Cyber Security Apprentice

At Trafford Council we are EPIC! We EMPOWER, inspire and trust our people to deliver the best outcomes for our customers, communities and colleagues. We are PEOPLE CENTRED, valuing all people within and external to the organisation and giving those around us respect. We act with honesty and integrity in all that we do and create an environment that enables everyone we work with to thrive and succeed. We are INCLUSIVE, committed to creating an environment that values and respects the diversity and richness differences bring. We COLLABORATE, building relationships, treating people as equal partners and working together to make things happen.

Trafford is a lively prosperous place to put down roots and build a career. The council and Trafford schools employ around 8000 people who are central to making the area thrive. In return for their commitment, the council offers its employees development opportunities as well as a fair and flexible workplace. The council is a Living Wage Employer.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in monitoring network traffic and using SIEM tools (e.g. FortiSIEM, Microsoft Sentinel) to detect suspicious activity and triage security risks.
• Support incident reporting and response including risk assessments and vulnerability scans.
• Gain hands-on experience managing firewalls, antivirus, endpoint security, patching and software updates.
• Collaborate with IT, Legal and other departments to ensure a unified security approach including third-party risk assessments.
• Monitor and respond to the IT Security Queue (CVE updates, service requests, incidents, bulletins).
• Assess and manage tickets ensuring priority issues are resolved within 48 hours.
• Handle walk-up incidents and participate in major incident responses.
• Support the ICT security incident response process and maintain the ICT Risk Register.
• Manage security dashboards (SIEM, FortiMail, FortiConsole, SOPHOS, Windows Defender).
• Oversee job assignments and SLA performance across teams.
• Support projects aligned with the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).
• Assist in updating and maintaining IT security policies and procedures.
• Support strategic projects.

Desirable skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical users.
• Proven problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities with a proactive approach to resolving issues and taking ownership.
• Effective planning and organisational skills able to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
• High attention to detail in recording accurate information and working across different systems and processes.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team with minimal supervision.
• Good numerical skills and a customer-focused mindset.
• Driving licence and own vehicle due to the location of the office.

Entry requirements:

• An A-Level in ICT OR an International Baccalaureate at Level 3 in ICT OR a Level 3 apprenticeship in a similar subject OR a BTEC Extended Diploma in IT (180 credits).
• You may also have a combination of qualifications and experience which demonstrate the minimum foundation needed for the programme.
• If you hold international equivalents of the above qualifications at the time of your application, you must be able to provide an official document that states how your international qualifications compare to the UK qualifications.

For more information please visit the UK ENIC website.

Working hours: 36.25 hours per week.

Benefits: You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people-centred and values-based organisation that promotes a positive culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford. We also offer hybrid working.

Future prospects: 90% of QA apprentices secure permanent employment after completing; this is 20% higher than the national average.

About QA: Our apprenticeships are the perfect way to gain new skills, earn while you learn and launch yourself into an exciting future. With over 50000 successful apprenticeship graduates, we are a top 50 training provider dedicated to helping you succeed.

Interested? Apply now!

Please be advised that this advert may close prior to the closing date stated above if a high number of applications are received. If you are interested in this vacancy please apply below as soon as possible.