The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Operations Support / Administrator
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Deep understanding of specific operational processes, attention to detail, basic troubleshooting, data entry accuracy.
You're ready to move on when
- You've become the go-to person for complex process questions in your team.
- You've identified manual tasks that are ripe for automation.
- You've shown initiative in suggesting process improvements, even if they're not tech-based.
- 2
IT Helpdesk / Junior IT Support
0-1 yearSkills to master
- Basic system troubleshooting, understanding of IT infrastructure, user support, ticket management, logical problem-solving.
You're ready to move on when
- You're comfortable navigating different software systems and understanding their interactions.
- You've successfully resolved basic technical issues for users.
- You're curious about how applications communicate with each other.
- 3
Recent Graduate (STEM / Business Information Systems)
0 years (direct entry)Skills to master
- Foundational programming logic, analytical thinking, project work, academic understanding of business processes.
You're ready to move on when
- You've completed relevant coursework or projects involving data analysis or process mapping.
- You've demonstrated an ability to learn new technical concepts quickly.
- You're eager to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world business problems.


