Cyber Security Degree Apprentice
Key Sigma Ltd – Cheltenham / Shurdington, GL51 4GA
Job Title: Cyber Security Degree Apprentice
Location: Cheltenham / Shurdington, GL51 4GA
Salary: Competitive apprenticeship salary
Employment Type: Full-time apprenticeship
Working Pattern: Office-based, full-time attendance required
Apprenticeship: Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Cyber Security, University of Gloucestershire
About KEYSIGMA
KEYSIGMA is a fast-growing cyber security consultancy with big ambitions. Our cyber risk assurance business provides consultancy, testing, certification, assurance, advice and practical support to help clients manage their technology risks and move forward with confidence.
As our organisation continues to grow and expand, we are delighted to recruit for our 2026 apprenticeship scheme.
This opportunity combines paid, high-level training with hands-on learning, helping you build practical skills, valuable experience and the knowledge needed for a strong start to your career in cyber security.
The Apprenticeship
In this role, you will gain hands-on experience supporting a wide range of cyber security functions across the business. Working alongside experienced professionals, you will contribute to real customer projects, including auditing and assurance, security risk assessments, vulnerability management and cyber security certification work.
A key part of your role will involve supporting the assessment and delivery of Cyber Essentials audits. During your apprenticeship, you will be trained to become a Cyber Essentials Assessor, with potential future pathways to progress to Cyber Essentials Plus Assessor or NCSC Cyber Advisor, depending on your performance, capability and business needs.
Your work will help organisations strengthen their cyber security while giving you valuable exposure and learning opportunities within the industry.
Alongside your role, you will be supported through a fully funded Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Cyber Security at the University of Gloucestershire. Throughout the programme, you will develop both academic knowledge and practical skills, with training covering areas such as networking and architecture, operating systems, cloud services, programming, web development, security governance, big data, machine learning and AI analytics.
This combination of structured study and on-the-job experience will equip you with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to build a successful career in cyber security. Beyond the programme, there may be opportunities to further your academic and vocational achievements, based on your performance, potential and business needs.
Applicants must be committed to the successful completion of all academic modules, assignments and workplace requirements in line with the apprenticeship standard.
This is an office-based apprenticeship at our Cheltenham / Shurdington office. Full-time office attendance is required because the role involves close team working, mentoring, supervised client delivery, access to controlled systems, and participation in KEYSIGMA’s certification and assurance environment.
What You Will Be Involved In
During the apprenticeship, you will gain experience across a range of cyber security and assurance activities. This may include:
- Supporting Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus delivery.
- Assisting with evidence review and assessment preparation.
- Supporting vulnerability management and remediation tracking.
- Helping prepare client-facing documentation and reports.
- Supporting security risk assessments and assurance reviews.
- Learning how cyber security frameworks and certification schemes are applied in practice.
- Working with experienced assessors, consultants and Cyber Advisors.
- Developing professional communication, client support and technical documentation skills.
- Contributing to internal process improvement and knowledge sharing.
You will not be expected to know everything on day one. This is a development role, and you will be supported through structured training, mentoring and supervised practical experience.
Career Development and Progression
This apprenticeship is designed to help you build a long-term career in cyber security.
Development may include:
- Completion of a fully funded Level 6 Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship.
- Training towards becoming a Cyber Essentials Assessor.
- Exposure to Cyber Essentials Plus assessment delivery.
- Practical experience of vulnerability management, secure configuration, MFA, cloud services, endpoint security and access control.
- Development towards NCSC Cyber Advisor capability, subject to performance and business needs.
- Exposure to wider assurance frameworks, including Defence Cyber Certification and ISO 27001.
- Mentoring from experienced assessors, consultants and senior leadership.
We are committed to supporting employees to develop and progress fairly, with access to training, mentoring and development opportunities based on role requirements, performance, aptitude and business needs.
About You
This role would suit someone who is genuinely interested in cyber security and wants to build a career through a combination of academic study and practical work experience.
You may be completing suitable A-Levels or a Level 3 equivalent qualification, or you may already hold an unrelated degree and be looking to transition into a career in cyber security.
We are looking for someone who is curious, reliable, organised and willing to learn. You should enjoy solving problems, working with detail, communicating clearly and being part of a team.
You do not need to already be a cyber security expert, but you do need to be committed to learning, developing and completing the apprenticeship successfully.
Minimum Essential Criteria
To be considered for this role, applicants will need to demonstrate the following minimum essential criteria:
- A minimum of Grade 6 in English Language and Grade 7 in Mathematics at GCSE, or equivalent.
- At least three A-Levels, BTEC or equivalent qualifications, with a minimum of 120 UCAS points, such as BBB or equivalent.
- A demonstrable interest in cyber security.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Commitment to completing the Level 6 Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship, including all academic modules, assignments and workplace requirements.
- Ability to work from our Cheltenham / Shurdington office on a full-time basis.
- Full and permanent right to work in the UK.
- Current residency in the United Kingdom.
- Eligibility for UK Security Clearance.
This is an office-based role. Applicants must be able to work from our Cheltenham / Shurdington office on a full-time basis. Adjustments will be considered where they are compatible with the role and the requirement for office-based working.
Desirable Requirements
The following are desirable but not essential:
- Experience in an IT or technical support role, such as an IT help desk.
- CompTIA qualifications.
- Practical cyber security learning through platforms such as Hack The Box or TryHackMe.
- Attendance at cyber security conferences, courses or events.
- Awareness of cyber security frameworks, standards or certification schemes.
- Experience of coding, scripting, networking, systems administration or cloud technologies.
- Evidence of personal projects, labs, portfolios or self-directed learning.
Training and Development
KEYSIGMA is committed to developing people and supporting long-term career progression. We will provide ongoing training, mentoring and development to help you grow your capability and progress within the business.
Subject to performance, aptitude and business needs, your development pathway may include:
- Level 6 Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship completion.
- Training towards Cyber Essentials Assessor status.
- Exposure to Cyber Essentials Plus delivery.
- Development of practical technical testing and vulnerability assessment skills.
- Development towards NCSC Cyber Advisor capability.
- Exposure to Defence Cyber Certification requirements.
- Experience across ISO 27001, cyber assurance and wider consultancy services.
- Mentoring from experienced assessors, consultants and senior leadership.
Diversity, Inclusion and Disability Confident Recruitment
KEYSIGMA is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating an environment that values equality, encourages diversity and contributes to an inclusive organisational culture.
KEYSIGMA is also a Disability Confident Committed employer, which is Level 1 of the Disability Confident scheme. We are currently working towards Disability Confident Employer Level 2 and are applying the principles of inclusive and accessible recruitment as part of that process.
We welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment irrespective of legally protected status.
We are committed to making our recruitment process clear, fair and accessible, and to considering reasonable adjustments throughout the application and interview process where required.
Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role may be offered an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. This does not mean that all disabled applicants are automatically entitled to an interview, but it does mean that applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, experience and suitability for the role, subject to the practical requirements of the recruitment process.
If you require this advert, the application process, or the interview process in a different format, or if you need an adjustment to help you participate in the recruitment process, please let us know when applying. You can do this by answering the optional adjustment question in the application form.
Recruitment Process and Adjustments
Our recruitment process may include an initial application review, interview, and role-related discussion or assessment.
We will consider adjustments at each stage of the process where appropriate. This may include alternative formats, additional time, adjusted interview arrangements, or other changes to help candidates demonstrate their suitability for the role.
If you would like to be considered under the Disability Confident interview commitment, please let us know when applying and ensure your CV or covering note clearly shows how you meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.
Feedback will be available on request following interview.
Essential Security, Residency and Right to Work Requirements
Applicants must have full and permanent right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role, including for Post-Study Work or out-of-country applicants.
Applicants must also be current residents in the United Kingdom.
In order to apply for this opportunity, applicants must be eligible for UK Security Clearance. For our business, this will normally be Security Check, commonly known as SC, which typically includes a requirement for a minimum of five years’ permanent residency in the UK.
Please note that, due to the nature of our work, financial, criminal record and reference checks may be carried out by an authorised third party as part of the recruitment process. Any checks will be relevant to the role and handled fairly, confidentially and in line with applicable legal requirements.
Recruitment Agents
We do not engage with recruiters and will not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate introductions.
Contact
We kindly ask that applicants contact us only through the official application process.
Please note that, due to the high number of expected applicants, we may not be able to respond individually to unsuccessful applicants who are not invited to interview.
Important Information for Candidates
Candidates are advised to read our Candidate Privacy Notice before applying for any role with us. The notice explains how personal data provided as part of the recruitment process will be collected, processed, stored and protected.
www.keysigma.co.uk/Candidate_Privacy_Notice/
To Apply
Please send your CV and a short covering note explaining your interest in the role, why you would be a good fit for KEYSIGMA, and how you meet the minimum essential criteria.
Ability to Commute / Relocate
Cheltenham / Shurdington, Gloucestershire: applicants must be able to reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work.
Work Authorisation
United Kingdom required.
Job Types: Full-time, Apprenticeship
Pay: £15,600.00-£24,863.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Free fitness classes
- Free or subsidised travel
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Are you eligible for UK SC security clearance?
- Are you willing to undergo third party financial, criminal record and reference checks as part of the recruitment process.
- Optional: Do you require this advert, the application process, or the interview process in a different format, or do you require any adjustments to help you participate in the recruitment process?
You can provide brief details here:
Licence/Certification:
- GCSE English Language Certificate at Grade 6 or Above (required)
- GCSE Maths Certificate at Grade 7 or Above (required)
- 120 UCAS Points (Predicted Grades Acceptable) (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
