On 7th September, we celebrated the launch of the new Data Protection and Information Governance Practitioner Apprenticeship. The apprenticeship, which received final approval in March, will help develop the skills of those working in the increasingly important fields of data protection and information governance. Act Now Training has teamed up with leading apprenticeship provider, Damar Training, to provide the materials and expertise underpinning the new apprenticeship.
The launch event, held at The Bloc in Manchester, was attended by data protection experts and learning and development leads from a wide range of public and private sector organisations across England. Attendees included members of the Trailblazer Group that designed the apprenticeship and also members of Damar’s employer reference group. The latter has been a close part of the programme design process, ensuring that the programme meets the needs of employers in this rapidly growing sector.
Attendees enjoyed talks during the event from Jonathan Bourne (Managing Director, Damar Training), Ibrahim Hasan (Director, Act Now Training) and Phillipa Nazari (Assistant Director Information Governance and Data Protection Officer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester). Phillipa was also the chair of the Trailblazer Group.
Jonathan Bourne commented:
“The data protection apprenticeship is much needed. It helps address skills shortages in data protection but also enables organisations to improve compliance, reduce regulatory and legal risk and increase their efficiency. We are delighted to be working with so many committed employers who, like us, see the apprenticeship as one of the keys to improved capability in data protection and information governance.”
Ibrahim Hasan added:
“We are excited to be working with Damar Training on this much needed apprenticeship. It will develop the information governance profession by encouraging a diverse range of new information governance professionals with the knowledge and skills to enable them to tackle the data protection challenges ahead.”
Phillipa commented:
“It has been a great honour to give something back to the profession that will leave a lasting legacy for employers. Each individual and organisation that benefits from the apprenticeship will be ensuring that a fundamental human right is upheld and organisations can derive value and insight from their data and information in the appropriate, legal and ethical way. I hope that the apprenticeship will open up opportunities for a rich and varied career and be accessible for an even more diverse pool of talent. It’s been needed for a long time and now the future looks bright.”
The apprenticeship is available to employers across England. The first cohort of apprentices on this exciting and innovative new programme will start in October.
If your organisation is interested in the apprenticeship please get in touch with us to discuss further.