Digital Product Manager (Level 4)

If your organisation aims to excel in the digital landscape and create impactful digital products that resonate with users and drive business success, the Digital Product Manager Apprenticeship is the ideal pathway. This apprenticeship equips your team with the skills and insights needed to navigate the complexities of digital product management in today's fast-evolving tech environment.

With a focus on strategic innovation at its core, a Kaplan Digital Product Manager apprenticeship is anything but standard.

Beyond just technical prowess, the programme emphasises the development of critical soft skills, such as effective communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, problem-solving in dynamic environments, and fostering a user-centric mindset.

Who's it for?

Ideal for new talent in the organisation who will be responsible for managing digital products or existing staff moving to Product Management roles, in every sector and any industry.

If you're seeking to maximise the benefit of time used as part of off-the-job training and develop technical capability coupled with sector relevant skills that can be directly applied to the role, this apprenticeship might be the right option for you.

Job roles and career progression

This apprenticeship is ideal for a wide range of roles focused on digital innovation, ranging from Associate Product Managers to UX Designers, and even traditional roles transitioning into the digital product space. It's not just about the job title but the nature of the work, especially in areas of conceptualising, designing, and managing digital products. Key to success is the application of apprentices' learning in real-world projects, supported by their roles and line managers, fostering genuine growth in digital product management expertise.

An apprentice's journey doesn't end when their apprenticeship has finished. Although they will be fully competent in their role, they can continue their professional development by keeping up to date with the latest best practices and standards of the industry.

Eligibility

Regardless of age or prior attainment, anyone can do an apprenticeship provided they're learning new skills and are employed in England, in a relevant role. Kaplan will support you to assess the job role suitability as part of your application.

To do this apprenticeship employers may specify that candidates must have at least a grade 4/C GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths and English. If apprentices don't have this level of Maths and English, Kaplan offers free resources and support to make sure they develop their understanding of the subjects and application by the end of their apprenticeship.

Apprentices typically have one of the following:

2 A Levels or International Baccalaureate or any other Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC Extended Diploma
A Level 3 apprenticeship
12 months of work experience in the last 24 months if they do not have any other Level 3 qualifications

Up to 18 months plus a 4-month assessment period

Costs / funding

Levy payer

£18,000

Non-levy payer

£900

Learners

Free

Qualifications received

Digital Product Manager Level 4 apprenticeship

BCS Practitioner Certificate in Digital Product Management (Optional)

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About the programme

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Tailored learning paths for digital mastery

The Digital Product Manager apprenticeship dives deep into essential areas like user-centred design, data analytics, and Agile methodologies, offering apprentices the opportunity to specialise in areas crucial for today’s digital product landscape.

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Enhancing digital strategy and execution

This programme empowers your team with advanced skills in digital product strategy, stakeholder management, and ethical product development, optimising workflows, enhancing decision-making, and driving digital transformation.

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Build on high demand skills

Apprentices will develop a robust skill set including data-driven decision-making, effective communication for diverse audiences, and sustainable product development, ensuring they are well-equipped to excel in the fast-evolving digital product domain.

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Supported by an industry experienced Talent Coach

Each learner has regular 1:1 contact and progress reviews to keep them on track, review their portfolio, and get them fully prepared for their End Point Assessment.

Training modules

Our Digital Product Manager apprenticeship integrates eight modules of technical training with work-based tasks defined by their employer. This ensures that learning and skills are directly applied to the apprentice’s role, and maximises the time used as part of off-the-job training.

For each module, learners benefit from attending small, scheduled Live Online classes taught by a subject matter specialist, combined with additional online learning that can be completed at their own pace. Each of our live classes are interactive and involve plenty of practical discussion, giving learners quality time both with tutors and industry peers to spark new ideas and get new perspectives.

Please note that this programme will only run if a minimum of five learners are enrolled.

Introduction to Digital Product Management

Begin your journey into the world of digital product management. Discover the fundamental concepts that frame the role of a Digital Product Manager and the impact it has on technology-driven businesses. This will cover:

Role clarity: understand the core responsibilities of a Digital Product Manager, including how they drive the product lifecycle from ideation to launch and beyond.
Product lifecycle: gain insights into the various stages of a digital product's lifecycle, and how each stage requires different focus and strategies.
Cross-functional collaboration: learn about the collaborative nature of the role, working with designers, developers, marketers, and stakeholders to create successful products.
Market and customer research: introduction to techniques for understanding market needs and customer behaviour to inform product development.
Strategic thinking: develop the ability to think strategically about product positioning, competition, and market trends.
Communication skills: hone your communication skills to effectively articulate product ideas, updates, and visions to diverse audiences.

Strategy and Vision for Digital Products

Delve deeper into the strategic aspects of digital product management. This module empowers you to craft a compelling vision and strategic direction for digital products that align with business objectives and market dynamics. This will cover:

Vision crafting: learn to articulate a clear and compelling product vision that serves as a north star for the development team and stakeholders.
Strategic alignment: understand how to align the product strategy with the company’s broader business goals and customer value proposition.
Market positioning: acquire knowledge on how to position your product in the competitive market landscape effectively.
Product roadmapping: develop the skills to create and maintain a product roadmap that communicates the strategic plan and delivery timeline.
Stakeholder management: gain expertise in managing stakeholder expectations and balancing diverse inputs in the formation of product strategy.
Business model development: explore different business models and learn how to select and refine the model that best fits your product and market.

User-Centred Design and Prototyping

This module focuses on the heart of product development — the users. Apprentices will learn to integrate user-centric principles into product design, ensuring that user needs drive the creation and iteration of digital products. This will cover:

Empathy building: develop a deep understanding of user needs, experiences, and pain points through empathy exercises and user research.
Design thinking: employ design thinking methodologies to ideate, validate, and innovate product features that solve real user problems.
Prototyping techniques: master the art of prototyping as a means to quickly test and iterate on product concepts, enhancing usability and functionality.
User testing: learn to conduct effective user testing sessions, gather feedback, and translate insights into actionable product improvements.
Iterative development: embrace an iterative approach to product design, using feedback loops to refine and enhance the product.
Accessibility and inclusivity: ensure your products are accessible and inclusive, meeting the needs of all users, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.

Product Analytics and Data-Driven Decision-Making

Unlock the power of data in guiding product development. This module equips apprentices with analytical tools and frameworks to interpret user data and market trends, making informed decisions that drive product success. This will cover:

Data literacy: enhance your ability to read, understand, and communicate with data, building a solid foundation for data-driven decision-making.
Analytical tools proficiency: gain hands-on experience with the latest analytics tools and platforms used for product measurement and analysis.
KPI development: learn to identify and define key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with product goals and measure success accurately.
>Data interpretation: develop skills to interpret complex data sets and translate findings into strategic product decisions.
Experimentation and testing: Master the process of setting up, running, and analysing A/B tests and other experiments to optimise product features.
Actionable insights generation: move beyond data analysis to generate actionable insights that can lead to product improvements and innovation.

Agile Product Development and Delivery

This module immerses apprentices in the dynamic world of Agile product development. Learn the principles of Agile methodologies and how to apply them for efficient, responsive, and iterative product delivery. This will cover:

Agile methodologies mastery: understand the core principles of Agile methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban, and how to implement them in product development.
Sprint planning and execution: learn how to plan sprints effectively, manage sprint activities, and deliver increments of the product regularly.
Backlog management: acquire skills in managing and prioritising the product backlog, ensuring that the most valuable work is identified and addressed first.
Cross-functional teamwork: develop the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth and efficient product development processes.
Continuous improvement focus: embrace continuous improvement practices to refine processes and product features based on feedback and performance metrics.
Adaptive planning: adapt to changing requirements and market conditions by learning to refine and reprioritise the product roadmap as needed.

Digital Ethics, Security, and Compliance

Navigate the complex landscape of digital ethics, security, and compliance. This module covers the essential principles and practices to ensure digital products are not only secure and compliant with regulations but also ethically designed. This will cover:

Ethical frameworks: understand and apply ethical frameworks to the product management process, ensuring that products contribute positively to users and society.
Cybersecurity fundamentals: learn about cybersecurity principles, data protection laws, and how to integrate security into the product development lifecycle.
Compliance adherence: gain knowledge of global compliance standards such as GDPR and how to ensure products meet all legal requirements.
Risk management: develop strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with digital product management.
Privacy by design: embrace privacy by design principles to build trust with users by protecting their data from the ground up.
Inclusive product design: ensure products are inclusive and accessible to all users, aligning with principles of universal design and diversity.

BCS Practitioner Certificate in Digital Product Management

Tailored to align with the BCS Practitioner Certificate standards, this module offers an intensive, in-depth learning experience. It prepares apprentices for the BCS certification exam and equips them with advanced knowledge and skills required for successful digital product management. This will cover:

Comprehensive knowledge base: acquire a thorough understanding of digital product management principles as per the BCS syllabus, including stakeholder management, market analysis, and product lifecycle.
Strategic application: learn to apply strategic frameworks like Porter’s Five Forces and PESTLE analysis to real-world product scenarios.
Product roadmapping: master the art of creating and maintaining product roadmaps that align with organisational strategies and market needs.
Development techniques: gain proficiency in prioritisation techniques and resource alignment for efficient product development.
Marketing methodologies: explore various marketing techniques and user acquisition models to drive product growth and customer engagement.
Certification readiness: prepare for the BCS certification exam with targeted revision sessions, mock tests, and knowledge checks.

EPA Readiness and Project Application

This module is designed to culminate the apprenticeship experience, preparing apprentices for the End Point Assessment (EPA) and allowing them to apply their accumulated knowledge in a project that simulates real-world product management challenges. This will cover:

EPA preparation: equip apprentices with the strategies and understanding necessary to approach the EPA with confidence, covering assessment criteria and expectations.
Project management skills: apply project management principles to plan, execute, and review a digital product project from initiation to closure.
Synthesis of learning: demonstrate the integration of all learned skills and knowledge from the apprenticeship programme in a cohesive and practical manner.
Presentation and communication: develop the ability to present the project and its outcomes effectively, showcasing the ability to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively.
Feedback incorporation: use feedback from the project application phase to make informed improvements, reflecting the iterative nature of product development.
Professional readiness: confirm readiness for a professional role in digital product management through the successful completion of the project and preparation for the EPA.

View all modules

Timetables

Programmes are running regularly throughout the year. View our timetables for scheduled Live Online sessions to see when the next one is running.

View timetables

Why choose Kaplan?

Work-based learning

Our programmes provide a structured, applied learning route that ensures learning and skills are directly applied to the role and maximises the time used as part of off-the-job training.

Acquire key competencies to propel digital innovation

Through mastering digital product management skills, your Digital Product Manager apprentice will play a pivotal role in guiding product strategy and execution, leveraging user-centric design and data analytics to deliver products that drive organisational success and customer satisfaction.

Flexible and comprehensive learning

Learners attend scheduled, interactive Live Online classes involving lots of practical discussion and application, and combine this with additional online learning that can be completed at their own pace.

Expert teaching

Our tutors are all subject matter experts, with real world experience, and teach small cohort groups of like minded learners.

Support for employers:

Named account director as your key point of contact
Recruitment service to help you hire an apprentice for a new vacancy
Transparency throughout the application and onboarding process for your learners
Named tutor and talent coaches, often a single contact
Accurate, timely and accessible tracking for each learner
Line Manager visibility of your learner’s portfolio dashboards

Support for learners:

Tutor contact via email outside of scheduled classes
Regular 1:1 contact and progress reviews with a named, industry experienced talent coach to keep them on track, review their portfolio and get them fully prepared for their End Point Assessment
Peer to peer contacts from across the industry as part of a small cohort - creating opportunities to spark new ideas and get new perspectives
Integrated learning system with everything in one place. Access all online learning, track your progress, capture off-the-job activity and hours, manage and capture progress reviews, upload evidence, as well as communication, and leave messages for each other with their Talent Coach
Interactive lab environment to practise and put learning to the test
Student Service support available 362 days a year