Data Analyst Secures New Job as Performance and Analytics Specialist Post-Apprenticeship Completion

While undertaking her role as a Data Analyst at the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) Trust, Michelle Yates enrolled on her Data apprenticeship in 2021, completing it in 2024 and achieving a Distinction 🎉

The ATLP is a leading School Trust that believes that every child has the right to be a powerful learner. The schools are connected by a strong moral commitment to provide accessible, outstanding education for all in happy, creative, nurturing and aspirational environments.

Michelle analyses diverse data sets, including student performance, attendance, and behavioural trends, as well as staff metrics and operational data like budgets and enrolment. Her work supports strategic planning, resource allocation, and improvements across the Trust, to drive positive outcomes.

Why An Apprenticeship?

With over seven years of experience as a Data Manager at The Coleshill School and a Data Analyst for the ATLP Trust, Michelle had already developed a deep understanding of data processes and analysis through hands-on experience.

“I was keen to gain a qualification that reinforced and supported what I was already learning on the job.”

However, she recognised the value of formalising her expertise with a professional qualification that would not only reinforce her existing knowledge but also provide fresh insights and new methodologies to apply in her role.

The opportunity to pursue an apprenticeship arose, and Michelle felt like this was the perfect way to build on her practical experience while enhancing her skill set, ensuring she could continue to grow in the field.

Which Aspects Of The Training Were Most Valuable?

The technical training was a standout feature of the apprenticeship for Michelle, providing valuable hands-on and practical experience with the key tools used by Data Analysts. The Power BI training was particularly relevant to her role and enhanced her ability to create impactful visualisations and dashboards that directly support her work. Additionally, the exposure to essential tools like SQL and Python broadened her skill set, giving her a strong foundation for working with data in various contexts.

“For me the workshops were great,  getting hands-on and practical experience using the key tools used by data analysts. I enjoyed the Data Concepts module as I felt it underpinned the whole course and helped me to articulate principles and processes better.”

Michelle found the Data Concepts module to be a pivotal part of the course. This module provided a solid theoretical foundation, giving her a clearer understanding of the principles and processes central to effective data analysis. As a result, she now feels more confident articulating these concepts in her role, enabling her to communicate more effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.

What Are The Benefits Of A Data Apprenticeship?

The apprenticeship has encouraged Michelle to approach problem-solving with greater creativity and gave her the confidence to take more initiative with key data and reporting processes in her role.

“Recently I have been successful in securing a new job as a Performance and Analytics Specialist. I’m excited about this new opportunity and I’m certain the apprenticeship has helped me in achieving this. For this, I am truly grateful.”

The apprenticeship has boosted her confidence and opened the door to new career opportunities. Michelle recently secured a new role as a Performance and Analytics Specialist at a utility company, a position she is excited to begin in January 2025. Michelle firmly believes that the skills and knowledge gained during the apprenticeship were instrumental in helping her achieve this milestone. She expressed deep gratitude for the development and support her coach and the data programme provided.

Key Projects?

Michelle developed a Power BI dashboard that blends pupil attendance data from multiple sources. The user-friendly dashboard was a huge move forward for the Trust, integrating pupil attendance data from both school-level and national datasets to provide a holistic view of attendance trends, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions to support student engagement and attendance.

“The dashboard successfully visualises key patterns and trends in attendance data and offers the ability to compare against national averages at a Trust and school level.”

The dashboard effectively visualises key patterns and trends in attendance data, highlighting areas of concern or success across both individual schools and the Trust as a whole. It also includes the ability to compare attendance metrics against national averages, offering a comprehensive view of performance.

“The result has been a seamless, dynamic and user-friendly dashboard offering actionable insight to school leaders.”

By presenting this data in an intuitive and accessible format, Michelle’s work has empowered school leaders to identify and address attendance issues more efficiently while supporting strategic planning and resource allocation. This project showcased her ability to combine technical expertise with a deep understanding of organisational needs to deliver impactful, data-driven solutions.

Would You Recommend Baltic Apprenticeships To Someone Considering An Apprenticeship?

Michelle wholeheartedly recommends apprenticeships to anyone looking to deepen their knowledge in their field while maintaining the benefits and stability of employment.

“I would certainly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone wanting to learn more about their field of work while having the benefit of still being employed.”

She believes an apprenticeship offers a unique opportunity to gain practical, job-specific skills alongside theoretical knowledge, allowing individuals to directly apply what they learn in a real-world context. This balance between learning and working enables you to see the real-world impact of your training, build confidence, and gain valuable insights into industry practices, meaning you’re set up to succeed in the rapidly evolving data sector.

“I would recommend Baltic as an apprenticeship provider; they were very supportive throughout the course especially when occasionally it was more challenging balancing work and study.”

Michelle also highly recommends Baltic as an apprenticeship provider. She found our support throughout the programme to be invaluable, particularly during moments when balancing work responsibilities and study became more challenging. The guidance and encouragement she received from our team helped her stay on track, complete her apprenticeship, and achieve a Distinction.