Data Protection and Information Governance Apprenticeships

Data protection and information governance apprenticeships take 19 months (including end-point assessment).

People of all ages and educational backgrounds can undertake DP&IGP apprenticeships, but there are some restrictions, the most important of which are: 

• The employer and the training provider must ascertain that the apprenticeship will allow the individual to gain substantive new skills. The training therefore needs to be materially different from any prior qualification or previous apprenticeship. 
• The apprenticeship must align with the skills needs of the apprentice’s role. 
• The apprentice must be employed, usually for 30+ hours a week, and work more than 50% of their time in England. 
• All apprenticeships must take at least 12 months with apprentices spending a minimum of 6 hours per week in off-the-job training. All Damar apprenticeships plan for more than the legal minimum. There is more on how we maximise the benefits of off-the-job training here: https://damartraining.com/news/2023/so-what-is-off-the-job-training/.

Our data protection and information governance apprenticeships are formed of ten carefully planned and sequenced 6-week modules that help apprentices learn and apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for each of the core occupational duties undertaken by data protection and information governance practitioners. This is complemented by three one-day workshops delivered by expert practitioners. 

• Module 1: The UK data protection regime
• Module 2: Data and cyber-security
• Module 3: Handling data subject’s rights request
• Module 4: Data protection policies and procedures
• Module 5: Managing data protection risk
• Module 6: The Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Module 7: The Environmental Regulations 2004
• Module 8: Records management
• Module 9: Communication: influencing and persuading
• Module 10: Organisational and other skills

Act Now Training is Europe’s leading provider of information governance training, with 20 years’ experience in the sector. They support Damar Training’s data protection and information governance apprenticeships, providing technical input into learning resources and specialist group workshops throughout the programme.

For more information, see our delivery model.

Employer partners and apprentices are supported throughout the apprenticeship. The apprentice has a dedicated coach who provides 1:1 support, alongside the group coaching sessions and apprentice forums where they can engage with other appentices on the same programme. Review meetings with the apprentice, line manager and coach are held every 12 weeks. 

Apprentices with additional learning needs also have the opportunity to meet with our SEND Co-ordinator, who will put together a personalised support plan.

In addition, employer partners have a business development manager/executive they can contact at any time.

All apprenticeships embed the functional use of maths and English as well as personal development topics in areas such as equality and diversity and British Values. Apprentices unable to evidence maths and English at GCSE grade 4 or above may need to take functional skills exams as part of the apprenticeship. Additional training is provided if necessary. 

• A work-based project report with a presentation and questions and answers with an independent end-point assessor 
• Professional discussion. A structured meeting, led by the independent end-point assessor and underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.

Apprentices may progress into the DP&IG apprenticeship standard from other apprenticeships such as Business Administrator or Paralegal. Following completion of the DP&IG apprenticeship, the most likely career progression is to a Data Protection Officer role or, in a larger organisation, to a team leader or management position. 

If your annual UK wage bill is over £3 million, the cost of training can be funded via the Apprenticeship Levy. We can help you navigate your Apprenticeship Service account to access this funding. 

If your annual UK wage bill is below £3 million, the government covers 95-100% of the training costs. The level of funding available is determined by the age of the apprentice. For apprentices aged up to 21, the apprenticeship is fully government-funded*. For apprentices aged 22 and over, the apprenticeship is 95% government-funded*. These new funding rules are applicable to apprentices starting from 1 April 2024.

*Please note: Some apprenticeships have accreditation costs which are not eligible for government funding

We have regular start dates throughout the year for our apprenticeships. Please get in touch for more information.