This programme is built around what comms actually has to do in this sector: protect funding, reach people who need help, and hold its own against misinformation and harmful narratives. It's tailored to meet the sector's unique challenges, combining high-quality teaching with real-world application to maximise impact.

We work closely with employers to align training with service needs, helping organisations get more capable, more confident comms out of the people already doing it. Whether someone's stepping into a comms-shaped role for the first time or has been doing it a year or two without formal training, this gives them a practical, fully funded route to getting genuinely good at it.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a government-funded training programme combining on-the-job learning with expert-led instruction. Learners develop practical skills while working toward a recognised qualification, applying what they learn directly to real communications work in their own organisation.

Why Use Apprenticeships For Your Comms Training?

Comms in this sector rarely comes with a comms qualification attached. It's usually picked up alongside another role, learned as you go. An apprenticeship gives that person a structured, expert-led route to doing the job properly, without needing to step away from it.

For PR and communications roles in domestic abuse and sexual violence organisations, this means training that's grounded in the real demands of the sector, not generic PR theory. And with government funding available, it's a cost-effective way to build genuine comms capability.

What is Covered in this Apprenticeship?

Winning the fight against AI misinformation – Understand how people now use AI tools to search for help and entitlements, and how those tools get it confidently wrong. Learn how to make sure accurate information is what actually gets found.

Communicating with people at their most vulnerable – Trauma-informed content and stakeholder communication that meets people where they are, without adding to the harm.

Getting the truth about your service across – Making sure commissioners, referral partners, and the public understand what roles like IDVA and ISVA actually involve, and representing survivors' voices with genuine consent, never extracted.

Turning evidence into campaigns that land – Using real data (ONS, the Femicide Census, SafeLives and similar sources) to build campaigns with real weight behind them.

Countering the narratives that let abuse hide – From online misogyny reshaping what young men think is acceptable, to narratives of honour, family, and community used to excuse or silence abuse, and how to build content that pushes back directly.

Communication that keeps the lights on – Stakeholder analysis, risk and reputation management, and the day-to-day comms work that protects the funding relationships a service depends on.

Want to Know More?

Read the full course details or book a conversation with us to find out more.

How is this Apprenticeship Assessed?

Ongoing Assessment Throughout the Apprenticeship

• Real campaign testing – Learners produce two versions of the same piece of content, a social post, article, news release, blog, or bulletin, deliberately varying the approach, publish both, then analyse which performed better and why.

• Pitching for real permission – Learners build a mini-campaign grounded in research into sector myths and stereotypes, then pitch it to their own stakeholders to get sign-off to actually run it, and evidence the impact once it's live.

• Risk assessment with real numbers – Learners score probability and impact for genuine reputational risks facing their organisation, rank them, and use that to pitch an ambitious piece of work to stakeholders with a proper risk assessment behind it.

• Stakeholder work with a real outcome – Producing a stakeholder analysis, planning and delivering an actual engagement activity, and collating real feedback from it.

• Assignments & Projects – Work-based tasks throughout, building toward two major projects during the apprenticeship: a practice project and a final project at the centre of the End-Point Assessment, each a genuine piece of comms work carried out in the learner's own organisation.

The End-Point Assessment (EPA)

• Written Project Report with Presentation & Questioning – the learner leads a genuine transformation in how their own organisation communicates, then writes it up and presents it to an independent assessor.

• Professional Discussion underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence – a structured conversation covering communication and campaigns, organisational structure and strategy, media and public relations, team performance and objectives, and regulations and legislation.

Successful completion leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

Sharpen a skillset you already use every day – learn techniques built specifically for this sector, no comms background required to start.

Learn While You Work – apply everything directly to your own organisation's real comms as you go.

Hold your own against a harder fight – build the skills to counter misinformation and harmful narratives most comms training never touches.

Gain a Recognised Qualification – a government-funded, nationally recognised qualification that reflects genuine capability, not just completed coursework.

Advance Your Career – open doors to further comms roles across the sector.

Doing more with less. Comms in this sector rarely comes with a marketing budget. Learners build practical, low-cost skills, organic SEO, content strategy, evidence-led campaigning, that make communication work hard without big spend.

Comms that raises money. A large part of this work exists to bring income in. Learners build the skills to produce content and campaigns that genuinely connect with funders and supporters.

Comms that helps people find you. Survivors need accurate information at the moment they need it. Learners are trained to make sure the organisation's own accurate content, not an AI's best guess, is what people actually find.

Comms for advocacy and influence. Much of this work is about raising awareness and influencing commissioners and policymakers. Learners build the skills to communicate effectively across a genuinely wide range of stakeholders, local and national.

Comms fighting a harder battle. Misinformation, bots, and harmful online narratives make this job harder than generic PR work. Learners are trained specifically to recognise and counter this, rather than left to work it out alone.

Who is This Apprenticeship Designed for?

Anyone in a domestic abuse or sexual violence organisation who has some comms or PR responsibility as part of their role, whether that's the whole job or just a slice of it, and who hasn't had formal comms training.

Suitable for people new to the role and those a year or two in who want to sharpen and formalise their skills.

Do I need a comms background to do this?

No. This programme is built specifically for people without one. You don't need a media, marketing, or PR qualification, or previous experience in a comms job. You just need some comms activity built into your current role.

What counts as "doing some comms" in my role?

Things like managing your organisation's social media, writing or distributing press releases, articles, blogs, or bulletins, producing fundraising or awareness campaign content, updating your website, producing video, image, or infographic content, proofreading or editing communications materials, preparing materials for commissioner or stakeholder meetings, liaising with journalists, or coordinating events and campaigns. If a meaningful part of your job touches any of this, even alongside other duties, you're likely eligible.

Do I need to already be in a suitable role before starting?

Yes. Learners need to already be employed in a role where they can apply this learning in practice. We don't run a recruitment service, so you'll need to be in role, or about to start one, before enrolling. If you're not sure whether a role qualifies, we can talk it through with you.

Is the training delivered online?

Yes. Training is delivered fully online through live interactive workshops, guided learning tasks, and one-to-one tutor support.
This allows staff to participate from any location without the need for travel or time away from work.

How is progress supported?

Each learner has:

• A main tutor who provides teaching, guidance and feedback.

• A training manager who carries out sign-ups and progress reviews and liaises directly with the employer.

We also structure learning tasks clearly and check in regularly to ensure progress is steady and manageable alongside workload.

How long does the apprenticeship take to complete?

14 months, delivered as two half-days a month, delivered online.

How is the apprenticeship funded?

Government funded.

Levy-paying organisations can use their Apprenticeship Levy to cover the full cost.

Non-levy employers typically contribute 5%, though many smaller organisations pay nothing at all because levy transfer is available: larger organisations can transfer unused levy funds to cover the cost in full.

We can explain how levy transfer works, help find a transfer partner, and support you through the setup.

What roles can this apprenticeship support progression into?

Roles such as Communications Officer and Marketing and Fundraising Officer within domestic abuse and sexual violence organisations.

Does this cover AI misinformation and harmful online narratives, or is it generic PR training?

Not generic. People are increasingly turning to AI tools for help and information about domestic abuse and sexual violence, and often getting confidently wrong answers.

This programme trains learners to tackle that directly: understanding how content is found and interpreted by AI and search systems, and making sure accurate information wins out. It also covers the harmful narratives, from online misogyny to narratives of honour, family, and community, used to excuse or minimise abuse, and how to build content that pushes back on them.

What makes Be Astute’s approach different?

Our focus is on building capability, confidence, and professional identity — not just completing a qualification.
We teach in a way that is clear, practical, and grounded in the realities of frontline work, and we work closely with employers to ensure learning is manageable, relevant, and aligned with service needs.

We support staff to grow into the role, not just pass assessments.

Talk with Our Team

If you’d like to explore whether this apprenticeship is a good fit for your organisation or staff team, we’d be happy to have a conversation. We can answer questions, discuss role suitability, and provide guidance on funding or levy transfer options.