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Digital Marketing Modern Apprenticeship
Earn a recognised SVQ in Digital Marketing at SCQF Level 7 while you work. 100% online, work-based, and funded by Skills Development Scotland – no exams, no day-release, and no sacrificing your salary.
Trusted across Scotland by Aberdeenshire Council · Edinburgh University · Schuh · McDonald’s · Channel 4 · North Lanarkshire Council
AT A GLANCE
- QUALIFICATION
- SVQ in Digital Marketing Accredited by Qualifications Scotland
- LEVEL
- SCQF Level 7 Equivalent to an HNC
- DURATION
- 12 months From 7 months for fast learners
- DELIVERY
- 100% online Work-based, no college days
- TIME PER WEEK
- Approx. 2 hours During working hours
- COST TO LEARNER
- £0 Fully funded by SDS
Overview
A work-based pathway to a recognised digital marketing qualification.
The Digital Marketing Modern Apprenticeship is a structured, work-based learning programme that validates practical competency in managing digital channels, producing content, and analysing marketing data.
Central to the apprenticeship is the SVQ in Digital Marketing at SCQF Level 7 – a qualification accredited by Qualifications Scotland and recognised by employers across the UK. Candidates combine everyday workplace experience with one-to-one assessor coaching to build a portfolio of real, professional work.
There are no written exams. You prove what you can do through evidence you’re already producing on the job – social media schedules, analytics dashboards, campaigns, newsletters, blog posts, and website updates – mapped to the Qualifications Scotland framework by your assessor.
- SCQF Level
- Level 7 – HNC equivalent, first year of a degree.
- Funded by
- Skills Development Scotland – no cost to the learner.
- Entry Requirements
- A relevant digital role in Scotland. No academic entry requirements.
- Assessment
- Continuous. No exams. E-portfolio via Google Classroom.
Who This Apprenticeship Is For
Designed for anyone in a digital role in Scotland.
The apprenticeship is highly adaptable. Eligibility is determined by your current job role and your ability to generate digital marketing evidence in the workplace – not by prior academic study.
Suitable role types
If your day job involves any of the following, you’re likely a strong fit. The full list of specific job titles is in the Job Roles section below.
Channel & community
Running social media, managing brand presence, and engaging with audiences day-to-day.
Content & copy
Writing, editing, and publishing across websites, blogs, email, and campaign assets.
Search, ads & analytics
SEO, PPC, paid social, and reporting on the performance of marketing activity.
Marketing operations
CRM, e-commerce, PR, and admin support to keep marketing activity running smoothly.
Suitable industries
- Dedicated digital and creative agencies
- In-house corporate marketing departments
- Charities and third-sector organisations
- Public sector and local authorities
- E-commerce, retail, and hospitality
Learner backgrounds
- School leavers entering the workforce
- Career changers moving into a digital discipline
- Existing staff formalising and accrediting skills
- Graduates upskilling into digital marketing
What You Will Learn
Practical competencies you'll use in your role from day one.
Rather than abstract theory, you’ll evidence skills that directly match the tasks you’re already doing. Your assessor maps learning onto your real workload.
- Developing and managing social media channels and digital platforms
- Writing, creating, and promoting content across channels and CRM systems
- Planning, executing, and evaluating digital marketing campaigns
- Using analytical tools to track and report on digital performance
- Adhering to data protection, ethical, and regulatory requirements
- Managing personal development and reflecting on professional practice
Units and SCQF / Qualifications Scotland alignment
AI LITERACY INCLUDED
AI skills you have the opportunity to develop
The apprenticeship integrates practical AI literacy into the learning process. These skills are optional and explored only where appropriate to your job role.
Productivity & Workflows
Using AI tools to support productivity and streamline daily workflows.
Content Creation
Using AI to assist with drafting copy, brainstorming campaigns, and ideating content.
AI-Driven Analytics
Interpreting large data sets and generating performance reports with AI tools.
Ethical & Responsible Use
Understanding copyright compliance, avoiding bias, and applying AI responsibly.
Prompting for LLMs
Working with Large Language Models to extract accurate, high-quality outputs.
Delivery & Support
Learning that fits around your job - with a dedicated assessor throughout.
The Sixth Sense Training delivery model integrates seamlessly into modern working life. You won’t lose full days to college. Your assessor meets you where you are.
Delivery model
- Workplace-based learning - you learn while doing your job
- 100% online, no day-release at college
- Flexible, role-aligned coaching sessions via video call
- E-portfolio submitted via Google Classroom
- AI-supported learning materials (NotebookLM)
- Approximately 2 hours per week of coursework
Support model
- Regular 1-to-1 assessor sessions
- Neurodiversity-friendly support - adaptable formats & methods
- Flexible scheduling around business peaks & annual leave
- Regular employer progress reviews
- Continuous feedback, never a single high-stakes exam
Assessment Approach
Continuously assessed - no written exams.
Competency is measured through the work you’re already doing. Your portfolio builds steadily over the programme until unit requirements are fully met.
Reflective accounts
Written or audio accounts detailing how you completed tasks, the decisions you made, and challenges you overcame.
Annotated evidence
Real examples of your work, with explanatory annotations mapping to Qualifications Scotland criteria.
Live observations
Screen-share in 1-to-1 sessions to demonstrate the software and processes you use daily.
Portfolio building
Your assessor maps every piece of evidence against the performance criteria until each unit’s requirements are fully met.
Continuous assessment
No exams. Your portfolio is built steadily over the course of the programme, never under one-off pressure.
Duration & Funding
Fully funded. Flexible pace. Recognised across the UK.
Funding is provided through Skills Development Scotland (SDS) for anyone aged 16+ (or 15 if you’ve reached official school-leaving age). The learner never pays for training. Your employer provides the role and protected time with your assessor during working hours.
Residency
Must permanently reside in Scotland
Employment
Employed in Scotland, paid at least the National Minimum Wage for apprentices
Employer role
Provides relevant work, protected assessor time, and brief progress reviews
Job Roles & Progression
A foundation for an early-to-mid career in digital.
The SVQ in Digital Marketing supports a wide variety of roles. Typical responsibilities involve creating social content, writing blogs, monitoring website traffic, building email newsletters, and reporting on campaign success.
Digital Marketing Assistant
Social Media Executive
Sales Executive
Content Coordinator
Marketing Administrator
SEO Assistant
Email Marketing Assistant
PR Assistant
E-commerce Assistant
Progression Routes
On completion, candidates can progress to an SCQF Level 8 qualification (such as a Technical Apprenticeship or higher-level SVQ in a related field), pursue HNC / HND qualifications, or enter degree-level pathways. The analytical, strategic, and practical skills you develop provide a strong foundation for advancing into senior marketing roles.
Benefits
Built to deliver real value for employers and learners.
For Employers
- Develops a highly capable workforce trained to current industry and Qualifications Scotland standards.
- Access SDS funding - dramatically reducing the need for expensive external training courses.
- 100% online, work-based - no staff days out to attend college.
- Ensures marketing staff understand and adhere to data protection, copyright, and advertising standards.
- Formal accreditation increases employee loyalty and reduces staff turnover.
- Learning tied to daily tasks means improved marketing outputs from day one.
For Learners
- Earn a recognised SVQ without pausing your career or sacrificing your salary.
- Validate your existing skills with a formal SCQF Level 7 certificate recognised across the UK.
- Build a tangible portfolio of professional work for future career opportunities.
- Receive 1-to-1 coaching from an experienced digital marketing assessor.
- Study and gather evidence at a pace that fits around your full-time job.
- Achieve your qualification through practical assessment - no stressful written exams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know.
You will achieve an SVQ in Digital Marketing at SCQF Level 7, equivalent to a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or the first year of a university degree. The qualification is accredited by Qualifications Scotland and recognised by employers across the UK.
The programme typically takes 12 months based on approximately two hours of coursework per week. Motivated learners who can dedicate more time can finish in as little as 7 months.
No. There are no written exams. The qualification is continuously assessed based on the practical evidence you gather in the workplace, supported by reflective accounts and live observations.
You prove your competency by submitting real examples of your daily work (annotated evidence), writing reflective accounts, and demonstrating tasks live to your assessor during 1-to-1 sessions. Your assessor maps everything to the Qualifications Scotland criteria and your portfolio builds steadily over the programme.
Delivery is 100% online and work-based. Coaching sessions take place via video call, and coursework is submitted via an online e-portfolio (Google Classroom). There is no day-release college attendance required.
No. There is no day-release college required. All learning and assessment take place within your working hours and online – you can complete the entire qualification from your usual workplace.
You will receive regular 1-to-1 coaching sessions from a dedicated assessor, neurodiversity-friendly learning materials with adaptable formats, flexible scheduling that works around business peaks and annual leave, and an accessible e-portfolio system to guide your progress.
Training is funded by Skills Development Scotland (SDS). Anyone aged 16+ (or 15 at official school-leaving age) can apply, and the learner never pays for training. Your employer provides your role and protected time with your assessor.
You need to be employed in a role that involves executing digital marketing tasks. Typical titles include Digital Marketing Assistant, Social Media Executive, Content Coordinator, SEO Assistant, or Marketing Administrator.
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Eligibility is determined entirely by your current job role and your ability to generate the digital marketing evidence required to meet the Qualifications Scotland framework criteria.
Yes. A university degree does not affect your eligibility. Graduates are welcome to use this apprenticeship to upskill in digital marketing.
Yes. Modern Apprenticeships are well suited to existing staff members who want to formalise their skills with an accredited qualification.
Yes. Because our delivery is 100% online, we can easily support candidates working from home, in an office, or on a hybrid schedule.
Your apprenticeship can move with you. Provided your new role is relevant to digital marketing and your new employer agrees to support the programme, we can transfer your qualification seamlessly.
We operate on a rolling enrolment basis – no cohort dates or term times. You can apply and begin onboarding at any time of year.
How to Apply
A straightforward, supportive process.
Here’s what happens from the moment you first get in touch to your first assessor session.
Enquiry via our website form or chat box
Get in touch to express your interest in the Digital Marketing Modern Apprenticeship.
Eligibility check & course overview
A friendly team member discusses your current job role, ensures the framework is right for you, and answers initial questions.
You're matched with an assessor
You’ll be paired with an experienced industry assessor who will guide you through your entire qualification.
Enrolment paperwork completed
We handle the administrative side – a quick session to complete Skills Development Scotland and Qualifications Scotland paperwork.
First session booked - you begin
You log into your e-portfolio for the first time, agree on your first task, and officially start your apprenticeship.
Ready to start? Apply today - or request a call back.
Whether you’re an individual looking for your first Modern Apprenticeship or an employer wanting to upskill your team, we’re here to help.