TMT First founder and Chair Adam Whitehouse has been at the forefront of getting the qualification launched to help fill the severe skills gap in the tech industry, as well as upskilling and futureproofing the next generation of digital repair technicians.

Now the Digital Device Repair Technician Apprenticeship has been signed off and is being rolled out nationally over the coming months.

In partnership with the Institute for Apprenticeships Tech Education (IfATE), it follows months of work with a range of partners to get the standards created for the 21-month qualification. It’s been launched at TMT’s headquarters in Newcastle-under-Lyme in February and a number of VIP’s attended.

And Adam is delighted: “There are 71 million mobile phones in the UK alone. It shouldn’t be a case of if your mobile breaks, you instantly think about getting a new one. There needs to be the resources in place to make repairs a go to option - it’s much better for a customer’s pocket and is certainly much better for the environment.  

Adam added: “Up until now there just haven’t been enough skilled technicians available to repair all the devices that need fixing and as the number of devices grows across the UK, the skills shortage will only increase further. The National Digital Device Repair Technician Apprenticeship is an absolute gamechanger as it is going to help fill that gap. Thanks to a huge amount of hard work by a team of industry specialists, including TMT, I am delighted to see the apprenticeship formally launched.

He said: “This apprenticeship isn’t just about repairing devices; it's about nurturing a workforce capable of making significant contributions to environmental sustainability. By extending the life of digital devices, we can actively reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production and disposal of electronics, which is vital as we commit to the UK’s ambitious target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Nikki Christie, deputy director at IfATE, said: “The digital device repair technician shows what businesses can achieve when there is a skills gap in their sector. 

“IfATE is delighted to celebrate the progress of this apprenticeship. In line with Government targets to achieve net zero by 2050, IfATE is tracking how apprenticeships are becoming more sustainable; championing those leading the way, and we are pleased to confirm the green credentials on this one are very high - the core nature of this apprenticeship will make a big difference to our society. We invite even more businesses to follow the example set by TMT First and work with IfATE to develop, revise, and update apprenticeships – we are currently looking for individuals with experience of environmental issues to join our Green Advisory Community.” 

Aaron Bell, Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme said: “I was delighted to have been asked to attend the launch of the Digital Device Repair Technician Apprenticeship at TMT First’s headquarters in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

He added: “It is well documented that there is a severe skills gap in the tech industry and as the number of digital devices grows across the UK, that skills shortage is only going to increase. The launch of this apprenticeship is a pivotal moment as it will help fill that gap by upskilling the next generation of digital repair technicians. Not only is it better for the consumer’s pocket to repair a device, it’s certainly much better for the environment too.  I’d like to congratulate TMT First and their partners on all the hard work they’ve done to get this Apprenticeship off the ground, and I look forward to seeing it rolled out nationally over the coming months.”

A pre-curser on a local level to the apprenticeship, TMT launched its own in-house Training Academy four years ago to upskill the next generation of mobile device technicians.   The 20^th cohort of the Academy started this month and so far the Academy has created 79 roles in the process. Working in partnership with Samsung it consisted of everything from the theory involved to how to fix devices. Now four years on the Digital Device Repair Technician Apprenticeship will replace it.

It's hoped in its first year, at least 40 apprentices will join the scheme, with the aim to increase that year on year.

The apprenticeship is the first ‘dark green,’ standard in the digital space, which means it’s been set up to contribute to the UK’s mission to become Net Zero by 2050. To join IfATE’s Green Advisory Community and share your expertise in sustainability and climate change email Institute.SUSTAINABILITY-TEAM@education.gov.uk