We've partnered with the Association of Apprentices (AoA) to provide you with access to social and professional networks, learning, guidance, and support.
Apprenticeship learner's portal
All the need-to-know information about your apprenticeship, all in one place, covering your path to apprenticeship success, your wellbeing, and an introduction to our feedback process.
Welcome to your apprenticeship
Watch our welcome video to find out more about your apprenticeship programme and the support available to you.
Your wellbeing
Information, advice and activities to help prioritise your wellbeing during your apprenticeship programme, including workload management, handling stress, and external support services.
Your wellbeing, equality, diversity, and inclusion calendar
Our safeguarding team provide a series of live sessions, webinars, and guides in a variety of wellbeing and diversity areas to help you on your apprenticeship journey. Find out more about these resources in our wellbeing calendar.
Mental health awareness
Find information and activities relating to mental health to help you thrive in your apprentice programme.
Safeguarding
You can make a safeguarding referral here and access information on how our safeguarding team can support you.
QA’s Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mark Soady: Mark.soady@qa.com / 07808 050273
QA’s Prevent Lead is Stephen Smith: Stephen.smith@qa.com
Watch the video below to find out about how our safeguarding service can help support you.
Safeguarding support options
Ways to access support if you are worried for yourself or someone else:
- Call us anytime on 07808 050273 or email safeguarding@qa.com
- Complete a Safeguarding Self-Referral Form if the concern relates to you.
- Complete a Safeguarding Referral Form if you are worried about someone else.
- Complete a Low-Level Concern Form if you are concerned about the conduct of a QA employee.
- Contact your Digital Learning Coach (DLC), tutor or account manager.
- Speak to any member of QA staff onsite.
Safeguarding Policies and Guidance
QA Code of Conduct
QA Online Safety Policy and In Learning Code of Conduct
Under 18 Policy And Procedure
Academic wellbeing support
The safeguarding team have put together a guide with a list of resources and tips for those who might be impacted by the stress of submitting assignments or feeling overwhelmed with managing your workload.
Whether you need a chat to talk through your concerns or just need some helpful guidance around managing your stress, the QA Safeguarding Team here are here to assist. The team will also be available for a 1-2-1 drop-in, a week before submission deadliness, offering advice and support for your wellbeing.
To book you your appointment from the available dates below, please email the safeguarding team via safeguarding@qa.com.
The Safeguarding Team.
23.09.24
11.10.24
Your success
Information, advice and guidance to help you succeed in your apprenticeship, including learner services – Functional Skills, Learner Support (SEND) – end point assessment, and support routes available.
Programme specific information
Including End Point Assessment, technical specifications, and structures.
Level 3
Data Essentials
Data Essentials L3 Brochure
Data Essentials L3 EPA Overview
Data Essentials L3 DxD Technical Specification Guide
User Guide - Learn On Demand for Virtual CoursesDigital Marketer
Information Communication Technician
Multi-Channel Marketer
Level 4
Business Analyst
Cyber Security Technician
Data Analyst
DevOps
Digital Product Manager
Network Engineer
Project Manager
Level 5 apprenticeships
Degree/Level 7 apprenticeships
University rules & regulations
Academic regulations
Appeals guidance
There is a formal appeals process for students who wish to appeal against decisions made by the university. Advice on whether or not to make an appeal and if so how to construct an appeal letter, and information on the process in general can be obtained by contacting DAAcademicAppeals@qa.com.
More details can be found at:
Appeals in the first instance should be sent to the central appeals inbox at DAAcademicAppeals@qa.com.
A preliminary investigation will be carried out by QA. However, the university will make the final decision on the outcome of your appeal.
Mitigating Circumstances
BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions Professional
BSc (Hons) Digital User Experience
MBA
MSc Digital and Technology Specialist
BSc (Hons) Project Management
Level 7 Senior Leader
Understanding your learner identity
Supporting personal change when learning
Understand your learner identity, finding purpose and developing your mindset with SupportNets.
We understand that learners need more than just technical training. What shapes your career is a mixture of activities that improve your knowledge, skills, and behaviours. SupportNets™ consists of an ecosystem of support which can be wrapped around any learning programme to support you and your line manager to gain more from your learning.
Functional skills
Functional Skills are an integral part of your apprenticeship, find out more and access exam info and mock papers here.
Watch the video below to find out more about the importance of functional skills to apprenticeships.
Download functional skills overview
Find out more about Functional Skills training and qualifications, and access mock exams, on the City & Guilds website.
Neurodivergent & disabled learners
Information on how neurodivergent learners are supported throughout their apprentice programme and how to access support.
Watch the video below to learn how neurodivergent learners are supported throughout their apprentice programme.
Accessing Support
Use the learner support self-referral link below to disclose your needs and ensure that you receive the reasonable adjustments you need to flourish.
Level 3-4 Learner Support Self-Referral
For more information please contact Specialist.learningteam@qa.com
Degree Apprenticeship Learner Support Self-Referral
For more information please contact DASpecialist.learningteam@qa.com
Safeguarding, british values & prevent
You can find information on QA's safeguarding structures and British values for learners in the documents below.
Safeguarding Activities
Increase your awareness of important safeguarding areas with the information and activity packs available to download below:
Degree ACE team
Find out how the ACE Team can support you with your Degree Study in the video below:
The Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) is here to support Degree Apprentices with academic study skills such as planning, reading, finding resources, and writing assignments.
Degree library resource
The Canvas Library Tile is a one-stop shop for library resources, including reading lists, ebooks, databases, and expert guidance. You can use the Canvas Library Tile to book a 1:1 consultation with a librarian, covering search best practices, information literacy and referencing. It is accessible for degree apprenticeship learners on the CMDA, SLA, SLMDA, DTS L6, DMDA, and AI L7 programmes.
*Learners on Northumbria University-affiliated degree apprenticeship programmes (CSTP, PMDA, DTS L7, DUX) can use the NU Library; they can access their resources via the Student Portal.
Industry forum talks
Our Industry Talks Forum provides opportunities for you to delve into cutting-edge topics, enriching your understanding and knowledge within your specialised field. Sessions are relevant for all apprenticeship learners (Intermediate to Degree Level).
Our Summer Industry Talk Forums are now available! If you'd like to join the live sessions, check out the details and book here.
Missed previous talks? You can catch up by watching the recordings available below.
Modern device management
Project management and AI
What on earth is service management?
Visual thinking superpowers
Useful documents & important information
For Level 3 & 4 Apprenticeships please contact theapprenticeshiphub@qa.com or use your chat functionality in Bud.
Degree Aptem users please use your chat functionality on your learning platform.
All Degree learners can access information on Academic and Operational support routes below.
Your experience
How QA listens to and acts upon the feedback you provide throughout your apprenticeship, including an introduction to the feedback cycle and the complaints process.
Apprenticeship feedback cycle
Our aim is to provide an enhanced learning experience for our learners. Feedback is collected at regular intervals in the apprenticeship journey to enable continuous improvement. Find out more below.
Your feedback cycleListen. To Change.
Listen. To Change. is a termly communication for degree apprentices outlining improvements we're making in response to your feedback.
QA complaints policy
Should you wish to, you can access the Complaints Policy and relating documentation below.
Your future
QA are proud to partner with the Association of Apprentices to provide information, advice and guidance to support you on your career journey
If you’d like to talk to one of our Careers Information, Advice, and Guidance Coordinators feel free to get in touch at careersinfo@qa.com providing a brief overview of what you’d like to discuss and one of the team will be in contact to organise a session.
Find out more about the Association of Apprentices below.
01
Career Management
02
Skills & Preferences
03
Challenges & Change
04
Exploring Career Options
05
Building Career Skills
06
Career Assessments
You can approach career management in various ways, but it is important to understand yourself, your possible futures and the importance of planning your career journey. The following resources can help you to explore these concepts:
(The following links are to AOA resources)
It can be difficult to know where to start when thinking about your skills, preferences and strengths. A good place to start is to make a list of skills you have gained through employment, learning, general life etc. and then reviewing if you’d like to develop any of these further. The following resources can help you to explore self-awareness, how to uncover your skills set and what are desirable skills in the workplace:
(The following links are to AOA resources)
We can all respond differently to change and challenges when they occur, the following resources can help you to explore practical coping strategies, developing resilience and how to approach CV’s and interviews when required:
(The following links are to AOA resources)
Identifying what it is you really want to do can have a positive impact on not only your job satisfaction but you overall health and wellbeing. The following resources can help you to explore your career direction, what is valued in the workplace and how to aim for promotion:
(The following links are to AOA resources)
Career skills are an essential part of being successful in your role and future career. The following resources can help you to understand and explore these skills helping you in your day to day and enhancing your career:
(The following links are to AOA resources)
At any stage of your career, understanding your motivations, preferences, values and styles of working can be useful when thinking about your existing role and your career journey. The following assessments will provide you with a personal report with practical tailored recommendations for you to apply:
(The following links are to AOA career assessments)
Apprenticeship success stories
“The apprenticeship has given me so much practical training, not only granular details and information, but also support on soft skills. It has given me so much confidence to be able to implement my learning straight away and see the impact of it immediately.”
Alex Shaddick
Digital Marketer Level 3
“The apprenticeship has massively helped round out my ability both technically and professionally. Through some of my apprenticeship classrooms I learned about platforms such as Azure, and unlocking the use of these platforms enabled me to do my job at a much higher standard.”
Dawud Idris
Information Communications Technician Level 3
“This apprenticeship means a great deal to me as I believe it will aid my journey to enhance my career, start the role of a business analyst and then open the door for my career over the next 10-20 years. This will be the start of my journey in business analysis.”
Stuart McKnight
Business Analysis Level 4
“The opportunity to ‘learn while you earn’ is fantastic and being thrown into the deep end of a working environment allowed me to pick up everything I needed to for my studies, make mistakes, learn from them and ultimately, complete my course to a high standard.”
Dylan Ward
Microsoft Azure Cloud Support Specialist Level 3
“The opportunity to ‘learn while you earn’ is fantastic and being thrown into the deep end of a working environment allowed me to pick up everything I needed to for my studies, make mistakes, learn from them and ultimately, complete my course to a high standard.”
Alex
Cyber Security Technologist Level 3
“I was looking for a qualification that gave me hands on experience for a career that both combined my passion for problem solving and would make a real difference to the company that I was a part of.”
Ben Lusty
Data Analyst Level 4
“I have transformed from a Personal Assistant to being a brand-new Project Support Officer with no experience, to a fully qualified, experienced and confident Senior Project Manager within the space of two years.”
Erin Priddey
Project Management Level 4
“The Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship has equipped me with the skills needed for the workplace in addition to gaining a degree, which has prepared me to handle complex tasks and responsibilities, giving me the confidence to take on new career challenges.”
Eve Wilcox
Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship
“Throughout the duration of the apprenticeship; I was promoted twice, it’s also provided the valuable skills I needed to manage a growing team, as well as navigate the inner workings of a large and complex organisation.”
Ann Fletcher
Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship
“I have developed a vast breath of knowledge around leadership that I have been able to utilise in several of the roles that I have undertaken throughout my apprenticeship. As the main effort towards my continued professional development, this will provide invaluable evidence towards justifying promotion and further career progression.”
Stefanie Potter
Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship
Become an Apprenticeship Ambassador
Join us in shaping the future of tech apprenticeships and making a difference in the lives of others. Become a QA Apprenticeship Ambassador today!
