About the job

Job summary

It is an exciting time for HM Land Registry (HMLR) as we continue to embark on a major transformation programme. HMLR's ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data.

This is your chance to secure a Software Developer apprenticeship unlike any other. You’ll get all the benefits of an apprenticeship - paid work experience, valuable skills and a recognised qualification. But that’s not all, you will also have the chance to help shape our future.

Job description

Through your apprenticeship you will undertake a Level 3 Digital Standard. Upon successful completion of the Level 3 apprenticeship programme and satisfactory performance, conduct and attendance, you will continue to Level 4 in your particular field and get exposure to traditional methodologies as well as newer agile and digital ones, whilst being supported by your manager and a buddy.

We have 2 x Software Developer Apprenticeship roles - expected start date September 2024

As a Software Developer, you will contribute to the implementation of software solutions through the production of high-quality code. You will be involved in key stages of the development lifecycle throughout the build and deployment of the software through to providing support during the life of the service. You will bring coding expertise to the team, working alongside others to interpret design and architecture information and to produce quality code that is efficient and maintainable to resolve the problem.

For more details regarding this apprenticeship, please see the following link:

Digital occupational map (instituteforapprenticeships.org)

There will be an opportunity to attend an open evening (with a parent or friend should you wish) at Seaton Court, 2 William Prance Road, Plymouth, PL6 5WS on Wednesday 21 February 2024 (5.30pm for meet and greet with a 6pm start) to learn more about working at HMLR and the apprenticeships we are offering. Please email your name, contact number and how many will be attending to Emma.Stephens@landregistry.gov.uk  if you wish to come to the open evening. 

Please follow the below links to see what some of our Apprentices have had to say:
Erin’s Blog
https://hmlandregistry.blog.gov.uk/2018/03/28/autism-techlife-and-me/

For more information about apprenticeships at HMLR and what it’s like to work here please see the following links:
Apprenticeships at HM Land Registry – building a future/
Working for HM Land Registry/

Person specification

To be successful in this apprenticeship, you’ll need to have at least 5 GCSE's at grade C or grade 4 or above including Maths, English and ICT or science or equivalent.

You will understand the commitment needed to complete an apprenticeship and have a motivation for learning. You will be a self-starter able to develop yourself and keep abreast in an everchanging IT environment. You will be a competent user of computer software packages including knowledge of MS Office and email. Through your ability to think ahead, you will be able to anticipate problems and have excellent problem-solving skills. You can work as part of a team to achieve a team goal and can organise and prioritise your own work and tasks. You have effective and easy to understand communication skills (written and verbal) in a variety of situations.

Please see the attached candidate pack for further information.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £21,061, HM Land Registry contributes £5,686 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 Strengths, Ability and Experience.

To apply you will need to complete the short application form and take the online Civil Service Verbal Test, Numerical Test and Judgement Test. Ideally you should take the tests by midday on 4 March 2024, to allow for the next stage of the application process.

Please complete the online application form to include your qualifications and experience and complete the additional questions.

What attracted you to working for HM Land Registry?

The personal statement section (in no more than 1000 words) should demonstrate evidence of the below criteria:

Please explain your exposure to and your current skill level in IT.
• Please consider: Any learning/qualifications you have in IT; what things interest you in this field you wish to work?

Please describe a time when you have been proactive in developing yourself/skills.
• Please consider: Why you choose that development? What you did to develop? How you have benefited from the learning?

Please can you describe a situation when you have worked in a team to achieve a common goal.
• Please consider: What qualities you brought to the team to help achieve the goal? What challenges you faced and how you dealt with them and what was the outcome of this?

Please tell me about a time when you had to complete a large volume of work within a tight timescale.
• Please consider: How you motivated yourself? How you overcame any setbacks? How you prioritised the work?

(Note: If you do not have a work-based examples then an example from school/college/clubs will suffice).

Please review your application form before clicking ‘submit’ – once you have submitted, you will not be able to amend your application. Ensure your application form is received by the closing date for receipt of applications – this is 11:55pm on the advertised date.

The sift will take place shortly after the closing date. The final stage will consist of an interview and short exercise which will be held remotely or face-to-face in the Plymouth Office (Seaton Court, 2 William Prance Road, Plymouth, PL6 5WS) week commencing Monday 18 March 2024.

The blended interview will assess the experience listed in the candidate pack, as well as the strengths associated with the role. We want to hear your first, unrehearsed, natural response to the strength questions, and so we don’t advertise which strengths are being tested. The best way to prepare for strengths questions is to reflect on what you identify as your own personal strengths, and your preferred ways of working.

Candidates may refer to notes within their interview but they should be used as a prompt only.

HMLR is accredited to the Disability Confidence Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If any candidate requires the panel to consider a reasonable adjustment or there is anything else they would like the panel to take into consideration they are asked to notify us of this at application stage where possible or during the process as soon as it becomes a requirement.

Please note, the Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expect all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure all examples provided throughout the entire recruitment process are of your own experience. HM Land Registry take any incidences of cheating very seriously. Any detected instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating, including the use of artificial intelligence, will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process.

You can find more information on how we use your personal data on our website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.