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 Scheme (Business/Operations)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Project support, data analysis, stakeholder engagement (basic), understanding business functions.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully completed rotations in operational or analytical departments.
- Received positive feedback on analytical tasks and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated initiative in identifying small process improvements within your graduate roles.
- 2
Operations Support / Junior Analyst
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Data extraction, basic reporting, understanding operational workflows, problem-solving in a specific domain.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivered accurate reports and data sets.
- Identified and resolved recurring operational issues.
- Expressed a desire to understand 'why' processes are structured the way they are.
- 3
Administrative / Project Coordinator
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Project coordination, documentation management, stakeholder communication (administrative), organisational skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed complex project schedules and documentation effectively.
- Proactively streamlined administrative processes within your role.
- Showed interest in the underlying business processes of the projects you supported.


