Jobs

Apprentice Microsoft Azure Cloud Support Specialist (Information Communications Technician Level 3)

Fixed Term, Full Time

£25,081 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 30th April 2026

Are you eager to combine paid work with study to earn a qualification? Do you want to join a strong team dedicated to transforming digital in Local Government? If so, this opportunity might be perfect for you! Essex Digital Services are seeking Digital Apprentices join our dynamic team.

What our Apprentice's say:

"The best part of being an apprentice is the hands-on experience. At Essex you get to work on real projects, solve actual problems, and learn directly from experienced professionals. It's the fastest way to grow your skills and confidence with support from all angles."

Jack - Apprentice from the 2023 cohort.

About this role:

You will be working within a team responsible for the maintenance and configuration activities for all corporate technical management practices, and who complete tasks that are complex due to the level of knowledge required and business criticality. The work encompasses development, maintenance, system configuration, infrastructure & platform activities and deployments supporting key business areas of the Council, while maintaining security of operation and management of risk. This includes any associated configuration management, application upgrades, company portal administration and interfaces to applications across the Council, and assisting with management reporting requirements to ensure secure, efficient operation of business activities.

This apprenticeship (Microsoft Azure Cloud Support Specialist - Information Communications Technician Level 3) is designed to equip you with core skills to specialise in cloud systems and to resolve IT issues efficiently. During the apprenticeship, you will obtain industry-recognised Microsoft certifications and develop skills to both enhance IT performance and responsiveness and to secure and optimise cloud infrastructure.

About the Essex Digital Service:

From the moment someone logs on, pays a bill, books an appointment or accesses support, our digital service is there - we power the everyday. We're not just behind the scenes but we're at the heart of how our residents and colleagues live, work and connect.

As connectors and enablers, we remove barriers, simplify experiences and make it safer and easier for people to get what they need, when they need it. We power the everyday for residents and colleagues.

We have our guiding North Star which encapsulates our strategy, giving us a clear direction of travel and a way of storytelling where we are headed, what our priorities are and how we envisage getting there.

We all play a vital role, we all bring value and we all must count on each other to deliver together. We have a great mix of experience, skills and perspectives that make us a talented and innovative team. It's an exciting time to be part of Essex Digital Services (EDS).

The Digital Trainee is an entry level role to Essex Digital Services providing an opportunity for career development in a role in our digital services.

Benefits:

• Healthy work life balance; flexible and hybrid working options
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + option to purchase extra
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with LifeWorks
• Disability Confident Leader: we're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job
• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave
• Employee support networks, to ensure everyone in treated with dignity and respect
• A fully funded Information Communications Technician qualification delivered online over 18 months by our partnered training provider,

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found here pay and reward.

About You:

Service/Functional Accountabilities

• Work collaboratively with different areas across EDS and ECC.
• Work within your team meet the objectives of the role agreed and deliver work within agreed timescales to be able to demonstrate learning and acumen for Digital
• Utilise experience and knowledge gained to help improve EDS to ensure we deliver digital services that are designed and delivered with a clear focus on the needs of our users.
• Ensure delivery of requirements agreed in the personal development plan and apprenticeship study programme, including any external training, assessment or examinations needed to be successful.

• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Essential Requirements for the role:

• An understanding of the commitment to continual professional development to keep pace with technical and business change and acceptance of working to meet agreed competencies.
• Computer literate with a good understanding and capability in standard MS Office applications
• Enthusiastic and able to demonstrate a determination to succeed in the EDS
• Good written, verbal and presentational skills
• Good customer service skills
• Good teamwork skills

Please note that we must be provided with your education certificates at the final stage of the recruitment process. If you have international equivalent qualifications, a NARIC Statement of Comparability must be provided. If you do not already hold one you can purchase online - you can find more information here: Statement of Comparability (enic.org.uk).

Start date for this role will be 1st September 2026.

How to apply:

You MUST submit a supporting statement along with your CV detailing why you have applied and what you feel you could bring to this role. Applications without a supporting statement will be closed without consideration.

If you are interested in finding out more about this role or require further information, we would love to hear from you. Please email: Jamielea.wallis@Essex.gov.uk

Company: Essex County Council

Salary: Up to £25081.00 per annum

Location: Chelmsford, Essex

Sector: Corporate Services

Sector: IT

Job Role: Officer