Creating Career Path...

Finding Further Careers...

Business Analyst

View this career for different education levels:

A Business Analyst helps organisations improve their processes, products, services, and software by analysing data and business needs. They work with stakeholders to understand business requirements, identify issues or opportunities for improvement, and recommend solutions. Business Analysts often act as a bridge between technical teams and business management, ensuring that projects deliver the desired outcomes. Typical tasks include gathering and documenting requirements, conducting market or data analysis, facilitating meetings and workshops, and supporting project implementation. Strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills are essential for this role.

Business Analyst

Flag Media

Please select a reason for flagging this content.

📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Business Analysts in the UK typically earn between £30,000 and £55,000 per year, with more senior roles reaching £70,000 or above.

Job Openings

There were over 12,000 Business Analyst job postings in the UK in 2023, indicating strong demand across sectors.

Industries Employing Business Analysts

The top industries employing Business Analysts in the UK include finance, technology, healthcare, and retail.

🚀 Careers in this path

Flag Media

Please select a reason for flagging this content.

Data Analyst

A professional who collects, processes, and performs statistical analyses on large datasets to support business decisions.

Flag Media

Please select a reason for flagging this content.

Process Improvement Analyst

A specialist focused on identifying and implementing ways to make business processes more efficient and effective.

Financial Business Analyst

An expert who analyses financial data to help organisations plan budgets, forecast trends, and make informed business decisions.

Build Strong Foundations

Achieve Good GCSE and A Level Results

Focus on subjects such as Mathematics, Business Studies, Economics, or IT to develop analytical and problem-solving skills.

Strong results in relevant subjects will provide you with a solid foundation for higher education and demonstrate your commitment to analytical thinking. Consider participating in extracurricular activities like debate club or school business challenges to further develop your skills.

Pursue a Relevant Degree

Study for an undergraduate degree in Business, Economics, Information Technology, or a related field.

Many employers look for candidates with a degree. Courses in Business Management, Economics, Computer Science, or Finance are particularly relevant. Some universities offer specific modules in business analysis or data analytics, which can give you an advantage.

Develop Key Skills and Experience

Gain Work Experience or Internships

Apply for internships, placements, or part-time jobs in business, finance, or IT environments.

Work experience allows you to see how organisations operate and introduces you to real business analysis tasks such as data gathering, stakeholder meetings, and process mapping. Look for opportunities in large organisations, consultancy firms, or the public sector.

Develop Analytical and Communication Skills

Practise using tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualisation software, and improve your written and verbal communication.

Business Analysts need to interpret data, present findings, and explain recommendations clearly. Consider online courses in data analysis, join student societies, or volunteer to help run events to enhance these skills.

Enter and Progress in the Profession

Apply for Graduate Schemes or Entry-Level Roles

Look for positions such as Junior Business Analyst, Business Analyst Trainee, or related roles in organisations.

Many large companies offer graduate schemes specifically for business analysis or related fields. You can also apply for entry-level roles in smaller companies. Tailor your CV to highlight your analytical, teamwork, and communication skills.

Pursue Professional Development

Gain professional certifications such as BCS Business Analysis or IIBA qualifications to enhance your credentials.

Professional development shows your commitment to the career and can open doors to more senior roles. Attend industry events, join professional bodies like the BCS, and network with other analysts to stay up to date with industry trends.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Business Analyst. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

Career Progressions

No career progressions found for

Sample Qualifications

A business analyst shares similar responsibilities with a systems analyst, as both roles involve analysing organisational processes and systems to identify improvements. They focus on understanding business needs and translating them into technical or procedural solutions, making them closely aligned in terms of qualifications and skill sets.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

University

Any degree that teaches analytical skills can be useful for this role.

Some employers might prefer you to have a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject such as:

  • business information systems
  • business management
  • computing and systems development
  • computer science

Experience during your degree

You may have an advantage if your degree course lets you get some business experience.

This could be through:

  • internships
  • work placements
  • a year in industry

It may also be useful to get experience of managing projects and analysing data.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could gain some of the skills and knowledge needed for this role through an apprenticeship.

For example, you could do the Business Analyst Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship or the Project Manager Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got several years' experience in project management, consulting or IT.

More Information

Career tips

To become a business analyst, it might be useful to know about agile project management or other similar methods.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a business analyst from:

You can also find out about government business analysts in the Civil Service on GOV.UK.

Interested in More Career Paths?

Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.

Stay connected

Join our newsletter to stay up to date on features and releases

Address
Developing Experts Limited
Exchange Street Buildings
35-37 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1DP
UK

Phone
01603 273515

Email
[email protected]

Copyright 2025 Developing Experts, All rights reserved.