Software Development Apprenticeship Program (in collaboration with FIT)

Take the jump into tech

Have you been considering a career change? Or maybe you want to break into the technology industry but aren't sure how? Get all the skills you need to become a Software Development professional in our immersive work-study programme.

Apply for our Software Developer Apprenticeship and join a comprehensive programme that provides you with the skills and training you need to become a Software Development professional.

How does it work?

As part of our paid Software Developer Apprenticeship, you'll join our team at Fidelity and be assigned a coach, who will work with you throughout your 24-month apprenticeship. The programme will include a placement on a technology team, and you will be supported with your day-to-day tasks. The programme is designed to reinforce our culture of development and growth mindset through immersive, high-impact learning experiences and deep coaching.

Apprentices start in September 2025 with an initial three-weeks of onboarding with Fidelity Investments. After, successful candidates will start the first block of offsite training in collaboration with our educational partner Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT), who are the National Coordinating Provider for Tech Apprenticeships. The programme’s off-the-job college training days will be a blended delivery of virtual classroom and assigned in-person days delivered by the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) at their Galway training location. Apprentices based in Dublin will have the same blended delivery, however they will complete their assigned in-person college training days at the Fidelity Dublin office.

This work-study model allows you to learn the basics of technology consulting by following the ICT Associate Professional Software Developer track. The programme sets you up for success for your time working onsite at Fidelity. With experience, you could become a senior developer with responsibility for systems analysis, design and development, IT architecture, business systems analysis and testing.

Your role at Fidelity

While on work placement, you will have the opportunity to collaborate within a team to solve real-life problems. You will get exposure to a range of different roles across the company including coding, cloud, DevOps, automation, testing, business analysis, project management and more.

Our flexible workplace supports the utilisation of our office space for creative collaboration and team interactions. The training and on-the-job time will take place at the location you are aligned to with a portion of flexibility for remote working.

You’ll study towards an Advanced Certificate in Computer Programming (Software Development) at NFQ Level 6, and you will gain the skills you need to build your expertise and establish yourself as a technology professional.

Who we're looking for

No commercial software development experience is required. However, this programme does have the following minimum requirements:

• Leaving Certificate or an equivalent qualification with passing grade (or O6/H7) in 5 or more subjects to include Maths and English (Ordinary Level)
• Ability to speak and write in English fluently
• Some coding experience in any programming language
• Enthusiasm and passion for new technologies, demonstrated through personal projects and interest in learning new skills
• Willingness to navigate ambiguous tasks, find suitable solutions and seek help/advice where appropriate
• Effective communication and organisational skills, proactive, self-motivated, positive attitude, and strong problem-solving capabilities
• Comfortable adapting to a fluid working environment

Programme Summary

A 2-year apprentice programme with an Advanced Certificate in Computer Programming (Software Development) received upon completion.

The Software Development Associate Apprenticeship programme is delivered across four semesters. The titles of these semesters correspond with specific milestones necessary for meaningful apprentice progress.

Please note, dates are subject to change.

Semester 1: Laying the foundation (September 2025-January 2026)

After an initial 3 weeks of onboarding to Fidelity Investments, you will begin your college experience with:

• Software Development & Design Fundamentals  
• Customer Support Provision for the ICT Professional
• Web Development  
• Software Development Using SQL
• Procedural Programming
• Object Oriented Programming

Semester 2: Introducing the Workplace (February 2026-October 2026)

You will spend a block period of weeks applying the skills you learned in Semester 1 at Fidelity Investments. After this period, you will return to college training for another set of weeks where you will learn:

• Event Driven Programming
• Data & Cyber Security
• Install, Configure & Upgrade ICT Software
• Project Management & Agile Systems of Work
• Quality Assurance and Software Testing
• Systems Development
• Introduction to Cloud Development Practice

You will then come back into the workplace to apply the new skills you have learned from these modules.

Semester 3: Consolidation (October 2026-April 2027)

College training is reduced to one day a week, with majority of days spent full time in the workplace.

• Introduction to Cloud Development Practice

Semester 4: Preparation for Autonomy (April 2027-October 2027)

College training is reduced to one day a week, with majority of days spent full time in the workplace.

• Contemporary Programming Practice