Damar Training’s first data protection and information governance apprentices have successfully achieved their qualification.
After the new data protection and information governance apprenticeship was released in March 2022, Damar Training started its first cohort of apprentices later that same year.
Since then, Damar has gone on to become England’s largest provider of the apprenticeship, with 176 apprentices enrolling on the programme at companies such as BBC, National Express, Dunelm and Auto Trader, as well as a range of universities, NHS trusts, councils and government departments.
13 apprentices have now successfully achieved their qualification, with many more completions due over the coming months.
Jonathan Bourne, Managing Director at Damar Training, said:
“Congratulations to all of the successful apprentices who have worked hard and have an exciting career ahead of them.
“The data protection apprenticeship is much needed, and is an area of knowledge and skills that is only going to grow in importance.
“I would encourage all organisations who do not yet have a qualified colleague supporting their data protection officer, to consider the apprenticeship as a way to develop both existing colleagues as well as new hires.”
Damar Training has been delivering impactful apprenticeship training since 1980 and has worked with thousands of apprentices and many of the country’s leading employers.
Act Now Training is an established expert in the field of data protection and provides technical input into the programme.
Ibrahim Hasan, Director at Act Now Training, said:
“Act Now Training is Europe’s leading provider of information governance training. For the past 20 years we’ve been training various sectors including local and national government, finance, health and legal.
“We’re proud of the partnership we have with Damar, in providing the technical expertise which underpins their learning resources and workshops.”
Sarah Murray, Director of Governance & Compliance and DPO at Cleardata UK, said:
“Before the introduction of the apprenticeship, comprehensive training in this field was limited. The apprenticeship not only develops the apprentice’s technical knowledge, but also enables them to directly apply that knowledge to, and develop the necessary skills within, their own role and organisation.”
Stacey Lawrence, Data Protection Manager at Manchester Airport Group, said:
“The impact that the data protection apprentices have had on Manchester Airport Group has been huge.
“They have managed enquiries, data protection processes, and individual rights requests and, without them, we simply wouldn’t be able to do the really sterling work that we get to do every day.
“My advice for any other organisations considering the apprenticeship would be to go for it. It was absolutely the best decision we’ve ever made.”
Evie Scott recently completed her data protection and information governance apprenticeship at Manchester Airport Group. She said:
“I’m so thankful for the support I’ve received from Damar and Manchester Airport Group and for the skills I’ve learnt throughout the apprenticeship.
“I’ve gained a wide understanding of data protection and the regulations that we have to follow. And I’ve also developed other skills such as my presentation skills.
“I particularly enjoyed the workshops throughout the apprenticeship, which allowed me to talk to, and get support from, other apprentices on the course.”
Find out more about the data protection and information governance apprenticeship.