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)
0-1 year post-graduationSkills to master
- Understanding core business functions, project support, basic data handling, professional communication.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully completed rotations or projects in different departments.
- Received positive feedback on analytical tasks and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated initiative in identifying small improvements within your graduate role.
- 2
Operations/Administrative Assistant with Improvement Focus
1-2 years in roleSkills to master
- Deep understanding of specific operational processes, data entry accuracy, problem identification, basic reporting.
You're ready to move on when
- You've actively sought out opportunities to streamline your own tasks or team processes.
- You've built simple spreadsheets or tools to make work easier for your colleagues.
- Your manager consistently praises your organisation and attention to detail.
- 3
Data Entry / Junior Data Analyst
1-2 years in roleSkills to master
- Data cleaning, data validation, basic Excel skills, understanding data integrity.
You're ready to move on when
- You're known for your meticulous approach to data and can spot errors easily.
- You've started to build simple reports or dashboards in Excel.
- You're curious about the 'story' behind the numbers and not just processing them.


