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
Recent Graduate (Business/Psychology/Comms)
0-1 year in roleSkills to master
- Practical application of academic knowledge, professional communication, corporate tool proficiency (e.g., Excel, Asana), understanding organisational dynamics.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering accurate work on time.
- Proactively seeking feedback and applying it.
- Demonstrating a strong grasp of project processes and team priorities.
- Taking initiative on tasks beyond initial instructions.
- 2
Administrative Assistant / Executive Assistant
1-2 years in roleSkills to master
- Transitioning from general admin to project-specific support, understanding change methodologies, managing project documentation, stakeholder communication support.
You're ready to move on when
- Excellent organisational skills translating directly to project success.
- Ability to anticipate needs and proactively support senior team members.
- Demonstrated interest in the 'why' behind projects, not just the 'what'.
- Taking on more complex administrative tasks with minimal supervision.
- 3
Project Support Officer / Project Coordinator
0-1 year in roleSkills to master
- Deepening understanding of change-specific aspects (e.g., impact assessments, resistance management), integrating change activities into project plans, basic data analysis for change metrics.
You're ready to move on when
- Strong grasp of project lifecycle and dependencies.
- Ability to manage small project workstreams independently.
- Proactive identification of potential change-related risks or issues.
- Effective coordination with multiple project stakeholders.
- 4
Internal Communications Assistant
1-2 years in roleSkills to master
- Understanding the strategic intent behind communications, tailoring messages for behaviour change, basic stakeholder analysis, integrating communication plans with broader change strategy.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven ability to draft clear, engaging communications.
- Understanding of different communication channels and their effectiveness.
- Ability to adapt messaging based on audience feedback.
- Demonstrated interest in the 'people' side of change.


