Data Support Officer – Apprentice

Job summary

About this role:

Kick-start your career in data! Whether you're just starting out, or unlock exciting opportunities in data, join the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) as a Data Support Officer where you will undertake a Level 4 apprenticeship in a data engineering related course.

This role is an exciting opportunity to gain practical experience while studying, offering a structured pathway into Data and related fields across areas like data engineering, data science, and data analysis.

You will help colleagues across the organisation (and external stakeholders) get the most from our digital tools, with a particular focus on supporting our data engineering function, from helping build our infrastructure, governance function, to managing and analysing our data.

About the Apprenticeship in a Data Engineering Related Course

While gaining practical experience across our data services in data engineering, data governance, data science, and change projects, you will also study towards a Level 4 qualification building the foundations for a rewarding career in public sector technology.

You’ll be joining a dynamic team at the heart of the UK’s efforts to protect fair trade. The Trade Remedies Authority investigates cases of unfair trading practices - like dumping and subsidies - and recommends measures to defend UK industries from harm.

As part of our digital and data team, you’ll help ensure these decisions are informed by robust, high-quality data.

You’ll gain hands-on experience while completing structured learning through a registered training provider.

This includes access to a variety of online learning tools, mentorship, and support from the TRA digital team. Day to day you’ll be working across key areas including delivering data projects, data management, digital delivery and analytics.

This apprenticeship offers an excellent opportunity to enter the world of data. Ideal for someone looking to start their career, by learning on the job, gaining practical experience while building the skills and qualifications to grow into a confident data professional. You’ll be supported every step of the way as you develop technical expertise, explore different areas of digital and data work, and contribute to the Trade Remedies Authority.

Job description

The Role

This role is ideal for someone who is proactive, digitally curious, numerically literate and eager to explore and learn new tools and techniques.

You’ll contribute to the smooth operation of our data services, support how we manage our data, and work alongside our delivery teams to help TRA continuously improve delivery for users.

You’ll play a key role in supporting how TRA manages and uses data, from maintaining data quality to contributing to digital projects that improve how we serve users. Working alongside experienced delivery teams, you’ll gain hands-on/first-hand experience across data operations, analytics and digital transformation, helping shape UK trade policy.

Responsibilities and Duties

You’ll have opportunities to contribute to impactful data work, such as:

Supporting data-driven projects - from engineering to analytics and reporting to data science. You’ll learn to use data manipulation languages, automate tasks with scripting, and work with tools like Microsoft Power BI and Excel to manage and visualise data.

Helping manage and improve our data governance - by supporting best practice in areas such as data privacy, security and governance.

Collaborating with delivery and analytical teams - gain experience in numerical and statistical techniques.

Working collaboratively with colleagues and external partners - supporting digital and data delivery across TRA’s services.

Following established and establishing new processes - ensuring compliance with standards around data, privacy, statistics and governance.

Person specification

Personal attributes and skills:

Numerate & Curious: Comfortable working with data, numbers, spotting patterns, interpreting data, and coming to reasoned conclusions.

Clear Communicator: Clear and effective communicator in both written and verbal form.

Logical: Ability to approach problems in a clear, step-by-step way and able to apply this to how you work with data.

Accurate and Quality Focused: Careful and methodical when working with information, able to check your own work and speaking up and questioning things when they don’t look right.

Proactive and Supportive: Willingness to learn, innovate, and be involved in a range of work and projects.

Essential Experience:

1. Experience using computer and software packages including Excel, Word, Outlook, Powerpoint etc.
2. Proven ability to think ahead, work logically, and have a mindset for challenging existing ways of working.
3. Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively on technical and numerically focused projects.
4. Proven ability to deliver work that is of high quality, be detail-oriented, and able to communicate to all audiences in a workplace environment.

Desired Experience:

1. Experience working with data and using data management languages (e.g. SQL).
2. Experience with one or more computer programming or scripting languages (e.g. Python, C#, VBA, R, PowerBI etc.).

Technical Qualification:

Level 3 Apprenticeship or 2 A Levels or equivalent, and have at least 5 GCSEs at grade C or grade 4 or above including Maths, English; or equivalent.

At the time of starting the role, you will be aged 16 or over

You must not be in full-time education, another apprenticeship or another funded educational programme at the time of starting the role

You must not have a higher qualification in the same occupational area (a higher qualification in a different profession/sector is permitted)

You must have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Qualifications

Please refer to the Technical Qualification section in this advert.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Details will be provided at the time of the interview but will focus on how you approach data related problems and how you apply technical skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,493, Trade Remedies Authority contributes £8,833 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Please refer to the candidate pack attached for further information.

Useful Information for Existing Civil Servants:

Existing Civil Servants should note that working for the TRA, you will be employed as a public servant. This means:

This vacancy is for a position in the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). TRA employees are not Civil Servants. Individuals applying for this role from the Civil Service are advised to review terms prior to accepting the offer. Key terms are outlined in the benefits section of this advert (these are not exhaustive). Individuals can also discuss with hiring managers and the TRA People Team on resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk.

Your continuity of service for employment protection will start on the day you join us. We are not an employer of the Crown and therefore cannot recognise previous employment with the Civil Service for the purpose of qualifying for Employment Rights. An employee must have 2 years’ length of service with TRA before Employment Rights are recognised.

If you are a member of the Civil Service Pension scheme, your membership and reckonable service will continue with us, providing there is no break between your Civil Service employment and your employment as a public servant with TRA.

We will recognise the annual leave you have built up, up to a maximum of 30 days, and the sick pay entitlement taking account of your length of service in the Civil Service.

If you choose to re-join the Civil Service at any point in the future, this will be according to the policies of the department you are joining following your resignation from TRA. You may also wish to be aware that under Exception 5 of the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles, the re-employment of a former Civil Servant is possible within a maximum of five years of leaving the Civil Service, subject to qualifying criteria being met and depending on the policies of the department you are joining.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 15/02/2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

We will be assessing your CV (no more than 2 pages). We would like candidates to provide examples of the following two Civil Service Success Profile Behaviours (no more than 250 per behaviour). If you do not have work-based examples, we encourage you to use examples from school/college/social/clubs:

1. Delivering at Pace
2. Communicating & Influencing

Sift:

If we receive a high volume of applications, we will complete an initial sift using the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace. Candidates who pass this stage will then proceed to a full sift, where all remaining assessment criteria will be considered.

Interview:

The interview will focus on the two Success Profile Behaviours, strengths, and several technical questions aimed at understanding your current and potential capability.

Timeline

Application Closes: 15th Feb 2026.

Shortlist: From 16th Feb 2026.

Interviews: W/C 02nd March 2026.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

We are Inclusive

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request adjustments.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to TRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Weichao Wang
• Email : weichao.wang@traderemedies.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment is on merit based on fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, which can be found at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/20…. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, please contact: resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission (at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilserv…).

Attachments

Candidate Pack - Interim Opens in new window (pdf, 368kB)