Using professional judgement and support of others to ensure the delivery, security and accessibility of records and other materials.
Apprentices develop the professional judgement and technical knowledge needed to manage the full lifecycle of records, from creation and classification through to preservation or disposal. The programme covers acquisition, appraisal, cataloguing to industry standards, digital preservation, and information governance. Apprentices also learn how to apply relevant legislation, including data protection, freedom of information, and copyright law, and how to operate within professional codes of ethics set by bodies such as the Archives and Records Association.
Working across analogue and digital collections, apprentices arrange and describe records using established cataloguing standards, create and manage metadata, and carry out audits to confirm materials are stored securely. They liaise with depositors, internal departments, conservators, and IT specialists, and handle enquiries from researchers and members of the public. Practical tasks include digitisation projects, updating location records, maintaining risk assessments, and contributing to disaster management and preservation plans. Some work takes place in physical storage environments, which can involve lifting and working in temperature-controlled conditions.
Completion typically leads to roles such as archivist, records manager, digital preservation specialist, metadata specialist, or information manager. Many progression routes lead into senior or specialist positions within local authorities, government departments, universities, museums, national archives, courts, and large NGOs. Digital archiving and information governance are growth areas, with demand for professionals who can manage born-digital records and advise organisations on compliance. Some practitioners move into consultancy or service leadership roles over time.
Sorted by achievement rate.
No training providers currently listed for this standard.
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to positions such as Archivist, Records Manager, Digital Archivist, Digital Preservation Specialist, or Metadata Specialist. Some completers move into Archives Officer or Archives Cataloguer roles, building on specific technical skills developed during the programme. Information Manager and Local Studies Manager are also common entry points, particularly in local authority and heritage settings. The level 7 qualification means graduates enter at a professional, not junior, grade in most organisations.
Within three to five years, many practitioners move into senior or principal archivist roles, or take on team leadership responsibilities as Senior Records Manager or Head of Information Governance. The specialist track runs toward Digital Preservation Manager, Collection Development Manager, or Heritage Manager, often requiring deeper technical expertise in born-digital records. Longer term, senior positions include Head of Archives, Chief Records Officer, or Chief Information Officer, particularly in large public sector bodies, universities, and national institutions.
Employers span local authorities, NHS trusts, government departments, universities, law courts, and national bodies such as The National Archives. The private sector hires into financial services, legal firms, and large corporations where information governance and regulatory compliance carry significant weight. Religious organisations, museums, libraries, and international NGOs also recruit at this level. The mix of public and private sector roles is roughly even, with the public sector particularly dominant in heritage and civic records functions.
Learning takes place alongside employment, with the apprentice applying knowledge and skills directly within their organisation throughout the programme. Before final assessment, a readiness check (commonly called the gateway) confirms the apprentice has met any mandatory requirements and is prepared to demonstrate competence. Final assessment then judges whether the apprentice can perform the full range of duties expected at this level, covering the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the standard, including professional ethics, legislative compliance, records lifecycle management, and digital preservation. Assessment arrangements for many Level 7 standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Building strong evidence from day-to-day work is the most practical thing an apprentice can do throughout the programme. This means keeping records of real tasks, including policy work, audits, digitisation projects, stakeholder negotiations, and risk assessments, rather than trying to gather evidence at the end. Working closely with the employer and training provider on a regular basis helps identify gaps early and keeps progress on track. A consistent, organised approach to documentation across the full duration of the programme makes the gateway review and final assessment significantly more straightforward.
A strong provider for this standard will have tutors with current or recent practitioner experience across both analogue and digital records environments, not just archival theory. Check the achievement rate on their FATP profile: above 65% is a reasonable baseline for a specialist level 7 standard with a relatively small cohort. Employer and apprentice satisfaction scores above 80% carry more weight here than volume. Look for evidence that the programme covers digital preservation standards, information governance legislation, and cataloguing tools in active use across the sector, alongside genuine placement variety spanning public, private and third-sector organisations.
Be cautious if a provider cannot explain how the programme keeps pace with evolving digital preservation practice, changing data protection legislation, or updates to Archives Accreditation requirements. A high apprentice volume paired with a declining achievement rate warrants direct questions about support structures. Providers who speak only in broad professional competencies without referencing current standards such as PD BS 4971 or sector cataloguing conventions may not be close enough to live practice. Opaque answers about cohort sizes or end-point assessment preparation are also worth probing.
Employers set their own entry criteria, but this is a Level 7 apprenticeship so providers typically expect candidates to hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience. Candidates must be employed in a relevant role throughout, as the learning is built around real work. Some employers recruit people already working in archives, records, or information management who want to formalise and extend their expertise to a postgraduate level.
The typical duration is 36 months. The apprentice remains employed throughout and applies learning directly to their job. A portion of contracted hours must be spent on off-the-job training, though the exact percentage is subject to current Skills England reforms. Check the current funding rules on gov.uk for the up-to-date requirement before planning your programme with a training provider.
Before the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has demonstrated the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours across the standard. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so check the latest assessment plan on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education pages on gov.uk for the definitive approach before enrolling.
The funding band for this standard is £12,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from apprenticeship funding. Levy-paying employers use their Digital Apprenticeship Service account to fund training directly. Smaller employers who do not pay the levy typically contribute 5% of training costs, with the government covering the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; the government covers the full cost.
Day-to-day work involves cataloguing and classifying analogue, digitised, and born-digital records to professional standards, applying retention and disposal schedules, managing compliance with data protection and freedom of information legislation, and supporting digitisation projects. The apprentice also liaises with depositors, internal departments, researchers, and specialists such as conservators or IT teams, monitors storage conditions, maintains risk assessments, and contributes to policy development for the service.
Completers are eligible for membership of professional bodies such as the Archives and Records Association and the Information and Records Management Society. Typical job titles include archivist, records manager, digital preservation specialist, metadata specialist, heritage manager, and information manager. With experience, progression can lead to senior archivist, head of information governance, digital director, or chief information officer roles across local authorities, government departments, universities, NGOs, courts, and private archives.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 668.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.