Service designer
Level 6 · DegreeBusiness and administration 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 6 apprenticeship trains service designers to create and improve public or commercial services by deeply understanding user needs and systemic factors. Apprentices use research, prototyping, and co-design methods to shape how services work end-to-end across digital and physical channels. It can lead to roles such as Lead Service Designer, Head of Design, or UX Strategy Director.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Service design principles, tools, and methods
User research techniques including interviews and observation
Journey mapping and service blueprinting
Prototyping and testing service concepts
Systems thinking and understanding complex organisations
Facilitation and co-design workshop techniques
Communicating design decisions to senior stakeholders
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Conduct user research to understand needs and pain points
Create service blueprints and journey maps
Facilitate co-design workshops with users and teams
Prototype and test new service concepts iteratively
Identify systemic issues affecting service delivery
Present design recommendations to senior decision-makers
Collaborate with product owners, developers, and policy teams
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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