Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship

AI for Smarter Work Programme

Build practical AI and digital capability alongside management and human-centred skills to improve everyday productivity and smarter ways of working.

Level 3
Level 3

Digital Support Technician apprenticeship

Duration
Duration
12 months + end point assessment
Qualification outcomes
Qualification outcomes
  • Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship
  • Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification

 

Audience
Audience

Employees who want to use AI tools, digital technologies and automation more effectively in everyday work.

Funding
Funding

Fully fundable via the Apprenticeship Levy - funding band £13,000

Time commitment
Time commitment
Approx. 4 hours per week protected learning time

Programme overview

Build practical AI, digital and workplace capability from support and service roles upwards to improve everyday work and smarter ways of working.

Delivered through the Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship, the programme develops employees in support, service and early-career digital roles who can use AI tools, improve workflows and support colleagues effectively while strengthening communication, collaboration and everyday problem-solving capability.

Skills and capabilities developed

AI literacy
Microsoft Copilot productivity
Effective prompting
Responsible use of AI
Workflow improvement
Digital problem solving
Communication
Collaboration
Supporting colleagues
Smarter ways of working

Evidence & outcomes

Our programmes deliver measurable improvements in workforce capability and organisational performance.

FTL-Microsft

Microsoft AI Certification Included

Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals included

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Ofsted rated "good"

With 53% of participants promoted during or after the programme

award

100%

Participants report improved management capability
award

85%

Distinction rate across programmes, and 100% pass rate

Programme positioning

Who is this
programme for?

Employees and frontline professionals who want to use AI tools, digital technologies and automation more effectively in everyday work.

Operational and administrative roles
  • Team coordinators
  • Office administrators
  • Operations assistants
  • Service support staff
Digital and workplace technology roles
  • Digital champions
  • AI adoption advocates
  • Workplace productivity champions
Customer and service support roles
  • Service desk staff
  • Digital support teams
  • Customer operations teams
Business and functional roles
  • HR support staff
  • Finance operations staff
  • Marketing and communications teams
  • Business support roles

Where this
programme fits

This programme builds foundational AI capability, digital productivity and human-centred workplace capability across the workforce.

It forms part of Future Talent Learning’s broader approach to building human, management and AI capability across teams.

Core AI capability pathway
Supports digital transformation and workflow improvement
Strengthens responsible AI governance and adoption
Builds operational capability including problem solving and decision-making
Complements management and change development programmes

Capabilities developed

Participants develop practical AI, digital and human-centred capability to improve everyday work using smarter tools and workflows.


AI capability - Practical use of AI copilots and automation tools
Operational capability - Improving workflows and everyday processes
Human capability - Building trusted relationships, communication and support
Commercial capability - Identifying efficiency opportunities and time savings
Collaboration capability - Helping colleagues to use digital tools effectively
Transformation capability - Embedding smarter ways of working

Organisational outcomes

Organisations typically use this programme to strengthen AI and digital capability across the workforce and improve everyday productivity.

 

Faster resolution of digital issues
Increased productivity using AI tools
Reduced repeat demand through self-service guidance
More consistent and governed use of AI tools
Greater workforce confidence using AI technologies

 

Why this programme?

Our programme helps organisations build practical AI capability across the workforce.

It develops the skills needed to use AI tools productively, improve digital workflows and support colleagues using modern workplace technologies.

Levy-funded AI capability

AI-enabled learning platform

Supported by Microsoft with AI certification

Improve everyday work using AI tools

Time-efficient:
learning fits the working week

The real constraint with professional development is rarely funding — it is time.

Our programmes are designed to work with the flow of real work, not compete with it.

Participants typically commit around four hours per week, combining structured learning, coaching and applied missions directly linked to their role.

This ensures development strengthens day-to-day performance while building capability for the future.

 

12 month programme overview

Structured curriculum missions are combined with live workshops and peer learning so participants build capability progressively through real work. Explore the Programme Prospectus for more detail.

Curriculum missions

Participants complete monthly applied missions designed to improve real workflows in their organisation.
01

AI foundations for smarter work

Build practical understanding of AI in everyday work.
02

Identifying automation opportunities

Spot tasks and workflows suitable for automation.
03

Diagnosing digital workflow issues

Identify and resolve common digital work problems.
04

Improving workflows with digital tools

Redesign everyday processes using digital technologies.
05

Using AI copilots productively

Apply AI assistants to improve writing, analysis and tasks.
06

Designing better digital processes

Strengthen reliability and efficiency in digital workflows.
07

Creating self-service knowledge resources

Develop guides that help colleagues solve issues independently.
08

Collaborating effectively with digital tools

Use digital platforms to coordinate work and communication.
09

Automating routine work tasks

Use automation to reduce repetitive work.
10

Supporting colleagues using AI tools

Help others adopt AI tools safely and confidently
11

Measuring productivity improvements

Track the impact of AI and workflow improvements.
12

Embedding smarter ways of working

Establish sustainable AI-enabled work practices.

Live learning events

Live learning workshops allow participants to practise new approaches, discuss real workplace challenges and deepen understanding through guided discussion.
01

How to use copilots to save time

Use AI tools to draft, summarise and organise work
02

How to write better AI prompts

Improve results through clearer prompt design
03

How to keep data secure

Use secure handling and safe sharing practices
04

How to diagnose digital problems fast

Troubleshoot common issues with speed and clarity
05

How to support users remotely

Help colleagues resolve issues without disruption
06

How to understand the stack

Build confidence in systems, tools and dependencies
07

How to turn support data into improvement actions

Use usage and ticket data to improve workflows
08

How to build a simple automation pilot

Test small automation ideas safely and effectively
09

How to coach colleagues to use apps and copilots

Support confident adoption of digital tools
10

How to measure value

Track impact, time savings and improvement outcomes
11

How to set expectations and manage relationships

Communicate clearly with stakeholders
12

How to handle conflict

Resolve issues calmly and constructively
13

How to make decisions

Use sound judgement in everyday digital work
14

How to use AI in the workplace safely

Apply AI responsibly within organisational boundaries
15

How to improve a workflow with digital tools

Identify practical digital improvements in real work
16

How to build relationships

Build trust and collaboration across teams and stakeholders.
17

How to create helpful self-service guides

Reduce repeat requests with simple knowledge resources
18

How to collaborate with colleagues

Work effectively across operational, digital and technical teams.
19

How to clearly communicate technical issues

Explain problems and fixes to non-technical colleagues
20

How to improve everyday productivity

Apply practical AI and digital productivity techniques

Live peer study groups

Monthly coach-facilitated sessions provide a structured space to exchange ideas, share challenges and explore how learning can be applied in real organisational contexts.
01

Managing tricky stakeholders

De-escalate issues and maintain constructive relationships
02

Balancing speed and quality

Decide when pace matters most and explain trade-offs
03

Escalating issues clearly

Raise problems without creating unnecessary conflict
04

Triage when the scope is unclear

Improve judgement when requests are incomplete
05

Adoption is flat — what next?

Discuss how to support better use of tools
06

Testing the right issue first

Prioritise when symptoms differ across users
07

Using AI safely in everyday work

Share practical boundaries and safe use examples
08

Supporting colleagues with new tools

Explore how to encourage confident adoption
09

Improving self-service and guidance

Discuss ways to reduce repeat support demand
10

Managing digital workload and expectations

Balance service quality with competing priorities
11

Turning support data into insight

Use simple evidence to improve service delivery
12

Embedding smarter ways of working

Make digital improvements sustainable over time

Weekly delivery model

Approx. 4 hours of protected learning time per week One of the most time-efficient delivery models.

Structured learning: approx. 4 hours per week

50%

AI-enabled learning + human coaching + interactive workshops

Participants build capability through a blend of:

• self-paced learning modules
• interactive live workshops
• guided exploration using AI learning tools
• peer study groups and coaching support.

These sessions introduce practical frameworks, tools and approaches that can be applied immediately at work.

Applied learning in the workplace: approx. 4 hours per week

50%

Applied & project-based learning

Participants apply learning directly to real workplace challenges through monthly missions and work-based workflows. Learning strengthens existing work.

This ensures development is:
• immediately relevant
• visible to the organisation with measurable productivity improvements
• embedded in day-to-day performance

The FTL learning experience

Development is designed around how adults learn most effectively at work — through applied practice, reflection, coaching and collaboration.
Find out more

Real workplace challenges drive learning.

Participants apply new skills directly to their role through structured monthly missions linked to real organisational priorities.

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An outstanding programme to accelerate the development of future leaders. — Roger Minton, Head of Leadership, Anglo American
FTL-Babcock
FTL’s highly customised programme has become the core of our management development strategy. The FTL team are slick, knowledgeable, responsive and a pleasure to work with. - Nick Dormor, Senior Learning Specialist, Babcock
FTL-Quote-Ofsted
FTL provides top-tier, highly engaging, innovative and effective methods of learning, leading to high success rates and impact that line managers can observe. — Ofsted, Sept 2024

Frequently asked questions - Level 3 Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship

See our full FAQs page for more information or contact us if you have any questions.
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