Digital Skills for Work Level 3

Ready to get straight into a digital career? This course is designed for students who want to progress into employment rather than university.

You’ll work towards two industry-relevant qualifications: a Networking and Cyber Security certificate and a Software Development certificate.

You’ll learn to set up and secure networks, protect systems from cyber threats, and write, test and fix code, developing a broad mix of digital skills for the modern workplace.

You’ll also have the opportunity to complete a work placement and put your skills into practice in a real business.

Recent students have progressed to our Apprenticeship Academy training programme, helping to prepare them for their next step into work.

You could progress directly into employment or a digital apprenticeship, in roles such as:

• IT support technician
• Junior network technician
• Cyber security technician
• Junior developer
• Software tester
• Data technician

The course is designed for learners heading straight into work, and our Apprenticeship Academy programme can help prepare you for your next step.

Demand for digital skills is strong. The UK cyber security workforce grew by 5% to around 143,000 people in 2024, and almost half of UK businesses still report a gap in basic cyber skills (DSIT, 2025). Software developers are also among the most in-demand roles across the economy (Skills England, 2026).

Greater Manchester has the largest digital and creative cluster outside London, with over 10,000 digital and creative businesses, so there are real opportunities on your doorstep.