Trainee Programmer jobs

Please note that this is an apprenticeship position and therefore anyone with more than six months professional experience working as a software tester or who holds an ISTQB foundation certificate will not be eligible.

You will also need to commit to completing a Level 4 Software Testing Apprenticeship.

About us

We are a long-established group of self-catering holiday-letting agencies, managing a large portfolio of premium holiday homes across the UK. Our brands include Aspects Holidays, Boutique Retreats, Classic Cottages, Grandeur Property, Island Escapes, and Unique Hideaways.

Technology plays a central role in how we operate, grow, and help teams work effectively. We’re looking for a Software Tester Apprentice to join our Software Support Team, helping improve the quality, reliability and consistency of the systems used across the business.

This is a practical entry route into software testing and quality assurance for someone who is curious, methodical and keen to learn. You’ll build skills across troubleshooting, testing, documentation and software quality while completing a Level 4 Software Tester apprenticeship and gaining hands-on experience with real systems used by our colleagues, customers, owners and guests every day.

About the role

You’ll work within Software Support, helping improve the quality of the software we rely on for our brands, offices and customer journeys.

This role will involve working with colleagues across the organisation to understand software issues, reproduce problems, liaise with developers before and after the release of new features, and help establish clear testing practices. As your knowledge and confidence grow, you’ll contribute to well-structured testing guidelines, manual and automated test plans, release checks and quality assurance activities that help us improve our solutions over time.

You won’t be expected to arrive with all the answers or define our testing approach independently from the start. We’re looking for someone who can learn, ask good questions, work through problems carefully, and build the skills needed to support a more structured approach to software quality over time.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll work with colleagues in Software Support and Software Development to investigate issues, test changes and help improve the quality of our internal systems and customer-facing services.

Your work will include:

• Helping respond to software queries and issues

• Investigating issues, reproducing problems and capturing clear notes for developers

• Creating and maintaining manual test plans for fixes, changes and key workflows

• Supporting automated testing where appropriate as your skills develop

• Helping check the quality of changes before and after release

• Working with developers to understand upcoming changes and identify what needs testing

• Contributing to testing guidelines, checklists and internal documentation

What we’re looking for

You don’t need commercial software testing experience. More important is that you enjoy understanding how things work, spotting detail, solving problems, and learning new skills.

Key strengths for this role include:

• A proven interest in software, technology or how applications work

• A real enthusiasm for testing, quality assurance and continuous improvement

• Good attention to detail and a methodical approach to problem solving

• Confidence asking questions and gathering information

• Clear written communication skills and the ability to document findings well

• A willingness to learn new tools, technologies and ways of working

• A collaborative mindset and ability to work with others

Exposure to any testing, coding, scripting, websites, databases or technical projects would be useful, but it isn’t essential.

Essential Qualifications

• 7 GCSE’s (or equivalent) at grades 9-4 or A-C including English and Mathematics

• 3 A Levels at grades A - C (or equivalent) in STEM subjects

Applications are encouraged from graduates looking for an apprenticeship route to a career in tech.

Salary: £22,000 - £24,000

Location: You’ll be based in our office in Hayle, (TR27 5JR).

The role is office based with no remote / hybrid working so the successful candidate will have a commute of 1hr or less. The role is not open to candidates that would need to relocate to meet this requirement.

Additional Company Benefits

• 33 days holiday, including bank holidays, plus a day off for your birthday
• Company pension and life insurance
• Employee assistance programme
• 3 days paid volunteering
• Discounts on holidays within our group portfolio

Diversity Statement: We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs, including those who are neurodivergent, and we value the unique perspectives each individual brings.

Learning and development

This role includes a structured Level 4 Software Tester apprenticeship, giving you formal training alongside hands-on experience in the workplace.

You’ll have dedicated learning time as part of the apprenticeship, regular guidance from your training provider, and day-to-day mentoring from colleagues across our technology function.

As your confidence grows, you’ll gradually take on more responsibility across manual testing, automated testing, release checks, documentation and the wider quality assurance practices that support our developers.

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