Become a Business Analyst with IT Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a great way to learn on the job and enter the field of IT. 

Business Analyst is one of our most popular Apprenticeship standards at Firebrand. 

Could it be right for you? Let's take a look.

What is a Business Analyst?

Also called a BA, a Business Analyst works closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and collaborate with IT teams to implement solutions that meet business objectives. They act as a bridge between business stakeholders and IT teams.

To succeed in this role, you need strong analytical and problem-solving skills, critical thinking, attention to detail, technical skills for business analysis tools and software (e.g., JIRA, Trello, SQL), Project Management skills, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Business Analysts commonly work for major industries such as Finance, Technology, and Retail, as well as the Government and Healthcare.

The average Business Analyst salary in the UK is £45,000. 

What does a Business Analyst do?

Job responsibilities do vary, depending on company structure and industry.

For example, Retail Business Analysts may focus on improving supply chain management and customer relationship management, whilst Business Analysts working in IT may focus on developing new software solutions and upgrading products.

On average, typical Business Analyst job responsibilities include:

• working closely with stakeholders, including business leaders, end-users, and IT teams, to understand their needs and expectations
• gathering business requirements through interviews, surveys, workshops, and similar methods
• analysing these requirements to ensure they are clear and comprehensive
• creating detailed documentation such as business requirements documents (BRDs), functional specifications, and use cases
• analysing current business processes and workflows to identify inefficiencies
• working with technical teams to design and develop solutions that meet business requirements
• assisting in project planning, scheduling, and tracking,

and more.

As mentioned above, Business Analysts need experience with specific technology, such as:

• JIRA, Confluence, or Microsoft Visio for Requirements Management
• Microsoft Project, Trello, Asana, as well as Agile and Scrum methodologies for Project Management
• Excel, SQL, Power BI, and some programming for Data Analysis

What is the Firebrand Business Analyst Apprenticeship like?

At Firebrand, we specialise in getting people certified fast.

We were the first Apprenticeship provider to adopt the new Digital Standards and, three years ago, we became the first training provider to be inducted into the WorldSkills UK Excellence programmes.

Our Level 4 Business Analyst Apprenticeship takes 16 months, 13 for practical followed by a 3-month EPA.

This apprenticeship exposes aspiring Business Analysts to key business concepts and techniques that help organisations transform effectively.

They learn to investigate business situations, create business process models, gather requirements, develop impact assessments for change, use Waterfall and Agile methodologies, and more.

Our programme is taught through a blended framework of residential and online learning. Throughout the programme, learners are supported by Learning Mentors (from Firebrand as well as at their workplace) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with decades of experience in IT.

Will you get certified?

At Firebrand, learners have the chance to gain industry-recognised certifications during their Apprenticeship.

These certifications attest to their competence and help their CVs stand out.

During our Level 4 Business Analyst Apprenticeship, learners have the chance to achieve well-known and respected certifications issued by The Chartered Institute for IT, also known as BCS:

• BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis
• BCS Practitioner Certificate in Requirements Engineering
• BCS Practitioner Certificate in Modelling Business Processes
• BCS Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice
• BCS Level 3 Award in Business Processes

If you do a Business Analyst Apprenticeship, how can you progress?

After completing a Business Analyst Apprenticeship, you may choose to work as a BA full-time or specialise in areas such as Data Science, Project Management, or Digital and Technology Solutions.

Will Business Analysts be replaced by AI?

While Artificial Intelligence (AI) is indeed changing the way we work, Business Analysis requires a complex skillset and nuanced reasoning; for this reason, specialists believe it will not be replaced by AI. 

Interested?

See our latest Apprenticeship vacancies.

About Firebrand

For the past 14 years in a row, we’ve been named one of the Top 20 IT Training Companies in the World.

We specialise in accelerated courses and training solutions that help you get certified fast.

Could one of them be right for you?