Inside the Digital Learning Designer Apprenticeship: Skills, Impact and Success Stories
Digital learning is evolving fast, and the need for skilled, creative learning designers has never been greater. Our Level 5 Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship equips professionals with the tools, confidence and mindset to deliver high-quality, learner-centred digital experiences that make a real difference at work.
Many of the apprentices featured below were among the first to join the programme when we first launched the Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship. Their reflections highlight not just their personal growth, but the tangible impact the programme has supported in teams across a wide variety of different industries.
Don’t just take our word for it, here’s what they had to say about their experience!
Jenny Bytheway
Learning and Development Assistant
Allpay
“The apprenticeship has helped me develop a wide range of skills through a mix of online learning modules, live webinars and one-to-one coaching. I’ve found scoping, instructional design models, and evaluation skills incredibly useful in my role. I now feel much more confident engaging with stakeholders.”
“The programme has changed how we approach digital learning at Allpay. It’s encouraged us to think more creatively about how learning can be delivered, and to push the boundaries of what’s possible with digital learning, especially in exploring more practical and technical solutions.”
“My Skills Coach, Frazer, was excellent. I felt supported every step of the way and honestly couldn’t have done it without him. There was always time set aside for guidance, but I also knew I could reach out whenever I needed help. I really valued the sense of community with other apprentices too. The development day, in particular, was a real highlight.”
“The Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship has been an extremely valuable experience, equipping me with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential to the role. I gained hands-on experience applying instructional design models such as ADDIE and Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction and developed proficiency in tools including Clipchamp, Moodle, and Articulate Rise.”
“Through online modules, coaching sessions and expert-led masterclasses, I enhanced my content creation and visual design skills through effective storyboarding, enabling me to create engaging, learner-centred digital experiences.”
“As part of the apprenticeship, I created a suite of reusable resources to support collaboration and promote best practice across West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. These include a Mayer’s 12 Principles of Multimedia Checklist, a Stakeholder Engagement Planning Template, and a Digital Learning Accessibility Checklist.”
“These tools have helped make our approach to digital learning more consistent, inclusive, and effective across the Prevention Assurance Improvement team.”
Simon Lister
Prevention Trainer
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Howie Plummer
Learning Delivery Manager
Crown Commercial Service
“The Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship has both consolidated the good practice that I already followed and given me new tools to be a more complete Digital Learning Designer. It’s helped me expand my perspective beyond just design and development - towards the importance of analysis, implementation and evaluation.”
“I’ve learnt more about the importance of understanding and engaging with stakeholders through tools like stakeholder mapping, and I’ve deepened my knowledge of evaluation by exploring frameworks such as Kirkpatrick’s levels of training evaluation, helping me measure the real impact of learning within our organisation.”
“The apprenticeship has started me on a journey of evolution. From simply producing what I was asked for, to now evaluating what the stakeholder actually needs and suggesting alternatives where a better approach might be possible. The learning I’ve gained has given me the confidence and authority to do this.”
“Being in a forward-looking team, some of the tools introduced by my coach and fellow apprentices have opened our eyes to new possibilities for our learning materials, from using Articulate Storyline’s View, Try and Test modes to enhance system learning, to exploring how Artificial Intelligence can support us by summarising text and assessing readability.”
“The apprenticeship has really helped me build a solid understanding of digital learning and my role as a Digital Learning Designer. I learned that creating effective e-learning involves far more than simply converting PowerPoint slides into online modules, it’s about designing with purpose and structure.”
“By applying learning theories and concepts such as Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Mayer’s Multimedia Principles, I’ve been able to design eLearning that truly supports knowledge retention and learner engagement.”
“Over the past 18 months, my learning journey has not only transformed my own practice but also the way our team at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust approaches digital learning. I encouraged stakeholders and trainers to conduct Learning Needs Analyses before developing content, which has helped us create more interactive, learner-focused modules, from branching scenarios and virtual escape rooms to knowledge checks with immediate feedback.”
“The programme’s accessibility makes it ideal for NHS Trusts. It’s structured to support people from a range of professional backgrounds and offers the right balance of flexibility, live learning, and practical application. The ongoing support from my Skills Coach made the whole experience both achievable and enjoyable.”
Manisha Sharma
Learning Technologist
Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
These stories highlight what our Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship is all about: practical skills, creative thinking, and the confidence to drive meaningful learning improvements in the workplace. We couldn’t be prouder of the impact our apprentices are already having - and this is just the beginning!
To the pioneers of our first Digital Learning Designer cohorts: congratulations, and thank you for showing what great digital learning can look like.
If you’re interested in developing your digital learning capabilities or want to support someone in your organisation to take the next step in their career, learn more about the Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship or get in touch with the LDN team to find out more about our next cohort and start shaping the future of learning with us.