Hardware, network and infrastructure operatives are found in organisations large and small, in all sectors, and within public, private and voluntary organisations.
This apprenticeship trains operatives to support the physical and digital infrastructure that keeps organisations running. Apprentices learn to install, configure and maintain hardware and network equipment, diagnose faults, and carry out routine infrastructure tasks under supervision. The programme covers foundational concepts in networking, IT hardware, and infrastructure operations, giving apprentices practical skills alongside the underpinning technical knowledge needed to work effectively in a support environment.
Day-to-day work typically involves setting up workstations and peripheral devices, running network cable, replacing faulty components, and supporting first-line troubleshooting of hardware and connectivity issues. Apprentices work from job sheets or ticketing systems, liaise with colleagues and end users, and escalate more complex problems to senior engineers. Tasks are hands-on and varied, often across a mixture of office, server room, and on-site environments.
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into roles such as IT technician, helpdesk operative, network support assistant, and junior infrastructure engineer. Many completers progress to Level 3 apprenticeships or qualifications in networking and systems administration. Employers hiring at this level include managed service providers, local authorities, NHS trusts, schools, and internal IT departments across retail, logistics and financial services. The foundation-level skills are transferable across sectors, making it a solid entry point into a broad range of technical careers.
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No training providers currently listed for this standard.
Completers typically move into entry-level technical support and infrastructure roles. Common job titles include IT Support Technician, IT Helpdesk Analyst, Network Support Operative, and Junior Infrastructure Technician. Some move directly into first-line technical support positions responsible for hardware installation, routine maintenance, and basic network troubleshooting within an internal IT team or a managed service provider.
With a few years of experience, technicians often progress to Second-Line Support Analyst, Senior IT Technician, or Network Administrator. From there, two broad tracks emerge: a specialist route into network engineering, cybersecurity, or systems administration, and a supervisory route toward IT Team Leader or IT Support Manager. Many technicians also use this apprenticeship as a stepping stone to a Level 3 digital apprenticeship, building formal qualifications alongside on-the-job experience.
Demand for this level of technical support is spread across virtually every sector. Public sector employers include NHS trusts, local authorities, and schools. Private sector demand comes from managed service providers, retail chains, logistics companies, financial services firms, and professional services organisations. Smaller businesses with in-house IT functions hire at this level alongside large enterprises that run dedicated infrastructure teams. Both internal IT departments and third-party IT service providers are consistent sources of entry-level roles.
Throughout the programme, the apprentice builds competence in hardware, network and infrastructure tasks while working in a real job. Learning is structured and happens alongside day-to-day employment, with the training provider and employer working together to support progress. Before final assessment, there is a readiness check, often called a gateway, where the employer and provider confirm the apprentice has covered the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. Final assessment then establishes whether the apprentice can perform the role to the standard required. Assessment models for foundation apprenticeships are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Collecting evidence of real work throughout the programme makes the end of the apprenticeship significantly less pressured. Apprentices should keep records of tasks completed, problems solved and skills applied as they go, rather than trying to reconstruct examples later. Working closely with both the employer and the training provider to track progress against the standard's requirements helps ensure nothing is missed before the gateway. Regular reviews with a line manager or mentor are a practical way to stay on track.
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile; given the short eight-month duration, a provider with a consistently low rate has very little time to recover struggling apprentices. Employer satisfaction scores matter here too, since the practical, workplace-based nature of this standard means the provider's engagement with your IT team directly affects quality. Strong providers will be able to show that their tutors hold current vendor or industry certifications (CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft) and that teaching covers live hardware and networking equipment rather than purely theoretical coursework.
Be cautious of providers running very large cohorts with a declining achievement rate, particularly on a standard this short. If a provider cannot explain clearly how off-the-job training is structured around hands-on lab time with physical networking equipment, that is a problem for a hardware and infrastructure role. Vague answers about how they assess practical skills, or tutors whose backgrounds are classroom-only with no field experience in IT support or network operations, are worth treating as serious concerns.
Applicants need to be employed in a relevant role and not already hold a qualification at the same or higher level covering the same content. There are no fixed formal entry requirements set by the standard, so employers can set their own criteria. Many apprentices come straight from school with basic IT interest or existing support roles. The employer and training provider will agree what prior knowledge or experience is appropriate before enrolment.
The typical duration is around 8 months, though this can vary depending on prior learning and the pace of workplace development. Apprentices are employed throughout and study alongside their normal duties. A portion of working time must be dedicated to off-the-job learning, though the exact percentage is subject to ongoing reform. Check the current specification on the gov.uk Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page for the latest requirements.
Apprentices work towards a gateway point where the employer, training provider and apprentice agree the learner is ready for final assessment. The apprentice must demonstrate occupational competence across the standard's knowledge, skills and behaviours before proceeding. Assessment models for many standards are being updated as part of current reforms, so the specific end-point assessment method may differ from earlier versions. Always check the current assessment plan on gov.uk for up-to-date details.
The funding band for this standard is £4,000, which is the maximum government contribution. Large employers paying the apprenticeship levy use their levy account to fund training costs. Smaller employers co-invest with the government, typically contributing 5% of the training cost. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing. The funding covers training and assessment costs only, not the apprentice's wage.
Day-to-day work typically involves setting up and configuring hardware such as computers, printers and network equipment, running basic fault diagnostics, replacing components, and supporting end users with hardware-related issues. Apprentices may also assist with cabling, maintaining asset records and following IT security procedures. The exact tasks depend on the employer's environment, whether that's an in-house IT team, a managed service provider, or a public sector organisation.
Completing this level 2 standard gives a grounding in IT infrastructure that can lead to a level 3 apprenticeship, such as the IT support technician or network engineer standards. Some apprentices move into vendor certifications covering networking or hardware from providers like CompTIA or Cisco. Employers often use this apprenticeship as a pipeline for junior IT support roles, with progression into systems administration, network operations or infrastructure engineering as experience builds.
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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: 808.
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.