Data Science Apprenticeship

Job description

Flexible working: We recognise the importance of balancing work, study and personal commitments throughout your apprenticeship. Although your academic studies will follow a structured timetable with designated leave periods, we offer flexible start and finish times where business needs allow. Due to the secure nature of our work, much of your learning and working will be conducted in person, although some remote learning opportunities may be available depending on your project and team requirements.

About us

MI5 and MI6 are part of the UK's Intelligence Services. We work together to safeguard the UK’s people, interests, and businesses from various threats at home, overseas and online, including cyber-attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. Working across our vital missions, you’ll deliver impact at the heart of national security, all within a supportive and inclusive environment that allows everyone to thrive.

We're committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that allows everyone to thrive, and we're proud of our culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. We welcome applications from diverse candidates and strive to create a workplace that is inclusive and respectful of all individuals. As part of this commitment, we have a vibrant Women in Tech community and various diversity networks that provide peer support, networking opportunities, and a space to share experiences.

The role

As a Data Science Apprentice, you’ll spend three years developing models and systems to help counter serious threats to UK national security. Along the way, you’ll rotate through different teams, taking on everything from engineering projects and emerging technologies to building models and tackling live problems. You’ll also learn how to turn data into meaningful action by understanding stakeholders’ needs, uncovering insights and communicating the story behind the numbers to support better decisions. You’ll be encouraged to think critically, ask questions, and apply creative problem-solving skills to help tackle complex challenges.

Day to day, you’ll learn from experienced data scientists, artificial intelligence specialists, and machine learning professionals. But it’s not just about learning from others. You’ll apply your developing skills to real problems, test hypotheses, generate insights, and support decision-making. Along the way, you’ll build the confidence to communicate your findings and share your own evidence-based recommendations with stakeholders.

As part of the programme, you'll be working towards a degree in a relevant field, supported by our experienced data scientists and a comprehensive training programme. You’ll work a 36-hour week, with 20% of your time set aside for study, giving you a balance between practical experience and academic learning. Training is delivered through a combination of online learning and in-person teaching, allowing you to develop your knowledge alongside other apprentices while applying your learning directly to your work.

Because collaboration sits at the heart of this role, you’ll spend time working with colleagues across the organisation, which means some travel between our offices in Central Manchester and London. This is especially important during your induction phase, giving you the opportunity to build relationships and become part of our wider community. We'll provide support with your travel arrangements so you can focus on what matters most: developing your skills and making the most of your apprenticeship.

About you

You don’t need any previous experience in data science, programming, or technology to apply. This apprenticeship is designed for people who are eager to learn and develop new skills, whether you’re leaving school or college, starting your career, or bringing experience from a different field.

To be eligible, you’ll need to have achieved, or be expected to achieve by August 2027, 120 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 qualifications, along with GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent). Most importantly, you’ll be naturally curious, enjoy solving problems, think logically, and be excited about building a career in data science. We’ll provide the training, support, and practical experience needed to help you grow and succeed.

You must not have completed, or be due to complete before starting the apprenticeship, a Level 4 qualification (or higher) in Data Science, AI, Computer Science, or a related field. If you already hold one of these qualifications, we would still love to welcome you to the team, so we encourage you to explore other opportunities on our website. We also offer alternative apprenticeships in Software Engineering at MI5 and MI6, and Project Management at MI6.

Training and development

Throughout your journey, we'll invest in broadening and deepening both your technical and non-technical skills, providing the guidance, tools and support needed to grow and advance your career.

The apprenticeship combines university-accredited classroom learning with practical workplace experience, giving you the opportunity to apply your knowledge to live business challenges. You’ll benefit from technical training, mentoring, and job-shadowing opportunities throughout the programme. Academic modules are delivered through a blend of in-person and virtual lectures, following a structured timetable with designated leave periods throughout the year, allowing you to plan ahead and maintain a healthy balance between studies and work.

Supported by experienced colleagues throughout your journey, you’ll have the opportunity to explore exciting areas such as AI and machine learning. We’ll develop you into a skilled Data Scientist, with expertise in the ethical application of AI and machine learning to solve complex national security challenges. You’ll also build capabilities in cloud technologies, Python programming, data engineering, SQL, databases, and Elasticsearch. Whether these subjects are already familiar or completely new, you’ll receive the support needed to build confidence and proficiency. Alongside your technical development, you’ll also strengthen a broad range of professional skills, including teamwork, communication, leadership, and delivering at pace.

As a member of the Data Science profession your development will be guided by the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (GDDPCF), providing a clear pathway for building skills, knowledge and behaviours throughout your career. Whether you aspire to lead teams or deepen your technical expertise, the framework will help you identify and achieve your professional development goals. You can find out more about the framework here

As your skills and experience grow, so will your opportunities. You’ll take on increasingly challenging work, contribute directly to the safety and well-being of the country, and progress through assessed, skills-based pay points. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, our intention is to offer a permanent position with MI5 or MI6, subject to meeting the required academic and behavioural standards, organisational requirements at the time, and maintaining the necessary security clearances.

Rewards and benefits

• 25 days of annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays.
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
• Personal learning budget (MI5 only)
• Interest-free season ticket loan.
• Excellent pension scheme.
• Facilities such as a subsidised gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations).
• Paid parental and adoption leave.

Equal opportunities

At MI5 and MI6 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word, including people with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking, and disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under –represented in our workforce such as women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our websites.

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/working-at-mi5/diversity

https://www.sis.gov.uk/working-at-mi6/diversity-and-inclusion

Before you apply

To work at MI5 and MI6, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs

https://www.sis.gov.uk/how-to-apply

The role is based in London and Central Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. An interest-free loan via our benevolent fund is available to assist with relocating into privately rented accommodation to take up the offer of employment.

We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments or assessments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.

Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hard copy receipts for reimbursement.

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