IT Degree Apprenticeship FAQs

There are 4 key stages to our recruitment process:

1. An online application
2. An online assessment to test logic and analytical capabilities
3. A short video interview to help us learn more about you and your motivation for the role.
4. An assessment centre held in-person at our Head Office. This includes a collaborative group exercise and an interview conducted by the team members you will be working with.

Yes, you will have the opportunity to gain industry-recognised certifications offered by QA alongside your degree.

• You will be allocated a dedicated mentor who is a specialist in the team. They will guide and support you through the journey, ensuring your work-based learning aligns with your degree.
• A Subject Matter Expert in each rotation will give you daily hands-on guidance.
• QA will allocate you a Skills Coach who conducts regular reviews to track your study milestones.
• Additional support from both Lidl and QA will be provided, based on your circumstances.

The final 5 months are the EPA phase. You will be supported through a "Gateway" process to ensure you are ready. The assessment consists of a Project Report with Presentation and a Professional Discussion with an external assessor.

The programme aims to develop specialists in three key areas: IT Consultant, Software Engineer, and Network Engineer. During your reviews with your mentor you will be able to discuss and agree on the most suitable pathway for you.

Year 1 (Foundation): You will complete three 4-month rotations across Service & Support, Infrastructure, and Business Consulting.

Years 2 & 3 (Specialisation): You will integrate fully into your specialist functional team to work on advanced technology solutions and your Major Project.

To ensure academic success, each module follows a structured cadence including eight weekly, 3-hour live workshops delivered by QA tutors. This ensures you have regular, direct contact with subject matter experts.

The role is a 40-hour per week contract. You will typically spend 3 to 4 days per week in the office. 20% of your role is dedicated to your studies.

You don’t need to be a hardware/ coding expert yet, we look for four core competencies:

• Analytical Thinking: Breaking down complex problems logically.
• Technical Curiosity: A genuine desire to learn new languages and frameworks.
• Resilience: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaboration: Communicating technical issues clearly to non-technical colleagues.

Any tech projects/ activities you’ve undertaken will help showcase your interest in working in Tech but are not essential.

The role is based at our Head Office in Tolworth (KT5 9NU). You must be able and willing to commute to this location. A full UK driving license is recommended for occasional travel to regional IT sites.

Offers of employment are conditional upon your successful acceptance onto the programme by QA and Northumbria University. They are subject to satisfactory references and, if required, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check regarding unspent criminal convictions.

• You must be 18 years of age or older by the start date.
• You must have lived in the UK or EEA for at least 3 years prior to the start of the apprenticeship.
• You must be legally entitled to work in the UK on a permanent basis.
• You must not currently be in funded education (or must be planning to withdraw before October 2026).

UCAS Points: A minimum of 112 points from Level 3 qualifications in STEM subjects (e.g., A-Levels, BTEC Diplomas, or equivalent). You will also need GCSEs, Grade 4/C or above in English and Maths (or equivalent Level 2 qualification).

No. Lidl provides full sponsorship for your university tuition. You will graduate with zero tuition debt.

 

 

We offer a highly competitive starting salary of £28,500 per annum, plus London Weighting. Your salary is reviewed annually based on your progress through the academic pathways and work responsibilities.

The official programme launch and Welcome Event is 1st October 2026 at our Head Office.

The programme lasts 41 months in total, structured as follows:

• 36 months: Core teaching and specialist academic modules.
• 5 months: The End Point Assessment (EPA) phase.

The degree is delivered by QA in partnership with Northumbria University (ranked 34th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2025).

Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions degree.

The programme is Tech Industry Gold accredited and specifically aligned with the British Computer Society’s Registered IT Technician (RITTech) status, ensuring your qualification meets the highest industry standards.

AI can be useful for supporting parts of your application and interview prep, from top tips to sentence tweaks.

But there are downsides to relying on it too much. We can spot an AI-generated response from a mile away, so here’s some advice on how to use AI wisely and help your application stand out.

How to use AI

AI can help you get the ball rolling on your application, like creating a first draft of a CV or cover letter, checking structure, or spotting spelling errors. It can also support interview preparation, like practising answers with the STAR technique. When used as a guide rather than a replacement for your own work, AI can help you feel more prepared and confident throughout the application and interview process.

How not to use AI

Although AI can be a useful tool to get your application started, it works best as a support rather than something to rely on. We want to get to know the real you, and AI-generated answers often sound generic. The same goes for task work – you'll get the most out of the process if you fully understand what you’ve produced and can talk about it confidently. 

When you use AI as a tool and not as a shortcut, you’ll give yourself the best chance of standing out.

Please note: Avoid sharing personal or sensitive details with AI, as it may store and use the information you provide.