Support the delivery and management of critical information, whether digital or otherwise, in the (capital) delivery phase of an infrastructure project and the ongoing management of that information within the operational phase of the resulting asset.
Apprentices learn to manage information across the full lifecycle of infrastructure and built asset projects, from the capital delivery phase through to ongoing operations. Core responsibilities include administering a Common Data Environment (CDE), applying data standards such as ISO 19650 and ISO 27001, enforcing version and revision control, and validating that information is accurate, attributable and secure. The apprentice also develops skills in risk management, workflow design, stakeholder reporting, and compliance with sector-specific security classifications including List N and List X requirements.
A typical week involves auditing and validating documents, models and data sets held within the CDE, chasing outstanding submissions and checking they meet the agreed information requirements before approving their status. The apprentice will liaise with engineering, construction, quality and procurement teams to resolve data issues, prepare progress reports for project managers, and update workflow configurations when processes change. They may also support training sessions for new users of the CDE platform and assist with the secure handover of information at project closeout.
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as project information manager, information content specialist or project automation specialist. With experience, progression routes include senior information manager, BIM manager or digital delivery lead. Employers hiring for these roles span construction and civil engineering contractors, nuclear and renewable energy operators, local authorities, transport bodies and large infrastructure developers. The occupation sits at a technical specialist level, and those on larger programmes may move into managing small teams of information specialists.
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Completers typically move into roles such as Project Information Specialist, Information Content Specialist, or Project Automation Specialist. In practice, job titles vary between sectors and organisations, so the same responsibilities may appear under titles like Document Controller (Senior), BIM Coordinator, or Digital Information Analyst. The core function is consistent: managing the common data environment, maintaining data integrity across project phases, and ensuring information meets ISO 19650 and relevant security standards.
Within three to five years, experienced practitioners commonly reach Information Manager or Senior BIM Coordinator level, taking ownership of information strategy across a full project lifecycle. From there, two tracks tend to open up. The leadership route leads to Head of Information Management or Digital Delivery Manager, overseeing teams and setting organisational standards. The specialist route leads to roles such as Digital Twin Consultant, Information Standards Lead, or Data Governance Manager, with deep focus on systems, interoperability, and compliance frameworks.
Demand is concentrated in infrastructure-heavy sectors: major construction and engineering contractors, nuclear and renewables energy developers, high-speed rail and transport programmes, and local authority capital delivery teams. Employers range from large Tier 1 contractors and infrastructure operators through to specialist project controls consultancies. Both private and public sector organisations hire for this role, particularly where projects require ISO 19650 compliance or involve long-term asset management responsibilities.
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place alongside employment. The apprentice builds knowledge and practical competence in information management, including working with the Common Data Environment, applying relevant standards such as ISO 19650 and ISO27001, and managing information through project and asset lifecycles. Before final assessment, the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has reached the required level of knowledge, skills and behaviours, a stage often called the gateway. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can perform the role independently and to the required standard. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Building a record of real workplace activity from early in the apprenticeship is worth prioritising. Tasks such as auditing data, maintaining CDE integrity, drafting information management plans and advising stakeholders on compliance all produce evidence of genuine competence. Waiting until near the end to gather this is a common mistake. Regular check-ins with the employer and training provider help ensure progress is on track and that the evidence collected genuinely reflects the full range of knowledge, skills and behaviours the standard requires.
Look for providers with direct experience delivering this standard in infrastructure or engineering-adjacent sectors, not just generic business administration. On their FATP profile, achievement rates above 65% are a reasonable baseline; above 75% suggests consistent delivery. Because this standard centres on ISO 19650, BIM workflows and Common Data Environment management, tutors and assessors should have backgrounds in project information management rather than general IT or records management. Employer satisfaction scores matter here: this is a role that sits across multiple project functions, so providers who work closely with employers to shape real on-project tasks tend to produce more capable completers.
Be cautious of providers who conflate this standard with general document control or data management apprenticeships. If a provider can't name the CDE platforms or project information management tools they cover in their curriculum, that's a gap worth pressing. Declining achievement rates paired with high cohort volumes can indicate the programme is being delivered at scale without sufficient employer engagement. Vague answers about how the off-the-job learning connects to live project work are also a concern, since the standard requires apprentices to apply ISO 19650-aligned processes in real delivery environments, not just simulated ones.
There are no nationally mandated entry qualifications for this standard, so employers set their own criteria. In practice, most look for candidates with a good level of digital literacy and some experience in a project or administrative environment. Apprentices must have, or be working towards, English and maths at Level 2 before they can complete the programme. Candidates already working in a document control or data coordination role are common starting points.
The typical duration is 24 months. Apprentices are employed throughout and learn on the job alongside any off-the-job training their provider delivers. The exact minimum duration and off-the-job training requirement may be subject to change under current reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page at gov.uk before planning your programme.
Before end-point assessment, the apprentice and employer must confirm the apprentice has met all the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard. This confirmation stage is called the gateway. Assessment methods for many standards are under review; the current approved assessment plan for this standard is published at gov.uk. Generally, the apprentice will need to demonstrate competence in managing information systems, applying relevant standards such as ISO 19650, and operating a Common Data Environment correctly.
The funding band for this standard is £7,000, which is the maximum government contribution toward training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers draw that contribution from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy employers co-invest with government, currently paying a small percentage of costs, with government covering the rest. Employers with fewer than 50 employees who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; government funds the full cost. Funding rules are set by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and can change, so verify current rates on gov.uk.
Day-to-day work centres on managing the Common Data Environment for a project or operational asset. That means controlling document workflows, applying version and revision protocols, validating data quality, and ensuring information is stored and accessible to the right stakeholders at each project stage. The apprentice will liaise with engineering, construction, legal and supply chain teams, produce status reports, and help implement information management plans consistent with ISO 19650 or equivalent standards. Site visits to fabrication, construction or client offices are also part of the role.
Completers typically move into senior information management roles such as Information Manager on larger projects, Project Information Specialist, or Project Automation Specialist. With experience, progression toward lead or head of information management positions is a recognised path across sectors including infrastructure, nuclear, transport and local government. Some completers go on to study for a relevant degree or professional membership with bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Building or relevant sector-specific organisations, building on the Level 4 foundation.
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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: 540.
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.