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
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Organisation, project planning basics, stakeholder communication, understanding project lifecycle. You'll have seen how projects run and the challenges they face.
You're ready to move on when
- You've taken initiative to help with 'people' aspects of projects, like drafting team updates or organising training.
- You're known for being highly organised and reliable in managing project documentation and schedules.
- You've shown curiosity about why projects succeed or fail, beyond just the technical delivery.
- 2
HR Specialist / HR Business Partner
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Employee relations, talent management, understanding organisational culture, communication, navigating people challenges. You'll have a good grasp of what makes people tick.
You're ready to move on when
- You've been involved in rolling out new HR policies or systems and seen the impact on employees.
- You're skilled at communicating sensitive information and managing employee expectations.
- You've got a strong understanding of different employee groups and their concerns.
- 3
Internal Communications Specialist
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Crafting compelling messages, channel management, stakeholder engagement, understanding communication psychology. You'll know how to get a message across effectively.
You're ready to move on when
- You've designed and delivered communication plans for significant internal initiatives.
- You're adept at tailoring messages for different internal audiences and measuring their effectiveness.
- You've shown an interest in how communications drive behaviour change, not just awareness.


