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
Graduate Programme (Business or IT Focus)
0-1 year post-graduationSkills to master
- Structured thinking, basic project support, understanding business operations, foundational data analysis.
You're ready to move on when
- Completed rotations in relevant departments (e.g., Operations, IT, Finance).
- Received positive feedback on analytical and communication skills.
- Demonstrated initiative in self-learning new tools or concepts.
- 2
Business Administrator / Operations Support
1-2 years in roleSkills to master
- Deep understanding of specific business processes, attention to detail, problem-solving within defined parameters, stakeholder empathy.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently identified and suggested small improvements to daily tasks.
- Became the 'go-to' person for process knowledge in their team.
- Expressed a strong interest in understanding the 'why' behind current processes and systems.
- 3
IT Helpdesk / Junior IT Support
1-2 years in roleSkills to master
- Technical troubleshooting, understanding user pain points, basic system knowledge, clear communication of technical issues.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrated ability to diagnose and solve recurring user issues.
- Showed initiative in documenting solutions or creating user guides.
- Expressed a desire to move from reactive support to proactive improvement.


