Retrain as a
Cyber Security Technologist with TechTrack
Government Digital Service are partnering with BPP Group to find ambitious candidates ready to join the community of experts leading digital transformation in the UK government.
TechTrack Programme Benefits
TechTrack is on a mission to build digital and cyber security skills at scale as part of a wider strategy to transform UK public services and deliver world-class technology.
It offers a unique opportunity to work on projects that protect the essential services used by millions of people each week.
Ideal for ambitious people who want to retrain and develop new skills, TechTrack apprenticeships enable you to learn on the job, out of the classroom in a fast-paced environment. You will start your apprenticeship at Higher Executive Officer level (HEO) and after two years getting paid to explore emerging technologies and work with experts in your field, you will be digital career ready and eligible to apply for Senior Executive Officer (SEO) roles.
Get your cyber career off the ground
What you’ll do as a TechTrack apprentice:
Train for the workplace with learning you can put into practice straight away
Earn a salary from day one and get the same rights as employees, including sick leave and holiday pay
Spend at least six of your working hours each week training or studying
Undertake ongoing assessments, including an end-point assessment
Work on leading-edge digital solutions and projects that have a meaningful impact on the lives of UK citizens
What you’ll get as a TechTrack apprentice:
Ongoing support from highly experienced and passionate colleagues
1:1 coaching and learning across a variety of contexts, including on-the-job and via professional workshops
The opportunity to experiment with solving new problems, refining solutions, and training your eye for detail
A chance to fuel your passion for working with and learning about new technologies in your field
Being part of a culture that enjoys sharing knowledge and prioritises continuous development
Government departments working with BPP Group
What you will study
The Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship gives you the hands-on skills to detect, monitor, and respond to cyber security threats. The programme ensures you are able to implement the necessary technical and procedural safeguards for maintaining digital data integrity and confidentiality.
Designed to cover all three pathways in the apprenticeship standard – Security Engineer, Risk Analyst, and Defend and Respond – this programme builds your knowledge across cyber risk analysis, incident response, and how to create a security-aware culture within your organisation.
What does a Cyber Security Technologist do?
As a TechTrack Apprentice Cyber Security Technologist, you will develop your skills and help teams from day one. Over the course of the programme, you will work with experienced Risk Analysts to gain knowledge, skills and experience, including:
Understanding cyber security concepts and why they matter to business and society
Understanding ethical principles and good practice
Learning the main types of common cyber-attack technique
Focusing on risk assessment and analysis
Learning how to mitigate risks arising from cyber security threats
Applying cyber security principles to protect the organisation, its systems information, personal data, and people, from attacks and unauthorised access
Who is it suitable for?
The Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist apprenticeship is an up-skilling programme and not an entry-level talent programme. It targets individuals who are already established in their careers and are seeking a transition into the digital cyber security field. While their existing professional capabilities may qualify them at the Higher Executive Officer (HEO) standard, their lack of subject matter expertise requires them to start with the basics.
TechTrack Cyber is perfect for individuals who are passionate about tech and want to make a difference as part of government’s Security profession. It provides an opportunity for both civil servants and external candidates to be placed into some of the most in-demand technology roles.
Successful candidates must:
Pass a disclosure and barring security (DBS) check
Meet the relevant security requirements before starting the programme. This role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. Learn more about the Security Check Clearance
Please note that current roles require SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Essential Requirements:
Applicants must hold a level 3 or equivalent IT related qualification or have at least a year’s worth of IT related work experience.
Applicants who already hold a CompTIA security + , CompTIA network + , or Level 4 qualification in cyber security, software development, computer science, information technology, or a related field, or those with a computing degree, may not be eligible for this apprenticeship.
Application process
Please note: BPP reserves the right to close this campaign at any time.
1. Register your interest
Interested in the Cyber Security Technologist programme? Simply complete the application form below to register your interest. In order to progress to the next stage, you must meet the minimum apprenticeship criteria and be eligible for funding. The TechTrack team might get in touch to ask for further information.2. Complete our Cyber Security Technologist assessment
If you pass our initial screening, you will receive an email from BPP with a link to complete our technical assessment. You will have ten days from the date you receive this email to complete the assessment, so please ensure you monitor your inbox (including your junk folder).3. Self-assessment
If you achieve the minimum pass mark on the technical assessment, you will be invited to submit your CV and personal statement for review. Candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to complete a self‑assessment questionnaire, designed to give us an idea of your strengths and behaviours.4. Interview with BPP
If you have successfully passed the previous steps, we will invite you to an interview with BPP. During the interview, we will assess your motivation, commitment and technical skills, as well as reviewing your self-assessment questionnaire. You will then be placed on a Reserve List until opportunities within the Civil Service become available.*5. Final interview
We will shortlist candidates based on their performance throughout the application process. If successful, you will be invited to an interview with the Civil Service, which will last approximately 45 minutes.6. Onboarding
Successful candidates will be onboarded to their apprenticeship by BPP. The onboarding process usually takes two to three weeks (not including security checks) and gives candidates the opportunity to meet with their placement coach before starting their apprenticeship.*A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
Applications are currently closed
Please revisit this page for future updates.
Frequently asked questions
Applicants must:
be over 16
be resident in England (those in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland must spend at least 50% of working hours in England; evidence required)
have permission to live & work in the UK
have an eligibility residency status
UK citizens must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the last 3 years. Current roles require SC clearance, normally requiring 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years; supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period.
Applicants will be asked to share information upon application, including residency status, prior learning & any current visas.
The Level 4 Business Analyst & Cyber Security Technologist programmes require applicants to be employed in a relevant role, hold a minimum of 5 GCSEs grade A–C (9–4) & a Level 3 qualification (A levels, NVQs, BTEC or Level 3 Apprenticeship). Applicants must also hold a Level 3 or equivalent IT qualification or have ≥1 year of relevant IT work experience.
Yes, apprentices will receive a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) equivalent salary. This will vary depending on the department they are based in.
There is no single Civil Service–wide downgrading policy. Decisions on pay and treatment when an individual downgrades are delegated to departments and set out in their own departmental pay policies, within the framework of the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. Downgrading is always voluntary, meaning the individual must explicitly accept the lower grade and salary based on the information provided, and they cannot retain their substantive SEO (or higher) grade or pay. Internal civil servants who want more detail should seek the relevant department’s specific downgrading guidance from HR.