configurations, processes, and updates in line with organisational policies.
- Common network vulnerabilities, risks, and resilience strategies, including how to assess, escalate, and mitigate security threats.
- Industry tools and technologies for network administration, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Skills
Your apprentice will learn how to:
- Analyse network performance and propose data-driven enhancements to improve functionality and reliability.
- Design and build secure and scalable operational networks tailored to business needs.
- Plan and implement system upgrades across network components including hardware, software, and operating systems.
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of network changes, incidents, and configurations to ensure operational integrity.
- Produce and interpret network documentation, ensuring clarity for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Identify and escalate network risks, providing potential solutions to improve security and resilience.
- Troubleshoot and resolve network performance issues using a methodical and analytical approach.
- Collaborate with colleagues across IT functions to ensure aligned and secure infrastructure operations.
Behaviours
Apprentices will demonstrate:
- A proactive and accountable attitude when maintaining network availability, performance, and security.
- Integrity and professionalism, following organisational policies for data handling and access control.
- Calmness and resilience under pressure, especially when addressing urgent or critical network incidents.
- Attention to detail in managing documentation, records, and technical configurations.
- Clear communication when reporting technical information or coordinating with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Continuous improvement mindset, regularly updating their knowledge of emerging technologies and network practices.
- Problem-solving capability, using structured thinking to resolve complex networking challenges.
Expert Tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. This is especially important for apprenticeships where off-the-job training needs to align with apprentices' on-the-job experience.
How will the Apprenticeship be delivered?
The apprenticeship will typically be delivered over a 48-month period with additional time required to prepare for the End Point Assessment. Apprentices' time will be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme typically with four days a week spent at the employer premises learning on the job and one day a week spent off-site, undertaking classroom-based and workshop-based training at B&FC. This delivery model and the method of delivery can be varied to suit the needs of individual employers, including accommodating remote modes of study.
What support will I get from B&FC?
As the employer
Each employer is supported by an experienced member of our Business Development Team to set up their apprenticeship. For those employers who are completely new to the apprenticeship process, the Team will support them with all the necessary paperwork and administration to get their apprenticeship programme up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. For existing employers, their dedicated Client Services Manager will be an ongoing point of contact for all their apprenticeship queries, however big or small.
We can also help employers who are looking to recruit new apprentices by advertising their vacancy, finding suitable applicants and supporting them with the interview and selection process. Once an apprentice is onboard, our Curriculum Tutors and Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches also step in to support the employer-apprentice relationship and ensure the apprentice is on track to succeed.
As the apprentice
In the first instance, we aim to give potential apprentices all the support they need to find a suitable apprenticeship. That can mean working with them prior to an application to improve their CV, hone their interview skills and advise them of any additional training that may help them secure an apprenticeship vacancy.
Once they start their apprenticeship, we continue to support them with their off-site training and with regular meetings with our Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches to ensure they are progressing and acquiring all the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will ensure they complete their apprenticeship successfully.
How will the Apprenticeship be assessed?
What is an end-point assessment and why it happens
An EPA is an assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. The EPA is the apprentice's opportunity to show an independent assessor how well they can carry out the occupation they have been trained for.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
- fail
- pass
- distinction
When the apprentice passes the EPA, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate. To move forward to the end point assessment, the apprentice must have completed and submitted their portfolio of evidence and passed their degree qualification.
Assessment methods
Project with report
The apprentice will be asked to complete a project and write a supporting report. The report should be a maximum of 6000 words (with a 10% tolerance). The apprentice will also be asked to give a presentation in support of this report after which the independent assessor will ask at least 4 questions about the report and presentation.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
The apprentice will also have a separate professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask at least 4 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of the occupation, based on the portfolio of evidence the apprentice has compiled and which should demonstrate their competency in the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the occupational standard.