Level 3 Data Citizen Apprenticeship

Delivery

Experts in online delivery

We deliver all of our programmes online, helping our clients offer flexible and inclusive data literacy training open to all of their staff. We believe the gold standard for online delivery is to offer a mix of experiential learning, coaching, technical mentorship and peer support.

• EDUKATE.AI

  EDUKATE.AI is our learning platform designed for data science education. EDUKATE.AI provides real-world simulated assignments and gives learners immediate and personalised feedback on their code.

• Data mentor

  An experienced data mentor helps learners scope and deliver work-based projects, helping bridge the gap between learning and application to generate a return on investment.

• Professional coach

  A coach supports the career and personal development of our learners through 1:1 coaching sessions, as well as quarterly tripartite reviews with line managers. 

• Expert faculty

  Our world-class faculty of experienced data professionals and academics from leading universities support our learners through workshops and 1:1 tutoring on queries.

• Live expert-led lectures

  Our learners join online workshops delivered by our expert faculty with the support of a tutor for 1:1 questions in real-time. Learners can access recordings through EDUKATE.AI.

• Peer and expert community

  Learners benefit from a peer network that provides support and technical help. Learners also benefit from our network of experts with monthly guest lectures with speakers from different industries. 

The Curriculum

Our data literacy curriculum is developed by our leading faculty, composed of data scientists in leading industry positions and academics from some of the top universities in the world. Our curriculum is continuously updated and reiterated to incorporate the latest skills.

We take a modular approach to how we offer our curriculum. The full Level 3 Data Citizen Apprenticeship includes all of the below modules. We also offer curated shorter tracks and can offer a fully tailored pathway based on a skills gap analysis.

• The Value of Data

  Understand the value of data and the way digital technologies are fundamentally changing the global economy, market structures and creating new opportunities.

• Future of Learning and Careers in Data

  Join, manipulate and summarise datasets using the Pandas library.

• Data Concepts

  Get acquainted with essential data concepts, tools, processes and vocabulary.

• Basic Numbers for Data Analysis

  Develop intuition for underlying statistical concepts and what the numbers mean in practice.

• Data Sourcing & Integration

  Learn how to blend, manipulate and link data sets from multiple sources in a range of formats appropriate to the task at hand.

• Data Preparation, Quality & Validation

  Validate data to ensure consistency and quality compliantly and develop techniques to check for errors and help ensure the highest levels of data quality.

• Excel for Data Analysis

  Use Excel to prepare, format and integrate different types of data accurately and consistently following industry best practice.

• Charts and Visualisation

  Create insightful, action-inducing, data-driven graphs and charts in Excel.

• Dashboarding Tools

  Build on previous learning and increase skills in time series analysis and clustering of data.

• Storytelling & Presenting with Data

  Build narrative around data to hone in on and share key insights, create impactful visualisations.

• Reporting & Actioning Insights

  Prepare reports to help action data-driven insights and use interpretation and judgement to solve problems by working collaboratively, thinking critically and reasoning analytically.

• Data Storage, Compliance & Security

  Collect data securely using Excel from trusted sources ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory and legal standards and industry and organisational best practice.

• Introduction to Coding with Python

  Get familiar with key coding concepts as well as fundamental foundations to help decide if Python is something to explore further.

FAQs

What delivery options do you offer?

We tailor our delivery to your workforce needs. This ranges from independent, immersive elearning supported by EDUKATE.AI through to tailored bootcamps, to our structured apprenticeship programmes. Learners based in England and enrolling in the Level 3 Data Citizen Apprenticeship may be eligible for UK Levy funding.

Are you able to tailor the programme to the organisation and sector?

Yes. We work with our clients to contextualise our programmes to their organisation and the sector(s) in which they operate. We do this through tailored hackathons, bespoke assignments and guest lectures from industry experts. We also work with a range of partners to create bespoke programmes for sectors, such as healthcare and journalism.

What Is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a long-term training commitment which seeks to support people entering the workforce and upskill existing UK-based employees within an organisation, enabling employers to foster a workforce consisting of highly skilled and highly engaged talent.

The Cambridge Spark Data Citizen Apprenticeship runs for 13 months plus a 3-month end-point assessment and includes a minimum of 6 hours per week off-the-job training, enabling a blended approach between theory and practical learning.

What Is the Apprenticeship Levy?

The UK government introduced the Apprenticeship Levy scheme in April 2017 as a way to drive investment in strengthening the country’s skills base.

All organisations with annual staff costs of over £3m have to pay 0.5% of their salary bill into a ring-fenced apprenticeship levy pot. The money is collected monthly via PAYE and can only be used for training on approved apprenticeship schemes (such as the Level 3 Data Citizen Apprenticeship that we offer). Organisations must forfeit any levy funding left unspent for 24 months or more.

What if my organisation doesn't pay into the UK Apprenticeship Levy?

An organisation that doesn't pay into the levy can still qualify for government-funded apprenticeships for their staff. In fact, the UK government will sponsor 95% of the apprenticeship programme, leaving the organisation to invest the remaining 5%, provided that learners meet other eligibility criteria.

What does "off-the-job training" mean?

Off-the-job training is defined as learning undertaken outside of the day-to-day work duties and during the apprentice’s normal working hours.

Our off-the-job training is delivered on a flexible basis and can be carried out at the apprentice’s place of work or home.

The 6 hours per week, minimum, off-the-job training provides learners with the time to focus and develop the required skills, knowledge and behaviours to complete the programme.

How much do managers need to be involved?

Managers will need to ensure apprentices achieve their planned  off-the-job training hours and work on their project portfolio.

We also encourage managers to have regular one-to-one meetings with apprentices to catch up on how they are progressing and to join the apprentice and their coach for 30 minutes every 3-4 months for a general catch up about the programme.