Apprentice Data Protection (Governance Practitioner)

OCU Group

MANCHESTER, M19 3BJ

Closes in 19 days (Friday 14 March)

Posted on 19 February 2025


Summary

As a Data Protection Apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience and develop a strong foundation in data protection principles and practices. You will work closely with our Data Protection Officer (DPO) and Information Governance team to ensure compliance with data protection and information rights laws and regulations.

Training course
Data protection and information governance practitioner (level 4)
Hours
Days and shifts to be confirmed

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 8 September

Duration

2 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Duties and Responsibilities

Assist with Data Protection Compliance:
Support in ensuring compliance with GDPR and other relevant data protection regulations.
Support senior management by contributing to the development of policies and guidance to ensure the organisation complies with its statutory and regulatory information governance (IG) and data protection responsibilities.
Assist in conducting data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) and identifying potential risks.

Data Handling and Management:
Aid in the classification, handling, and management of data in accordance with organisational policies.
Support the monitoring and auditing of data practices to ensure compliance.
Undertake routine and ad-hoc data protection audits and testing controls for both internal functions and third-party suppliers, producing audit reports for senior managers.

Training and Awareness:
Develop and deliver inhouse information governance (IG) and data protection  training and awareness packages for all internal stakeholders such as Operations, IT, legal, HR, marketing, senior management, and the board of directors.
Assist in the development and delivery of data protection training and awareness programs for staff.

Incident Management:
Support the management and investigation of data protection incidents and breaches.
Investigate reported personal data breaches, providing advice and guidance to the organisation and determining the need to escalate as appropriate to the Supervisory Authority.

Documentation and Record-keeping:
Coordinate and support the organisation’s formal and documented record of processing activities in line with legislation, regulation, and good practice.

Stakeholder Engagement:
Work with internal stakeholders to review and maintain retention schedules, providing specialist support, advice, and guidance to ensure appropriate disposal of data in compliance with legislation, regulation, and good practice.
Provide day-to-day support and specialist advice across the organisation for all matters regarding IG such as compliance with data protection principles.
Provide support for the completion and submission of industry or regulatory toolkits and control frameworks or standards.

Performance and Improvement:
Analyse data and present outcomes to key stakeholders on key risks, trends, and performance indicators such as training, information requests, data breaches, and records management.
Contribute to continuous improvement of systems and processes to ensure procedures, policies, and guidance are updated in line with technology advancements, legislative and social changes.

Information Requests:
Manage, coordinate, and respond to information requests, where appropriate, such as Freedom of Information (FOI), Individual Rights (IR), Environmental Information Regulation (EIR), and Data Protection within statutory deadlines.

Where you’ll work

UNIT 10

SANDFOLD LANE

MANCHESTER

M19 3BJ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

THE SPECIALISTS HUB LTD

Your training course

Data protection and information governance practitioner (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

Course contents
  • Use IT systems to manage, share and store information in accordance with data protection requirements and organisation policies.
  • Communicate complex subjects in simple terms through different media (such as face to face meetings, emails, reports and presentations) to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
  • Prepare documentation and materials for review and ratification.
  • Working at times under time pressure, prioritising their workloads in order to raise and resolve areas of concern such as individual rights, breach management, FOI requests and information sharing.
  • Being able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation, showing the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing environment.
  • Undertake data collection, data analysis, data presentation and date storage such as data incidents.
  • Interpret regulation and legislation, share best practice and advise stakeholders on its application.
  • Identify organisation needs and how these are applied to enquiries.
  • Interpret and apply sector guidance appropriately.
  • Undertake investigations and interviews in order to assess a data breach.
  • Gather, analyse, use and share data to inform risk assessment and make judgements on actions to take.
  • Make decisions on data protection and information governance issues raised and ensure that any areas of concern are escalated to the stakeholders.
  • Provide day to day support, specialist advice, guidance and training across the organisation and external stakeholders for all matters regarding information governance and data protection.
  • Identify potential data solutions and evidence the way in which they could improve data management.
  • Use IT systems to manage, share and store information in accordance with data protection requirements and organisation policies.
  • Communicate complex subjects in simple terms through different media (such as face to face meetings, emails, reports and presentations) to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
  • Prepare documentation and materials for review and ratification.
  • Working at times under time pressure, prioritising their workloads in order to raise and resolve areas of concern such as individual rights, breach management, FOI requests and information sharing.
  • Being able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation, showing the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing environment.
  • Undertake data collection, data analysis, data presentation and date storage such as data incidents.
  • Interpret regulation and legislation, share best practice and advise stakeholders on its application.
  • Identify organisation needs and how these are applied to enquiries.
  • Interpret and apply sector guidance appropriately.
  • Undertake investigations and interviews in order to assess a data breach.
  • Gather, analyse, use and share data to inform risk assessment and make judgements on actions to take.
  • Make decisions on data protection and information governance issues raised and ensure that any areas of concern are escalated to the stakeholders.
  • Provide day to day support, specialist advice, guidance and training across the organisation and external stakeholders for all matters regarding information governance and data protection.
  • Identify potential data solutions and evidence the way in which they could improve data management.

Your training plan

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 6-9)
  • Maths (grade 6-9)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative

About this company

Our Aim & Vision at OCU To be the UK's leading energy transition and utilities contractor. We are committed to leading the way in utilities and energy transition contracting, our mission is to innovate and deliver sustainability. At OCU, our passion for addressing complex challenges brings new standards of growth in our people and capabilities. OCU is an equal opportunities employer.

https://ocugroup.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Apprentice is expected to progess with the career path.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE SPECIALISTS HUB LTD

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000304731.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Friday 14 March)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.