HMRC - DevOps Apprentice
HM Revenue and Customs
About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
Are you a tech lover who enjoys problem-solving?
Wanting to be paid to learn innovative technical skills whilst making an impact?
We're seeking ambitious individuals to fill permanent roles and join our team as a DevOps Engineer Apprentice, where you’ll earn as you learn!
Job description
At HMRC, you'll work on projects that make a real difference for millions of people.
As one of our developers you will build the digital services powering essential programs like tax collection and child benefits.
It’s complicated work but highly impactful, where you write and handle code in languages like Python and Terraform to develop software, build infrastructure, and enable rapid delivery of solutions while providing ongoing support. With opportunities to work closely across technical teams to deploy and integrate complete toolchains and systems that are repeatable, scalable, and highly available.
Having the responsibility for planning and improving technical requirements, crafting effective DevOps pipelines using your technical knowledge to tackle sophisticated problems and support delivery teams in deploying products.
The Apprenticeship
You will undergo a 4-month boot camp get the ball rolling on a 16–24-month apprenticeship with our learning provider. Supported by your line manager, learning and development manager, skills mentor and the DevOps community, as well as fellow apprentices on the programme, meaning plenty of sources of inspiration and support to help you succeed.
During this 4-month boot camp leave will be considered under special circumstances but you will be encouraged to attend everyday Mon-Fri. Learning from experts to kickstart your skills in Python, GitHub, Linux and more. Applying your skills right away, working on real projects alongside our versatile developers.
Earning a competitive salary plus benefits while achieving an accredited Level 4 DevOps qualification with further training and mentoring to unlock your potential in this high-demand field.
Person specification
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the apprenticeship you are needing to hold the following minimum Requirements:Valid passport/birth certificate and NI number.
- Must have lived in the UK and/or EEA for 3 years prior to apprenticeship start date.
- Not undertaking another apprenticeship or government funded qualification at the same time.
- You must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level in a similar subject. – we reserve the right to withdraw applications who are deemed ineligible due to existing qualifications.
- You must hold GCSEs in Maths and English at Grade C or above.
- In addition, you will need at least one or more of the following:
- Level 3 Software Apprenticeship or similar subject
- A Levels in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subject & successful completion of our proficiency test*
- BTEC Diploma in IT and successful completion of our proficiency test*
- 2 years of substantial work experience and successful completion of our proficiency test*
The proficiency test will be completed during the first stage of the recruitment process, should you be successful at sift stage.
Essential Criteria
- Able to design, code, test, accurate & document simple programmes or scripts under others direction.
- Ability to problem-solve and identify IT based solutions.
- Has an awareness of user experience analysis and its principles.
- Able to help fix faults following agreed procedures.
- Can see the purpose of user stories and focuses on user needs.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £28,341, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £7,652 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- A CV on how you meet the overall skills and experience needed for the role. This won't be scored but will be used for information purposes and to support your personal statement. Please also include any relevant qualifications especially when it comes to the Eligibility Criteria which is mandatory for this opportunity.
- For qualifications - please detail how your current qualification/experience level meets the eligibility criteria, providing details of all qualifications and grades required.
- Please also provide up to a 500 word personal statement demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria for the role listed here. Please demonstrate your knowledge here using the STAR method.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Sift
Should you be successful after the initial sift you will then be contacted by the learning provider to complete a coding course as well as a telephone interview.
After the initial sift and before interviews there is another phase - This phase consists of 3 sections - a coding course, problem solving challenge and a brief telephone interview with the learning provider who will deliver your apprenticeship programme should you be successful.
Sift and Assessment Centre:
As part of the application process you must provide:
• CV & Qualifications
Your CV is all about summarising your skills, knowledge and experience suitable for the role.
For qualifications - please detail how your current qualification/experience level meets the eligibility criteria, providing details of all qualifications and grades required.
After the initial sift and before interviews there is another phase - This phase consists of 3 sections - a coding course, problem solving challenge and a brief telephone interview with the learning provider who will deliver your apprenticeship programme should you be successful.
Interview
You will then be contacted by the learning provider to complete a coding course and assessment over 10 days which will end in a telephone interview.
Following the application closing date, you may be invited to an assessment centre. The assessment centre will be a 2-stage process consisting of an interview and a paired/group exercise. This will be delivered virtually via Microsoft Teams. The assessment centre will be conducted by staff from HMRC, focusing on experience and strengths of the candidates.
Candidates may be required to obtain additional security clearance. The candidates will be unable to take up post until the relevant Security Clearance is obtained.
Interviews will focus on the candidates’ application, their knowledge, experience and competence, and the essential criteria required. Feedback on applications will only be provided if you attend the assessment centre.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact the UBS Recruitment Excellence Team via ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Diversity and Inclusion
At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues and creating an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people, from all backgrounds, with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.
We’re committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues here at HMRC and want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential.
Click here for more information on how we make this happen.
Additional Security Information
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you can travel to.
Who can start an apprenticeship?
To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:
- 16 or over
- living in England
- not in full-time education
You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school but you’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship.
Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.