Build practical foundations where business analysis meets data, including requirements, process modelling, SQL, Excel analytics, collaboration and professional communication.
Build practical foundations where business analysis meets data. This 18-week beginner pathway introduces requirements, SQL, spreadsheet analysis and professional communication through guided activities and a mini-project.
Starting point and progression
Suitable for learners building confidence in both business analysis and data. Discuss your digital skills, experience and support needs to agree a suitable starting point before progressing towards Professional study.
What you will learn
- Digital literacy, computer use, typing and collaboration; Word, Excel and PowerPoint for analyst deliverables.
- Business analysis fundamentals, stakeholder communication, critical thinking and teamwork.
- Data concepts: tables, records, databases and reporting.
- Introductory SQL queries, joins and aggregations; Excel pivot tables, formulas and charts.
- Business process modelling, BPMN, use cases and user stories.
- Communication through Teams, Zoom and Slack; cybersecurity awareness and GDPR basics.
Practical work and portfolio
Gather requirements, create reports and present findings in a capstone mini-project. Use simple SQL and Excel tasks to explore the data behind a business question, then communicate your findings and limitations.
What you can develop
- Document a business need and its supporting requirements.
- Query simple structured data and produce a clear spreadsheet report.
- Connect a process model with the information it needs.
- Present findings with a clear explanation of the underlying evidence.
Career directions
Explore junior business analysis, data administration, reporting and junior BI work. Job readiness depends on your prior experience, portfolio and each employer’s requirements.
UK salary and contract-rate guide
Evidence reviewed: 5 October 2026. These examples describe the employment market for named roles and help you explore career progression.
For a foundation learner, use the following as a view of the wider career journey, not a junior-only salary range or an immediate post-course expectation. National Careers Service occupation profiles span starter to experienced workers.
- Business analyst: £23,000 starter to £55,000 experienced a year. Business analyst career and salary profile.
- Data analyst-statistician: £28,000 starter to £65,000 experienced a year. This occupation includes statistical work and is broader than some junior data analyst vacancies. Data analyst-statistician career and salary profile.
Junior contract-rate evidence is currently limited. Professional contract benchmarks appear in the next-stage programme guides and should not be treated as entry-level expectations.
Salary and contract-rate figures are indicative UK market ranges based on publicly available evidence reviewed at the stated date. Actual earnings vary according to experience, location, employer, sector, qualifications, responsibilities and employment type. Course completion does not guarantee employment, promotion or a particular level of earnings.
Mentoring and career support
Mentoring connects technical learning with practical development and professional evidence. Your programme includes six months of job-search support and three months of in-role support. Discuss the arrangements and starting dates with our team, including CV, LinkedIn and interview preparation. Employment is not guaranteed.
Certification and assessment information
The source identifies preparation for BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis and vendor-neutral SQL fundamentals. CompTIA Data+ is an optional source-listed route to discuss separately.
Explore official BCS business analysis qualifications
Programme completion is separate from passing an awarding body examination. Agree the qualification route, preparation, assessments, exam access, additional costs and renewal arrangements before enrolment. No vendor award is guaranteed by course completion.
Your next step
Register your interest to discuss your experience, starting point, current delivery arrangements, tools and software access, assessment, certification options, fees and any available funding. Confirm the current intake and support arrangements before making a commitment.