Duration
12 months, plus the End Point Assessment period
Programme Overview
Business analysts are found in organisations of all sizes across the private, public, and third sectors. The broad purpose of the occupation is to understand the needs of stakeholders and how these can be met through business change and digital solutions.
In their daily work, a business analyst investigates business situations, identifies opportunities for improvement, and defines the changes to processes, data, and technology that deliver measurable business value. They work closely with stakeholders at all levels to elicit, analyse, and document requirements, and to evaluate proposed solutions against business needs.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for providing a critical layer of challenge and scrutiny to business change, ensuring the right problems are addressed before solutions are chosen. They typically report to a senior colleague such as a project manager, senior business analyst, or head of change, and are required to keep up to date with analysis techniques, digital tools, and developments in how organisations use data and technology to make decisions.
This apprenticeship is delivered by DRLS in collaboration with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), a leading global professional body for business analysis. IIBA's certification content is embedded in the curriculum, and learners are prepared for IIBA's Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) alongside the Level 4 apprenticeship, at no additional cost to the employer.
Roles this programme is suited to:
Key learning outcomes:
Delivery
The programme is delivered fully remotely. Learners attend regular live sessions with their trainer and have access to a range of training resources, including IIBA certification learning materials. Their assessor will also arrange one-to-one sessions to guide them through the apprenticeship and prepare them for their End Point Assessment.
Learners will have reviews of their progress every 10–12 weeks, supported by their line manager and trainer.
Additional workshops take place throughout the year to support learners with additional support needs and their off-the-job training.
Commitment
Apprentices must spend 420 hours across the duration of the apprenticeship (an average of at least 8 hours per week of their working time) on off-the-job training. Trainer-led sessions are a mandatory part of the apprenticeship, alongside other learning activities such as research, reading, and written work.
Apprentices who have not already achieved Level 2 English and maths have the opportunity to work towards this during the apprenticeship, depending on their previous attainment and eligibility.
The apprenticeship requires full commitment from both the learner and the employer to ensure successful completion.