Where will this course lead?

This course is ideal for you, if you wish to become a Data Analyst and are new to the sector or have previous qualifications and/or experience and are working in an associated role, which provides support for qualified professionals.

This occupation is found in any employer in any sector that uses data to make business decisions. Data analysts may work in various departments within a single employer, (for example finance, sales, HR, manufacturing, or marketing), and in any employment sector, public or private, including retail, distribution, defence, banking, logistics, media, local government etc.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to ascertain how data can be used in order to answer questions and solve problems. Data analysis is a process of requirement-gathering, inspecting, cleansing, transforming and modelling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names. In today's world, data analysis plays a crucial role in making decisions more evidence-based and helping organisations operate more effectively.

For example: a data analyst may investigate social media trends and their impact on the organisation. In retail, a data analyst may break down sales figures to make recommendations on product placement and development. In HR a data analyst may investigate staff retention rates, in order to decide on recruitment strategy. In a hospital, a data analyst may investigate wait times for different departments, in order to provide a better service to its patients.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with internal or external clients. Internally, the data analyst may work with many people within their organisation, at different levels. Externally a data analyst may provide data analysis services to other organisations on behalf of their employer. Data analysts would normally be office based and work normal business hours.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the creation and delivery of their own work, to meet business objectives. The data analyst will be responsible for working within the data architecture of the company and ensuring that the data is handled in a compliant, safe and appropriately secure manner, understanding and adhering to company data policy and legislation. Data analysis is a fast-moving and changing environment, and data analysts need to continue to stay abreast of, and engaged with, changes and trends in the wider industry; including data languages, tools and software, and lessons learnt elsewhere.

What will I study?

You will study the knowledge, skills and behaviours as set out within the apprenticeship standard, which will include the following subjects:

• Current relevant legislation and its application to the safe use of data
• Organisational data and information security standards, policies and procedures relevant to data management activities
• Principles of the data life cycle and the steps involved in carrying out routine data analysis tasks
• Principles of data, including open and public data, administrative data, and research data
• The differences between structured and unstructured data
• The fundamentals of data structures, database system design, implementation and maintenance
• Principles of user experience and domain context for data analytics
• Quality risks inherent in data and how to mitigate or resolve these
• Principal approaches to defining customer requirements for data analysis
• Approaches to combining data from different sources
• Approaches to organisational tools and methods for data analysis
• Organisational data architecture
• Principles of statistics for analysing datasets
• The principles of descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics
• The ethical aspects associated with the use and collation of data
• Use data systems securely to meet requirements and in line with organisational procedures and legislation including principles of Privacy by Design
• Implement the stages of the data analysis lifecycle
• Apply principles of data classification within data analysis activity
• Analyse data sets taking account of different data structures and database designs
• Assess the impact on user experience and domain context on data analysis activity
• Identify and escalate quality risks in data analysis with suggested mitigation or resolutions as appropriate
• Undertake customer requirements analysis and implement findings in data analytics planning and outputs
• Identify data sources and the risks and challenges to combination within data analysis activity
• Apply organizational architecture requirements to data analysis activities
• Apply statistical methodologies to data analysis tasks
• Apply predictive analytics in the collation and use of data
• Collaborate and communicate with a range of internal and external stakeholders using appropriate styles and behaviours to suit the audience
• Use a range of analytical techniques such as data mining, time series forecasting and modelling techniques to identify and predict trends and patterns in data
• Collate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data and convert into infographics, reports, tables, dashboards and graphs
• Select and apply the most appropriate data tools to achieve the optimum outcome

How will this course be delivered?

The apprenticeship programme consists of 'on-the-job' and 'off-the-job' training. You will receive on-the-job training from your employer and will also be allowed 20% off-the job training, which will involve your college block-release and independent study.

Your independent study will be recorded in a learning journal, to capture evidence of your experiences, reflections and achievements.

An assessor coach will be allocated to you and will visit your workplace on a regular basis, liaising with your work-based mentor, but you will also receive master-class workshops from college tutors.

This will give you the opportunity to do real work, developing work-based skills that employers' value and helping you to progress in your chosen career.

What qualifications will I get?

Level 4 Data Analyst Apprenticeship Standard

Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English (if required)

How will I be assessed?

The apprentice's progress and development will be assessed at regular stages - this is likely to be a combination of assignments, activities, exams, reflective discussions and observations in the workplace.

The employer and training provider will formally sign-off the apprentice's readiness for the independent End Point Assessment (EPA) at 'gateway'. Gateway is the point at which the apprentice has met and can confidently apply the minimum knowledge, skills and behaviours required, as detailed within the apprenticeship standard.

The End-Point Assessment (EPA) will consist of 2 distinct components:

• Professional discussion supported by a portfolio of evidence
• Project report with questioning

Performance in the EPA will determine your overall apprenticeship grade i.e., pass or distinction.

How do I get a place on the course?

In order to gain a place on this course, applicants must meet the entry criteria and attend a formal interview.

If you have a learning difficulty or disability, please let us know when you apply. If you need help with completing your application and at interview, we can provide support: https://www.solihull.ac.uk/uni-level-learner/student-services

What are the entry requirements?

To secure a place of study on the Level 4 Software Developer programme, the minimum entry requirements are as follows:

• English GCSE Grade 4/C, Level 2 Functional Skills, or equivalent
• Mathematics GCSE Grade 4/C, Level 2 Functional Skills, or equivalent
• Demonstrate a passion for computing and emerging communication technologies
• Be at least 16 years of age

You must also be employed in a relevant field (as indicated above) for a minimum of 30 hours per week.

What else do I need to know?

This course is a part-time programme, and you will be expected to attend day-release; 1 day per week for the duration of the programme, between the hours of 09:00 to 17:00. Timetables will be issued to successful applicants prior to induction and enrolment, at the beginning of the course.

As part of the national apprenticeship guidance, you will also undergo Equality and Diversity, British values and Prevent Training, which will prepare you with the necessary behaviour needed to work within the wider business environment.

Furthermore, you will also be required to complete 20% 'off-the-job' training as a minimum requirement for the apprenticeship course, which may require self-directed study, where will be supported by your assessor coach and work-based mentor.

Please contact the Employer Services Team for more information regarding funding and costs: apprenticeships@solihull.ac.uk

There are no direct additional costs for this course, but you may want to purchase some textbooks for further reading. A suggested reading list will be supplied at the beginning of your course; however, we also have a wide selection of library books and electronic books for you to use too. You will be expected to supply your own stationery, such as folders, pens and paper. Connection to the internet is expected, but facilities are available at college to do this if necessary.

What can I do after this course?

Upon completion of the apprenticeship, you can:

? Continue your employment in the industry

OR

? Progress onto higher level qualifications or pursue a career path into team leading or higher management.