Data Scientist Apprentice in Ipswich

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering. Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

About The Role:

• Location: Ipswich (with travel to operational sites and the University of Suffolk as required)
• Salary: Competitive + benefits
• Start Date: June 2026
• Contract: Full-time Fixed-Term Contract (40 months)

OCS is excited to welcome our first Data Scientist Degree Apprentices, delivered in partnership with the University of Suffolk. Starting in June 2026, you will be based at our head office in Ipswich, with the opportunity to support contracts nationally.

You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience, working alongside experienced facilities management professionals, while studying towards your BSc (Hons) Data Science Degree Apprenticeship.

Why choose a Degree Apprenticeship? Instead of choosing between university and starting work, this programme allows you to do both. You will gain industry experience at OCS while studying for a fully funded BSc (Hons) Data Science Degree Apprenticeship. By the end of the programme, you will graduate with:

• A university degree
• Several years of real project experience
• A recognised professional qualification
• No student tuition fees

About OCS

OCS is a leading international facilities management company delivering essential services across sectors including healthcare, education, transport, defence, and commercial workplaces. Our teams support organisations across the UK and globally, helping to keep critical environments safe, efficient, and sustainable. As part of OCS, you will gain exposure to real projects that support major organisations and public services.

What You’ll Do at OCS

As a Data Science Degree Apprentice, you’ll be part of a supportive team, working across live business projects that support our operations and customers. You will:

• Gather, clean, and prepare data from a variety of sources across OCS
• Support colleagues with data quality, validation, and cleansing activities
• Apply foundational methods in data engineering (e.g., data wrangling, feature extraction)
• Assist in developing and maintaining datasets, data pipelines, and reporting structures
• Conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies
• Produce dashboards and visualisations using tools such as Power BI
• Summarise findings in clear, simple language for non‑technical audiences
• Contribute to monthly and ad‑hoc reporting for operational and business teams
• Assist in building predictive models under supervision (e.g., regression, classification)
• Test and evaluate model accuracy using standard metrics
• Learn how to deploy basic models into production environments
• Contribute to documentation and version control of analytical work
• Work closely with departments such as HR, Operations, Finance, and Health & Safety
• Help translate business problems into data‑related solutions
• Present insights in clear, engaging formats suitable for stakeholders

What We’re Looking For

• Strong interest in data, technology, and problem‑solving
• Logical thinking with attention to detail
• Basic understanding of Excel or similar analytical tools
• Good communication skills with the ability to explain ideas clearly
• willingness to learn programming (Python, SQL)
• Curiosity, resilience, and a proactive approach to learning

Entry Requirements:

• 112 UCAS points (BBC at A-Level / DMM BTEC / T Level Merit)
• GCSE English & Maths (Grade C/4 or above)
• Full driving license

What You’ll Study

Delivered through the Level 6 Data Science Degree Apprenticeship, the programme blends academic study with workplace learning across three years. With expert guidance, practical workshops, real project documentation, and weekly project surgeries, you’ll learn skills you can apply immediately in your role at OCS.

What You’ll Get

• Fully funded BSc (Hons) Project Management degree
• Competitive salary throughout your apprenticeship
• Access to OCS employee wellbeing benefits
• University of Suffolk student support services
• Mentoring from experienced OCS leaders
• Opportunities to progress your career within OCS upon successful completion

Why join OCS?

• OCS are ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For in 2025, reflecting our dedication to building a supportive workplace where our colleagues feel valued and motivated.
• Our Catering team offers breakfast and lunch services at our Ipswich head office, along with free coffee, hot chocolates and a replenishable fruit basket.
• We believe in investing in our colleague’s futures. The OCS Academy provides a range of courses and resources that will allow you to grow your personal skills and advance your career.
• With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in joining a business that encourages professional development, career progression and the chance to work with inspirational people then please click apply and register your interest! You can also sign up to our job alerts when registering which will notify you when other suitable vacancies are available. We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.