Every organisation is drowning in data — but starving for people who can make sense of it. This programme takes anyone with curiosity and a logical mind and transforms them into a confident data professional. No degree needed. No prior experience. Just the ambition to build a career in one of the UK's fastest-growing fields.
Your next data professional is probably already on your payroll — they just need the right training
Turn scattered spreadsheets into clean, reliable reports. Data technicians build the dashboards and data flows that give managers the visibility they need to make faster, better decisions.
Automate reconciliations, clean financial data, and build compliant reporting pipelines. Every finance team needs someone who can bridge the gap between raw numbers and regulatory requirements.
From patient flow data to service performance metrics — public sector organisations are data-rich but insight-poor. Data technicians turn compliance data into actionable intelligence.
Customer data, sales trends, campaign performance — every commercial team generates mountains of data. A data technician turns that noise into the insights that drive revenue.
Supply chain optimisation, production metrics, quality data — manufacturers and logistics firms rely on data technicians to keep operations efficient and visible.
No prior data experience? No problem. This programme is designed as a launchpad — turning curious, logical thinkers into job-ready data professionals in just 18 months.
The UK faces a critical shortage of data-literate professionals. Employers across every sector are struggling to find people who can collect, clean, and present data effectively. This apprenticeship directly addresses that gap — building practical, job-ready data skills from day one.
Hands-on training with the tools employers actually use — plus qualifications that prove it
We don't teach theory in isolation. Every module is built around the tools your people will use in their actual job. Learners graduate confident and competent with the full modern data stack — from spreadsheets to programming languages.
TESS Group is a registered BCS (Chartered Institute for IT) centre. BCS is the End-Point Assessment Organisation for this standard, ensuring rigorous, independent assessment of your learners.
Every learner completes dedicated AI modules covering responsible AI use, prompt engineering, and how generative AI tools like Copilot are transforming data work. Future-proof skills built in.
Graduates can progress directly to our Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship — building on their foundation with advanced analytics, machine learning, and data storytelling.
Understand what data is, where it comes from, and why it matters. Explore data types, sources, structures, and the role of data in modern organisations. Build a data-driven mindset from day one.
Learn to identify trusted data sources, collect data securely, and migrate datasets between systems. Understand APIs, CSV imports, database connections, and data pipelines.
Master the art of cleaning messy data. Handle missing values, duplicates, and formatting inconsistencies. Learn data quality frameworks and validation techniques that ensure accuracy.
Go far beyond basic spreadsheets. Advanced formulas, pivot tables, XLOOKUP, dynamic arrays, conditional formatting, and data modelling — making Excel your most powerful everyday tool.
Write SQL queries to extract, filter, join, and aggregate data from relational databases. Understand database design, normalisation, and how to work with large-scale datasets efficiently.
Combine datasets from multiple sources while maintaining accuracy. Apply basic statistical methods — mean, median, standard deviation, correlation — to identify trends and patterns in data.
Build interactive dashboards and visual reports in Power BI. Master DAX formulas, data relationships, slicers, and drill-throughs. Turn complex data into stories that drive action.
Get started with Python — the world's most popular data language. Learn Pandas for data manipulation, basic scripting for automation, and how Python integrates with Excel and Power BI.
Navigate data protection legislation, GDPR, and ethical data handling. Learn to communicate data findings to non-technical audiences through reports, presentations, and storytelling.
Two dedicated modules on artificial intelligence. Understand responsible AI, prompt engineering, and how tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, and AI-powered analytics are transforming the data profession.
Apply every skill to real workplace challenges. Build a portfolio of data projects — dashboards, reports, automated pipelines — that demonstrate tangible business impact and EPA readiness.
Comprehensive preparation for both EPA components: Scenario Demonstration with Questioning, and Professional Discussion supported by portfolio. Mock assessments and gateway readiness review included.
Onboarding, initial skills assessment, data fundamentals, data collection and sourcing. Building the data-driven mindset and confidence with Excel. First workplace data tasks begin.
Advanced Excel techniques, data cleaning and quality frameworks, and introduction to SQL. Learners start working with real organisational databases and building practical query skills.
Combining datasets, statistical analysis, and building the first Power BI dashboards. Learners start presenting data insights to stakeholders and building their portfolio.
Introduction to Python for data, AI and Generative AI modules, advanced Power BI with DAX. Applied workplace projects driving real business outcomes.
Data governance and legislation, storytelling with data, finalising portfolio evidence. Demonstrating commercial impact through workplace data projects.
Comprehensive EPA preparation including mock scenario demonstrations and professional discussion rehearsals. Full gateway readiness review and sign-off.
Gateway sign-off, then formal EPA: Scenario Demonstration with Questioning, and Professional Discussion with Portfolio. Graded Pass or Distinction.
Two-component EPA assessed by BCS — rigorous, practical, and designed to showcase real data capability. Graded: Pass or Distinction.
Apprentices complete a practical scenario demonstrating their ability to source, clean, analyse, and present data. Followed by assessor questioning to probe depth of knowledge and understanding.
A structured professional discussion with an independent assessor, drawing on a portfolio of workplace evidence built throughout the programme. Demonstrates real-world application of all knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
Apprentices are graded Pass or Distinction. Our comprehensive EPA preparation — including mock scenarios and discussion rehearsals — ensures every learner enters assessment confident and ready.
Every learner receives a dedicated skills coach, regular 1-to-1 progress reviews, access to our digital learning platform, employer engagement meetings, and off-the-job learning support to ensure the programme drives genuine workplace impact.
Exceptional learner satisfaction across every programme. Over hundreds of reviews — consistently among the best-rated training providers in the UK.
Independently verified quality. Our programmes meet the highest standards of delivery, learner support, and outcomes.
Every learner completes dedicated AI modules — responsible AI, prompt engineering, and AI-powered analytics. Future-proof skills that most providers don't include.
Excel, Power BI, SQL, Python, Power Query, DAX — we teach the tools employers actually use. Not abstract theory, but hands-on proficiency from week one.
Graduates can step straight into our Level 4 Data Analyst programme — building on their skills with advanced analytics, machine learning, and data storytelling.
"I had no data background at all — I was in admin. Eighteen months later I'm building Power BI dashboards for the senior leadership team and I've just been promoted. This programme changed my career."
Fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy or government co-investment. Develop your people into confident data professionals and watch productivity, reporting, and decision-making transform.
Get Started TodayThe TESS Group
109 Innovation Centre, Green St, Northampton NN1 1SY
📞 01604 210 500
✉️ info@thetessgroup.com
🌐 tessgroup.co.uk