What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experience. Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider, which leads to a nationally recognised qualification. 

An apprenticeship includes: 

• paid employment with holiday leave 
• hands-on-experience in a sector/role of interest
• at least 20% off-the-job training 
• formal assessment which leads to a nationally recognised qualification

There are a number of ‘official’ apprenticeship programmes on the Institute of Apprenticeships website. There you can search through all of them, find details of how to apply and how, as an employer, you can take on an apprentice.

You can also visit the Government’s apprenticeships website on how you can support Apprenticeships more widely across wide range of specialisms and sectors.

As well as your training and experience (over around 18 months or so) you will also benefit from access to free membership of the IRMS, which you can convert into a full individual membership upon completing your apprenticeship.

Why is the Society supporting apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are another key entry point into the Information and Records Management profession. We have all come into this profession from various routes – from the formal education route through to learning ‘on the job’. As a Society, we believe that there should be as many supported routes into the profession as possible. Therefore, as part of our commitment to supporting the development of the profession we are supporting some schemes directly as the ‘named trade body’ and promoting others where we find them and believe them to be of interest.

What schemes are there in the Information and Records Management profession?

There are a number of ‘information’, ‘records’ and ‘data’ related schemes either in development or already available on the apprenticeships service. The IRMS is directly involved in some but not all. The ones highlighted below are ones we are aware of and directly relate to our field. The others further down are ones we are aware of, relate to the profession, but as yet we have had no involvement in so cannot provide any further information than what is available online.

Data Protection & Information Governance Apprenticeship (Level 4)

This is a Level 4 apprenticeship focusing on various areas of Information Governance and Data Protection in England & Wales. Supported with training and guidance from a range of experienced coaches and trainers an DP&IG Apprentice can develop skills in various areas including Data Protection, FOI, Records Management, Information Management and Data Ethics.

The apprenticeship scheme is open to applications from both people want to be an apprentice and organisations that would like to take on an apprentice.

Click here to find out further information

Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant (Level 3)

This is a Level 3 apprenticeship focusing on Library, Information and Archive Services (LIAS) – a front line/global role in all sectors including public, health, legal, commercial, educational, government, heritage/cultural and entertainment in England & Wales.

Through various training providers the LIAS Assistant will learn skills to support society in various industries through anticipating, determining, stimulating and satisfying the needs of existing and potential users for access to information in an ethical and fair or appropriate manner.

Click here to find out further information

Archivist and Records Manager – Level 7

This is a Level 7 apprenticeship designed to give an apprentice the necessary skills and understanding to be an Archivist and/or Records Manager for any local authorities, businesses, charities both small and large, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, courts of law, government departments and public sector services, universities, schools, national bodies archives, museums, or libraries. 

Click here to find out further information

Other related apprenticeships we are aware of

Level 4 Information Manager within construction, engineering, manufacturing, transportation including high-speed rail, energy and life sciences, the power industry including nuclear and renewables, local authorities, developers of smart cities and logistics.

Click here to find out more information.

Level 7 Special Data Specialist. This is currently out for development as a proposal and is therefore not yet live. Once further details are known we will update this page.

Click here to see the entry on the Institute of Apprenticeships website.

Know of any apprenticeship scheme not listed here?

If there is a scheme you know of that you feel might be useful to members, please contact training@irms.org.uk with details of the scheme and we’ll take a look.