Career programme
AI and Data Career Programme
From no experience to junior data analyst. Thirteen courses covering applied AI and prompting, Excel to expert level, a complete Power BI pathway, Python, cloud, data analysis and SQL, with three official Microsoft and CompTIA examinations included.
This programme prepares you for junior data analyst and AI analyst roles. It is built around what UK employers actually ask for in entry level data adverts: Excel, SQL, Power BI and Power Query, working knowledge of Python, the ability to analyse data properly, and enough applied AI to be useful from day one.
Three official examinations are included: Microsoft AZ-900, CompTIA Data+ and CompTIA DataSys+. Excel to expert level, a complete Power BI pathway, Python, applied AI and data privacy are included as full training courses alongside them, so you finish with the tools employers name in adverts as well as the certifications they recognise.
What this is not. It will not make you a data scientist or a machine learning engineer. Those roles typically need a degree, or several years of experience, along with further certifications on top of what is here, and no beginner programme leads straight into one. This is the route in, and those roles become reachable from it once you are working.
Your course and career advisor stays with you from enrolment to placement. Guaranteed Route to Job Placement on completion. This applies to this programme as stated here and in the programme brochure you receive before enrolling. Full conditions are in our Terms of Learning. Read the Terms of Learning.
What you will actually study
Thirteen courses, made up of 44 individual training modules, ordered from the most approachable through to the most demanding. Each builds on the one before, which is why the sequence matters as much as the individual courses. Every module inside each course is listed below, so you can see exactly what you are buying.
Course 1
CompTIA Tech+
Digital and IT foundations: hardware and software concepts, networking basics, data fundamentals, security awareness and troubleshooting. The starting point if you have never worked in IT. Tech+ replaced ITF+ as CompTIA's entry level certification.
Training included, exam extraCourse 2
Data Literacy and Data Modelling
Where data comes from, what makes it trustworthy, how it gets structured, and how findings get communicated to people who will make a decision on them. Reading and challenging a chart as well as building one. Sits below Data+ and is genuinely beginner appropriate.
Course 3
AI Fluency
How generative AI actually works, what the terms mean, which tool suits which job, where it fails, and the legal and ethical questions employers are now asking about. Includes reasoning models. Concepts rather than maths, and no coding required.
Course 4
AI Prompting
Writing prompts that produce usable work, across the tools businesses are actually running: ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Real business scenarios rather than novelty exercises. A practical skill employers are starting to test for at interview.
Course 5
Microsoft Copilot at Work
Copilot inside the applications you will use every day, in Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint, and how to get a straight answer out of it rather than a paragraph of filler. Most UK office workers will meet AI through Copilot before anything else, so knowing it well is immediately useful on day one of a job.
Course 6
AI Governance and Data Privacy
How data protection law applies to analytics work, and what changes when AI is involved. UK GDPR, lawful basis, minimisation, and the practical judgement calls an analyst makes about what data they should be handling at all, plus governance, risk and the organisational rules around AI use. Employers in finance, healthcare and the public sector ask about this at interview.
Course 7
Mastering Excel 365
Excel from a standing start to expert level across five stages: formulas, lookups, named ranges, logical functions and auditing, formatting, tables and charts, data validation and macros. Excel is named in more UK entry level data job adverts than any other tool, and it is the one most career changers underestimate.
Course 8
Excel for Data Analysis
The analyst's half of Excel. Power Query for importing and cleaning messy data, Power Pivot for building a data model, PivotTables for analysis, power functions, and dashboards a manager can read without you standing next to them. This is the part of Excel that appears in the job description rather than on the CV.
Course 9
Microsoft Power BI, Complete
A full Power BI pathway rather than an introduction. Connecting and shaping data, building a proper data model, writing DAX measures, choosing and configuring visuals, and publishing to the Power BI service so other people can use your work. Power BI appears in more UK junior data analyst adverts than any tool other than Excel, so this is the one that gets your CV past a screening filter.
Course 10
Introduction to Python Programming
Syntax, data types, control flow, functions, and working with files and data. Not to make you a developer, but because automating the repetitive parts of analysis is what separates a competent analyst from a slow one.
Training included, exam extraCourse 11
Microsoft AZ-900, Azure Fundamentals
Cloud concepts, core Azure services, management, governance and pricing. Most UK organisations you would work for run on Azure, so understanding where the data actually lives is no longer optional for an analyst.
Official exam includedCourse 12
CompTIA Data+
Data concepts and environments, acquisition and preparation, querying and nested queries, statistical methods and measures, visualisation and reporting, and data governance. The core vendor neutral analyst certification and the one employers recognise by name. This is where the earlier courses come together.
Official exam includedCourse 13
CompTIA DataSys+
Databases and SQL properly. Data definition and manipulation, SELECT statements, joins, WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING and aggregate functions, then deployment, administration, security and business continuity. The most demanding course in the programme, taken last. SQL appears in more UK data analyst adverts than Python does, and this is where you learn it.
Official exam includedWhy DataAI is not in this programme
DataAI, previously called DataX, is CompTIA's data scientist certification at Xpert level. CompTIA's own recommended starting point for it is a degree in mathematics, statistics or computer science plus around two years of experience, and it assumes working Python and R.
A beginner will not pass it, and including an exam voucher you cannot use would be selling you something worthless. We would rather spend that on three examinations you can pass and on the tools employers name in job adverts. DataAI is the right step in two or three years once you are working in a data role, and we will talk to you about it then.
The skills this gives you, and what employers ask for
Every course on the programme is here because it maps to something named in real UK job adverts. This is what you walk out with, and how often it comes up.
| Skill you gain | Where you learn it | How often UK employers ask for it |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel, to expert level | Courses 7 and 8 | 17 of 18 entry level adverts |
| Power BI reports and dashboards | Course 9 | 13 of 18 entry level adverts |
| SQL querying | Courses 12 and 13 | 52% of all data analyst adverts |
| Power Query and Power Pivot | Courses 8 and 9 | 46% of all data analyst adverts |
| Applied AI and prompting | Courses 3, 4 and 5 | 35% of all data analyst adverts |
| Python for data work | Course 10 | 41% of all data analyst adverts |
| Azure and cloud fundamentals | Course 11 | 32% of all data analyst adverts |
| Data modelling and data literacy | Courses 2, 9 and 12 | Underpins every reporting role |
| Data governance and UK GDPR | Course 6 | Asked about at interview in regulated sectors |
Two sources, both checkable. Entry level adverts: 18 live UK junior and graduate data analyst vacancies, coded by us on 17 September 2026, with apprenticeships and training provider adverts excluded. All data analyst adverts: ITJobsWatch, 1,338 UK permanent Data Analyst vacancies over the six months to 17 September 2026. Advert data describes what employers ask for. It is not a prediction of whether you personally will be hired.
What the roles actually pay
Published UK figures with the source, so you can check them. Data salaries vary more by role than almost any area of IT, which is exactly why adverts in this space quote the top of the range.
£26,000 to £32,000
Entry level data analyst, realistic first role
Published UK vacancy data, 2026£33,700 to £37,500
Data Analyst, UK average across all experience levels
Indeed UK and published vacancy analysis, June 2026Around £70,000
Data Engineer, not an entry level role
UK IT salary analysis, June 2026Read those numbers carefully
An average is not a starting salary. With no prior experience your realistic first role sits in the lower band, and the average becomes achievable with a year or two behind you.
Domain knowledge counts for more here than in most IT roles. Employers hire analysts to understand their business, not just their tools. Whatever you did before, finance, retail, healthcare, logistics, is an asset rather than something to leave off the CV.
Certification improves your chances of being considered. It does not on its own set your pay. Anyone quoting you a specific salary for after a course is telling you something they cannot know.
How the programme runs
Online and self paced, with real people attached to it.
Study around work
Video lectures and materials available 24 hours a day on any device, with downloadable workbooks. Twelve months of access, most people finish in three to nine months.
A dedicated mentor
Your main point of contact throughout, by phone, email and video call. Not just someone to chase you: someone to work out which roles you should be targeting, what order to take the courses in, when you are actually ready to sit an exam, and whether the job you are aiming at is realistic from where you are standing. Most people who drop out of self paced study do so because nobody noticed they had stalled.
Live Teams calls with our team
Scheduled sessions covering study progress, where you are against your target completion date, what is coming next, and anything you have got stuck on. If you have fallen behind because of work or life, this is where we replan it rather than leaving you to quietly give up.
Practice before you commit
Scenario based exercises, mock exams and quizzes so you know whether you are ready before you book the real thing. Booking too early is the most common reason people fail a certification exam first time.
Recruitment support, included
It starts once your exams are passed, because a CV is a great deal easier to write when there are recognised certifications on it.
- Professional CV review and rebuildWritten for data roles specifically, with your certifications front and centre and your previous career framed as domain knowledge rather than as a gap.
- LinkedIn profile guidanceMost UK data recruitment starts with a recruiter searching LinkedIn. Being findable for the right terms matters more than most applicants realise.
- Interview preparationTechnical questions on SQL, Excel and Power BI, and how to talk about what you have learned in plain English rather than jargon. Saying you built a dashboard that let a manager spot underperformance quickly lands better than listing the DAX measures you used, and this is where most candidates lose marks.
- Job matching and application supportIdentifying the right roles, understanding what an advert is really asking for, and applying consistently rather than in bursts.
- Ongoing supportOur Guaranteed Route to Job Placement means that if you meet the programme conditions and have not secured a role, our recruitment support and career coaching continue until you do. Full conditions are in clause 12 of our terms.
What our guarantee is, stated plainly
It is a commitment to keep supporting your job search, not an offer of employment. We are not your employer and we cannot compel any company to hire you. Recruitment support improves how you present yourself and how consistently you apply. Read clause 12 before you enrol rather than after, and ask us anything that is not clear.
Price
One price, everything included. No registration fee and no charge to access mentor support.
Standard Plan
£2,999
- All thirteen courses in the programme
- Three exam vouchers: AZ-900, CompTIA Data+ and DataSys+
- Mentor support and live Teams calls throughout
- Full recruitment support
- 12 months access
- £1 deposit, then pay in full or monthly up to 48 months
Retake Cover Plan
£3,399
- Everything in the Standard Plan
- Free retake cover on applicable certification exams
- Worth having: with three examinations in the programme, first time pass rates are not 100%
- £1 deposit, then pay in full or monthly up to 48 months
Secure your place with a £1 deposit. Monthly payment is arranged through Snap Finance Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 741813, and is subject to status and affordability checks. Course Correct Ltd is a credit broker, not a lender. You may be declined. Every cost, including the ones most providers bury, is listed on our credentials and evidence page.
Common questions
Can I start an AI and data career with no experience in the UK?
Yes, and most people who enter data come from an unrelated career rather than a computer science degree. The realistic destination is a junior data analyst role, and the skills that get you there are Excel, Power BI, SQL, a working knowledge of Python and the ability to explain findings clearly. This programme is built around exactly that, and assumes no prior technical background.
Will this make me an AI engineer or a data scientist?
No, and we would rather say so plainly. Data scientist and machine learning engineer roles typically require a quantitative degree and several years of experience, and no certification programme leads directly into one. This programme prepares you for junior data analyst, AI operations and analyst level roles where you use AI and data tools rather than build them. That is a real, growing part of the market and it is where career changers actually get hired.
Which exams are included in the price?
Three official examinations are included: Microsoft AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals, CompTIA Data+ and CompTIA DataSys+. The training for every other course in the programme is included in full, and their exams can be added separately if you want them. We will quote you before you commit rather than leaving you to find out at booking.
Why is DataAI not included?
Because you would not pass it. DataAI, previously called DataX, is CompTIA's data scientist certification at Xpert level. CompTIA's own recommended starting point for it is a degree in mathematics, statistics or computer science plus around two years of experience, and it assumes working Python and R. Including it in a beginner programme would mean selling you an exam voucher you cannot use. It is the right next step in two or three years, not now.
Do I need to learn to code?
Some, but less than you fear. SQL is essential and it is a query language rather than a programming language, so it is far more approachable than people expect. Python is useful and increasingly common in adverts, but a large share of UK analyst roles run on SQL, Excel and Power BI. This programme covers all four.
Does the programme cover Power Query?
Yes, in both the Excel and Power BI courses, because you cannot use either tool seriously without it. Power Query is where data gets imported, cleaned and reshaped before any analysis happens, and it is the part of the job most people underestimate. The useful thing about it is that the cleaning steps you build are saved and repeatable, so next month's file refreshes automatically instead of being tidied by hand. Realistically, most of a junior analyst's day is data preparation rather than analysis.
Does this cover Power BI?
Yes, and as a complete pathway rather than an introduction. It covers connecting and shaping data, building a proper data model, writing DAX measures, choosing and configuring visuals, and publishing to the Power BI service so colleagues can use your work. Power BI appears in more UK junior data analyst adverts than any tool other than Excel. The courses are training rather than certification, so you would sit the Microsoft PL-300 examination separately if you want the credential, and we can advise on that when you are ready.
How long does the programme take?
Course access runs for 12 months and most learners complete in three to nine months depending on the hours they can commit each week. The three certification exams are spread through the programme, so plan your study time with those in mind.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes. Secure your place with a £1 deposit, then pay in full or spread the cost over up to 48 months. Credit is arranged through Snap Finance Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and is subject to status and affordability checks. Course Correct Ltd is a credit broker, not a lender. You may be declined.
How does the recruitment support work?
Once your exams are passed you get a professional CV review, LinkedIn profile guidance, interview preparation and ongoing support applying for roles. If you have met the programme conditions and have not secured a role, that support continues. The full conditions are in clause 12 of our terms and we would rather you read them before enrolling than after.
What does a junior data analyst earn in the UK?
Published UK figures put the data analyst average at around £33,700 to £37,500 depending on source, with entry level roles typically £26,000 to £32,000. A median is not a starting salary. What you earn depends on your prior experience, your sector and your location, and anyone promising you a specific figure is promising something they cannot know.
Not sure whether data is the right route for you?
Tell us what you did before and what you are trying to reach. Data suits people with strong domain knowledge from another career, and it does not suit everyone. If a different pathway fits you better, we will say so.