Helping people using places like libraries and archives find the information and resources they need.
Apprentices learn how to support users in finding and accessing information across a range of services and collections. This includes cataloguing, classifying and maintaining physical and digital resources, handling enquiries, processing loans and returns, and assisting with archive or records management. The training covers information ethics, data handling, user needs assessment, and the practical systems used to manage collections. Apprentices also develop skills in customer service, basic research support, and maintaining accurate records in line with organisational policies.
A typical week might involve staffing a service desk, answering in-person or remote enquiries, and helping users locate materials or navigate catalogue systems. Apprentices process new stock, update records in library management or archive software, and shelve or retrieve items. They may assist with community or user engagement activities, support digital access services, and carry out basic collection maintenance such as weeding stock or checking condition of materials. Reporting, data entry and liaising with colleagues across departments are also regular tasks.
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into permanent library assistant, information officer or archive assistant posts. With further study, such as a Level 5 qualification or a postgraduate Library and Information Science degree, progression into roles like librarian, archivist or records manager becomes achievable. Employers span a wide range of sectors, including public libraries, NHS trusts, law firms, universities, schools, local government, and heritage organisations. Chartered membership of CILIP (the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) is a recognised benchmark for those pursuing senior roles.
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Completers typically move into Library Assistant, Information Services Assistant, or Archive Assistant posts. Some step into slightly more specialist positions such as Records Assistant or Knowledge Services Assistant, particularly in legal, health, or government settings. In public libraries, roles often involve direct reader services; in corporate or specialist libraries, the work shifts toward information retrieval, database management, and supporting professional researchers or legal teams.
After three to five years, progression commonly leads to Senior Library Assistant, Information Officer, or Archive Technician. From there, two paths tend to diverge: a management track toward Branch Librarian, Library Services Manager, or Records Manager, and a specialist track toward roles such as Knowledge Manager, Cataloguing Specialist, or Digital Preservation Officer. Progressing into fully qualified Librarian or Archivist roles usually requires a further professional qualification, such as a CILIP-accredited degree or postgraduate diploma.
Public library services run by local councils are one of the main employers, but the occupation spans a wide range of sectors. NHS trusts, law firms, universities, schools, national and local government departments, museums, and commercial publishers all employ staff in these roles. Heritage organisations, including national archives and specialist collections, also recruit at this level. Both full-time and part-time posts are common, and roles exist across the UK in organisations of all sizes.
Learning takes place on the job, with the apprentice building competence in the practical day-to-day work of library, information and archive services alongside any off-the-job training arranged by the provider. Before the final assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, a readiness check carried out by the employer and training provider to confirm the apprentice has the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the role. Final assessment then confirms that competence independently. Assessment models for several standards are currently being updated, so check the gov.uk page for this standard to see the current specification.
The most practical step is to collect evidence of real work throughout the apprenticeship rather than leaving it to the end. That means keeping records of tasks completed, queries handled, cataloguing or archive work carried out, and any situations where information was sourced or provided to users. Employers play an important part here by giving apprentices access to varied work and supporting regular reviews with the training provider. Consistent record-keeping from the start makes the gateway process considerably more straightforward.
Look for providers who can show experience delivering this standard across more than one sector, given that this apprenticeship spans public libraries, health, legal, education, archive and heritage settings. On the FATP profile, an achievement rate above 65% is acceptable; above 75% is strong, and worth weighting given the relatively small cohort sizes common with this standard. Employer and apprentice satisfaction scores above 80% are worth prioritising. Providers should be able to describe how they train apprentices in information classification systems, cataloguing practice and digital records management alongside customer-facing service skills.
Be cautious if a provider cannot name the specific sector or setting their delivery is built around, or if they conflate this standard with generic business administration provision. Small cohort numbers are common here, so a declining achievement rate over two consecutive years is a meaningful signal, not a statistical blip. If learner reviews focus heavily on induction and orientation with little mention of actual information management skills, that suggests thin subject-specific content. Vague answers about how off-the-job training is structured across an 18-month programme are also worth pressing on.
There are no nationally fixed entry requirements for this standard, so employers and training providers set their own criteria. Most will expect a reasonable standard of literacy and numeracy, often evidenced by GCSEs in English and Maths. Apprentices must be employed in a relevant role for the duration. Candidates with some customer-facing or administrative experience often find the transition straightforward, though prior library or information work is not essential.
The typical duration is around 18 months, though the actual length depends on the apprentice's prior experience and the employer's delivery model. Apprentices remain employed throughout, applying their learning directly in the workplace. A portion of contracted hours must be dedicated to off-the-job training. The exact current requirements are subject to ongoing reforms, so check the current funding rules on gov.uk for up-to-date figures before planning delivery.
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met all occupational requirements and is ready for final assessment. Assessment methods vary by standard and many are currently being updated. The apprentice must demonstrate competence across knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role. Check the current assessment plan on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education pages on gov.uk for the latest detail.
The funding band for this standard is £6,000, which is the maximum government contribution toward training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers draw funding directly from their Digital Apprenticeship Service account. Smaller employers who do not pay the levy contribute 5% of the training cost, with the government covering the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing toward training costs.
Day-to-day work varies by sector but typically involves helping users locate information, processing loans and returns, cataloguing or filing materials, maintaining physical and digital collections, and responding to enquiries in person, by phone, or online. In archive or records settings, the work may include document handling, retrieval requests and conservation awareness. In health or legal settings, assistants may manage specialist databases or support research requests. The role is front-facing and requires accuracy and good communication throughout.
Completion opens routes into senior library assistant or information officer roles, as well as supervisory positions within library services, archives, records management or knowledge management teams. Some graduates go on to study a Level 5 or Level 6 qualification in library and information science, or pursue chartered membership of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. Public, health, legal, educational and heritage organisations all offer ongoing career paths in this sector.
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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: 395.
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.