Relevant lvl 3 apprenticeships for progression to lvl 4 apprenticeships

I'm looking to make a career change into software development or cyber security and I'm looking to do a relevant level 3 apprenticeship, with the goal of moving onto a level 4 apprenticeship in either of these fields.

Unfortunately local level 3 apprenticeships for either of these roles are quite sparse and I'm struggling to find any.

I noticed in my search that level 4 apprenticeships in software development or cyber security often ask for a level 3 qualification in either software development or cyber security, OR a ''relevant level 3 apprenticeship qualification''.

I just wanted to ask if anyone with similar experience or insight knows what counts as a ''relevant level 3 apprenticeship qualification''?

For example;
If I did a level 3 apprenticeship in IT would I qualify for a level 4 apprenticeship in software development/cyber security, or do they not share enough specialised subject matter?

Thank you in advance for your any help you can give

You’re not required to have prior experience for either a level 3 or 4, just the entry level qualifications.

Saying that, it would help your level 4 software development application if you were better able to show how it was the next natural step in your career. This could be done by doing a relevant level 3 and demonstrating transferable skills and early interests in that career path, or taking on extra curricular or a software/programming hobby/classes.

I went from a level 3 apprenticeship in diesel and gas engine technician to a level 4 apprenticeship in medical device research and development.

Because software development is either amazing or painful for newbies, employers typically like to have confidence/evidence the apprentice will enjoy the work up front.

I'm far from an expert in either of those areas, but it doesn't seem like there's a huge amount of overlap in either for those fields, which gives me hope.

I've already completed my a-levels which is equatable to a level 3 apprenticeship qualification.

So if I can show a personal interest in the subject of software development/cyber security, such as; independently learning a programming language or partaking in a IT course or something similar it'll make my application to a lvl 4 apprenticeship more attractive and potentially skip the need for a lvl 3 apprenticeship altogether?

Thank you again for sharing your experience, it was very insightful.