Level 6 Digital Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship- Test Driven Solutions Ltd

Apprenticeship Description

***DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE NEWCASTLE COLLEGE WEBSITE PLEASE EMAIL A COPY OF YOUR CV TO apprentice-scheme@testdrivensolutions.co.uk BY FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER IF YOU WISH TO APPLY***

Technology Apprentice
BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions (Integrated Degree) Apprenticeship
Delivered with Newcastle College | October 2026 intake | Newcastle upon Tyne (hybrid)

This is TDS
We are a global software consultancy specialising in providing highly skilled experts to meet our clients' business needs. At Test Driven Solutions, we excel in driving both from the ground up development as well as system modernisation projects, leveraging the latest cutting-edge technologies to deliver outstanding results.
We operate across both private and public sectors. We are serving industries such as banking and financial services, government, healthcare, gaming, education, broadcasting, and renewable energy organisations. We are continually growing as a business, securing new client wins and advancing ongoing internal projects.
Test Driven Solutions is committed to supporting the next generation of technology professionals, providing apprentices, interns and graduates with opportunities to establish themselves within the industry — whether technology is your first career or your next one.

What's it like working here
At TDS we uphold clear and unwavering values, fostering a community-oriented ethos that encourages close collaboration across our diverse disciplines. We hold regular team meet-ups, both online and in person, and monthly company wide social events. In addition, we organise company away weekends, which have previously taken us to cities like Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Riga and Dublin. These trips offer the team a chance to unwind and strengthen connections outside of the office. It is important to us to create an environment where strong connections are built and camaraderie is nurtured within our team.
Offering full hybrid working patterns to align with today's flexible work environment, our team is spread across the UK, with members based in and around Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Inverness, Birmingham, and London. We are proud to have our modern UK headquarters on the Quayside in Newcastle's city centre, with stunning views of the Glass House. This office serves as a central base of work for everyone, providing a collaborative space for our team when they come together. Earlier this year we opened an office in Edinburgh for our Scottish employees to congregate. Additionally, we have teams located in our international office regions in Wrocław, Poland. This distributed team structure fosters strong connections and collaboration, regardless of location.

About the role
We are looking for a Technology Apprentice to join TDS on the BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions (Integrated Degree) Apprenticeship, delivered by Newcastle College. You will be a paid, permanent member of the TDS team from day one, working alongside our consultants while studying towards a full honours degree — with no tuition fees and no student debt.
This is a deliberately broad role. Rather than starting out in a single discipline, you will work across the capabilities that make up a modern delivery team, building a real understanding of how software is designed, built, tested, released and improved — and where you fit best within that.

What you'll explore
Over the course of the programme you will get hands-on exposure across our core disciplines:
• Software Development — writing, reviewing and maintaining code in modern languages and frameworks, and learning the practices that keep it maintainable.
• Testing and Quality Engineering — test design, automation and the test-driven approach our name is built on.
• User-Centred Design (UCD) — understanding users and their needs, and turning research and accessibility requirements into designs that work.
• DevOps — build and deployment pipelines, cloud infrastructure, automation, monitoring and release practices.
• Data — working with data models, pipelines, analysis and reporting to help clients make better decisions.
• Business Analysis — working with clients to understand a problem properly, capture requirements and turn them into something a delivery team can build.
• Delivery Management — how work is planned, prioritised and shipped, and how agile teams keep momentum and manage risk.

You are not expected to master all of these. The point is breadth: understanding how each discipline thinks, where they overlap, and which one you want to grow into.

Who we're looking for
Problem solvers — people who like to get their hands dirty. You will be given real problems and plenty of support, but you will not be handed a script. Curiosity and a willingness to have a go count for more at this stage than knowing the right answer.
This is also a client-facing role. From early on you will be in the room with our clients — in workshops, stand-ups, reviews and demos — and part of your job is to represent TDS well. Listening properly, asking a sensible question, explaining what you have done, and saying clearly when you are stuck all matter as much as technical ability. In a consultancy, interpersonal skills are not a nice-to-have.
We are particularly keen to hear from career changers — people who have built skills and experience in another field and now want to move into technology. You do not need a technology background, a degree, or prior commercial coding experience to apply.

You might be:
• Working in a non-technical role and already the unofficial "tech person" on your team.
• Coming from a sector like education, healthcare, retail, hospitality, the armed forces, finance, logistics or administration.
• Self-taught, or part way through an online course, bootcamp or evening class.
• Returning to work after a career break and looking for a structured route back in.
What matters to us is aptitude, attitude and the transferable skills you already have. If you have run a classroom, a ward, a shift, a site or a customer account, you have been reading a room, handling pressure and untangling other people's problems for years — which is the hard part of consultancy. The technology we can teach you.

What we're looking for
• Curiosity about how things work, and the persistence to keep going when something does not work first time.
• A willingness to pick up unfamiliar tools and technologies, and to keep learning once the novelty has worn off.
• Clear communication in writing and in person, with colleagues and with clients.
• Comfort with being the beginner in the room. You will be the least experienced person on the team for a while, and asking questions is the fastest way out of that.
• Self-motivation and reliability. A degree apprenticeship asks you to balance real client work with real study, and that takes discipline.
• Transferable experience from whatever you have done so far, and the ability to talk about what you learned from it.
• Any existing exposure to coding, testing, design, analysis, delivery, infrastructure or data is welcome, but it is not a requirement.

Eligibility
• You must have the right to work in the UK and be able to attend our Newcastle office and Newcastle College as required.
• You will need to meet Newcastle College's entry requirements for the programme. These are typically Level 3 qualifications (such as A Levels or a BTEC) together with GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent qualifications and relevant experience. The college will confirm your eligibility as part of the application process.
• Apprenticeship funding rules can affect eligibility if you already hold a qualification at the same or a higher level in a closely related subject. If you are unsure, apply anyway and we will check it with the college on your behalf.

Why join TDS?
At TDS we believe in more than just writing code — we build a strong, supportive community:
• A genuine start, not a placement. You are a permanent employee from day one, with a clear route into a consultant role at the end of the programme.
• Breadth you won't get everywhere. Most people entering technology are pointed at one discipline. You will gain exposure to various tools, technologies and job families.
• Mentorship and career development. We invest in your growth, with ongoing learning opportunities and clear progression pathways.
• Exciting projects. Work with clients across industries such as finance, government, healthcare, broadcasting and renewable energy.
• Great culture. Regular social events, team lunches, and an annual company trip abroad make TDS a great place to work.

The details
• Job title: Technology Apprentice
• Contract: Permanent, full time
• Location: TDS Newcastle HQ (The Spire, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne) with hybrid working; college delivery at Newcastle College, Rye Hill Campus
• Programme: BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions (Integrated Degree) Apprenticeship
• Training provider: Newcastle College
• Start: October 2026 intake