Software Developer Apprenticeship - Level 4

The Met Office is delighted to open our advertising for Apprenticeships 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Met Office as an Apprentice Software Developer for up to 19 months commencing at the start of September 2026. You will develop skills and workplace experience in this occupation which may lead to a permanent position on successful completion of your apprenticeship or the knowledge to gain employment within the wider industry.

As our Apprentice Software Developer, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work. As apprentices are part of our Early Careers Programme, there is the expectation you attend the office once a week as a minimum in addition to your study day. Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we will do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

This apprenticeship can offer you the support, training and industry recognised qualifications to get you on the path to a career in Software Development. There are three technology areas that apply to this application. You may be assigned to any of them:

• Space Weather: Space Weather is an exciting and growing area within the Met Office, forecasting the effects on Solar events on the earth's infrastructure and communications. As an Apprentice Software Developer in the Space Weather team you will work with other developers building and implementing technical solutions that provide critical Space Weather services to Met Office customers.
• Production and Data: Production and Data enables online digital access to Met Office data through services available to anyone, to drive socio-economic benefit and reach. As an Apprentice Software Developer in Production and Data you will work in a development team to collaborate with trusted Met Office partners and help get our data to a wide variety of customers through third-party channels.
• Consumer Digital: The Consumer Digital Platform (CDP) team, known as the Atlas Squad, sits at the heart of the Met Office's Consumer Digital Tribe, powering the data behind the Public Website and App. We design, build, and operate the Consumer Digital Platform-the shared data backbone that serves the Met Office mobile apps and website, ensuring millions of users can access trusted weather information when it matters most.

We would look for you to join us in September 2026 with your apprenticeship training beginning in October. You will be managed by a line manager and have a mentor to offer further support. You will have on the job training and in house development opportunities during your apprenticeship. You will have 1 day per week dedicated to your 20% off the job training with the training provider, BPP. They will deliver the off the job training in an online style. You will have a tutor(s) delivering learning sessions, with an initial 3-week online boot camp, followed by group webinar-based sessions for each module and 1-2-1 tutor sessions for example on a regular basis. You will also have regular review meetings with your tutor and line manager every 3 months. As well as the taught content, there will be a large amount of self-study, regular assignments and an end-point assessment period. You must be committed to your own development and training as this element forms a significant aspect of a modern apprenticeship.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

• A curious learner who is interested in information technology, has some programming experience and is eager to understand how software powers the Met Office and industry.
• A logical thinker who enjoys solving problems and approaching challenges methodically.
• Detail-orientated person who is comfortable working with structured tasks and accuracy.
• A collaborative team player who thrives in group projects and communicates effectively.
• Is adaptable and resilient and ready to learn new tools and concepts in a fast paced environment.

In addition to the criteria listed above, you must also be eligible to qualify for apprenticeship funding by meeting the following:

• Not be enrolled on another funded apprenticeship or another funded further education or higher education programme at the time you start this apprenticeship.
• Are applying for an apprenticeship that is unrelated to any qualifications you already hold at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship.
• Are living in England at the time the apprenticeship commences.

If you share our values, we would love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history (this could include voluntary or work experience roles) and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire.

Closing date: 23:59 8th March 2026. Please note we often receive a high volume of applications, but we will contact everyone who applies once the closing date has passed. Interviews will be completed by end of April 2026.