Junior Data Engineer(Apprentice)

Grade D: £28,504 (National) or £34,176 (London – for London office based or homebased workers within the boundary of the M25) – There is also an additional homeworking allowance of £581 per annum for those working from home.

Contract Type :  Full time – 23-month fixed-term apprenticeship

Location: Home based 

Closing Date:  Thursday 27  November 2025 at 11.59pm

 

Make A Difference 

Are you curious about how data can improve the way we make decisions? Do you enjoy solving problems and want to develop technical skills that make a genuine impact? Join our Data & Insight (D&I) team as a Data Engineer Apprentice, and help us design, build and maintain the data pipelines that power our regulatory insights.

You will work alongside experienced data engineers in our Enterprise Data & Reporting function, supporting projects that shape how CQC uses data across the organisation. While you learn on the job, you’ll complete a fully funded Level 5 Data Engineering apprenticeship with our training partner.

What you’ll learn

Through structured learning and hands-on project work, you’ll gain practical experience in:

•The full data engineering lifecycle and principles of data modelling.
•Designing and maintaining analytics pipelines that deliver actionable insights.
•Maximising the value of business data through clean, reliable data flows.
•Building core technical and leadership skills that support data-driven decision-making.

You’ll spend around 6 hours per week in structured learning (previously known as 20% off-the-job time) and the rest applying your new skills on live projects. You’ll be supported by a line manager, mentors and peers, and have access to internal communities and learning tools.

What you’ll do

As a Data Engineer Apprentice, you’ll:
•Design, code, test and document data services, scripts and small applications.
•Build and maintain data pipelines using tools such as Python, SQL, Azure Data Factory (ADF) and Databricks.
•Design and optimise data products and data models in the cloud (Azure).
•Collaborate with QA engineers and senior colleagues to ensure data quality and reliability.
•Take part in initiatives like team hackathons, applying new skills to real-world challenges.

Who This Opportunity Suits

This opportunity is designed for people early in their data career or those looking to move into data engineering. If you’re analytical, enjoy problem-solving and want to develop in a technical, fast-moving environment, this could be a great fit if you: 

•Have some programming experience (ideally Python, but others welcome).
•Are keen to build skills in SQL, data modelling, testing, Git, CI/CD and a DevOps mindset.
•Communicate clearly and work well in a team.
•Are motivated to complete a structured apprenticeship and apply learning at work.

 

What you’ll do
As a Data Engineer Apprentice, you’ll:

•Design, code, test and document data services, scripts and small applications.
•Build and maintain data pipelines using tools such as Python, SQL, Azure Data Factory (ADF) and Databricks.
•Design and optimise data products and data models in the cloud (Azure).
•Collaborate with QA engineers and senior colleagues to ensure data quality and reliability.
•Take part in initiatives like team hackathons, applying new skills to real-world challenges.

 

 Show us

We’re looking for candidates who can show:

•Experience working with data — using databases, Excel or SQL to query, analyse and manage information.
•A practical approach to solving technical problems where data or systems are involved.
•Some experience writing code (Python, SQL, or Scala) and an interest in growing your capability further.

 How we’ll assess

•Through your application
•Online task – a short data or coding exercise.
•Interview – values-based and technical discussion with the team.
•Provider assessment – a short separate process with our training provider to confirm eligibility and programme fit.
Any offer will be conditional on successfully completing the provider’s assessment and pre-employment checks.

Eligibility

To apply, you must:

•Applicants must have lived in the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA) for the past three consecutive years. 
•No prior Data or Computer Science degree or similar experience
•Not be currently enrolled in another funded apprenticeship or overlapping course.
•Commit to the minimum planned off-the-job learning time (6 hours per week) for the duration of the programme.
•Hold Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE grade C/4 or above), or be willing to complete Functional Skills as part of the programme.

This apprenticeship runs on a 23-month fixed-term contract. While a permanent role isn’t guaranteed, our aim is to build capability within CQC — so we’ll prioritise applicants who can complete the programme and continue to apply their learning within the organisation afterwards.

What you’ll gain

•A nationally recognised Level 5 Data Engineering qualification fully funded.

•Hands-on experience using modern cloud and data technologies.

•Coaching, mentoring and support from experienced engineers.

•The chance to contribute to meaningful projects that improve health and social care regulation.

 

Note for internal candidates:

This is a secondment/fixed termopportunity. Please read the recruitment and selection policy section onsecondments. You must discuss your application with your linemanager before applying.

To progress your application, you’ll need to provide evidence of your right towork in the UK. Without valid right to work you won’t be eligible for therole. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Someroles may also be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

Next steps
If you apply, you’ll need to create a profile and complete an online application form. Your application will be completely anonymous.  Please see our information for applicants for more details on the process. We contact every applicant to let them know the outcome of their application, so you will hear from us whether or not you are shortlisted.
You can read the full details of the role in the Job Description
If you’d like an informal chat about the role contact – Lauren Palmer  Practice Lead: Learning, Development & Communications ; lauren.palmer@cqc.org.uk For general enquiries, please email recruitment@cqc.org.uk.

The Benefits
Weoffer a wide range of benefits, including:

• Annual leave starting at 27 days per year, rising to 32.5 days with service, plus bank holidays (usually 8 days per year).
• Training and development opportunities.
• Wellbeing initiatives, such as gym discounts and meditation.
• NHS pension scheme, with around 14% employer contribution.
• Discount schemes (including eligibility for a Blue Light card, at a cost of £4.99 and valid for 2 years), reward vouchers, car leasing and more!

Please see our benefits page for the full list.

Equity for all
We know job descriptions can feel intimidating. Research shows they can cause some people to doubt whether they’re a good fit. This happens more often to people from underrepresented groups (e.g. ethnic minority backgrounds). If this role interests you, we encourage you to apply. Your unique perspective, skills, and experience could be exactly what we need.
We want every candidate to feel supported and able to do their best. If you need adjustments to our process, we’ll work with you to remove any barriers. Visit our accessibility page for more on this. If you’d like to chat, please contact recruitment@cqc.org.uk. Please note, if you have previously informed us of adjustments you need for interview or within your role these are not carried over and must be discussed for each individual application you make.
We promote a workplace where fairness, respect and inclusion are a priority. Diverse teams make our work better, help us deliver our mission and make our culture stronger. See our ED&I page for more about this.
We welcomeapplications from everyone, and colleagues can find supportand community among our many employee networks. This includes people of any:

• Age
• Sex
• Gender identity or expression
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
• Ethnicity
• Disability

Values and vision
We are guided by our core values, which shape our work and our culture.
Excellence – being a high-performing organisation.
Caring – treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Integrity – doing the right thing.
Teamwork – learning from each other to be the best we can.
We are a disability confident employer and a carer confident employer.

A Note on AI
AI tools can be great for research and refining ideas, but we want to learn about you. If you use AI or Chatbots to help you with your application, keep these points in mind:

•        AI can support research, structuring and refining your writing, but your application must reflect your real skills and experience.
•        Spell-checking and condensing word counts are great ways to use AI effectively.
•        Do not copy and paste AI generated answers. These will not help you stand out; remember we want to hear about your skills and experience.
•        Providing false and insincere examples goes against our core values of honesty and integrity and may lead to your application being withdrawn or termination of your employment.