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
Project Coordinator / Project Support Officer
1-3 yearsSkills to master
- Organisation, stakeholder coordination, basic project planning, understanding project lifecycles, and managing communications within a project.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers project tasks on time and to a high standard.
- Proactively identifies and flags potential issues to the Project Manager.
- Has shown initiative in taking on communication or training-related tasks.
- Receives positive feedback from project team members and stakeholders.
- 2
Internal Communications Specialist
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Crafting compelling messages, understanding different communication channels, audience segmentation, and managing communication campaigns. You'll need to layer on project context.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven ability to write clear, engaging, and impactful internal communications.
- Experience managing communication plans for specific initiatives or campaigns.
- Has demonstrated an interest in the 'why' behind the messages and the impact on employees.
- Can show examples of adapting communication style for different internal audiences.
- 3
HR Business Partner / HR Advisor
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Employee relations, understanding organisational culture, talent management, and supporting managers through people-related changes. You'll need to broaden your focus beyond just HR-specific changes.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully supported managers and employees through HR-led changes (e.g., new policies, system rollouts).
- Strong understanding of employee sentiment and how to address concerns.
- Has experience influencing managers and leaders without direct authority.
- Demonstrates a strategic mindset beyond day-to-day HR operations.


