Data & AI Essentials
You don't need a technical background. You need the data skills that make you better at every part of your job — and this is how you get them. A fully funded Level 3 qualification, built around the tools already on your desk.
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Truly career-defining training
Earn a recognised qualification in 15 months + 3 months assessment.
Worth £13K. Fully funded for eligible employees.
No prior data experience needed — you will go from zero to job-ready in 12 months.
Hands-on practice with real company data on Prism, our 500M+ row learning platform.
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Why choose Data & AI Essentials (Level 3)?
If you work with spreadsheets, run reports, or pull data together for decisions — but you've never had formal training on any of it — this is where to start. No prior technical knowledge required. You'll finish with real skills in Excel, SQL, and Power BI, a Level 3 qualification from the Department for Education, and the confidence to handle data properly.
From info gatherer to insight specialist
Secure the source
Master data acquisition and migration from trusted sources. Build a ’single source of truth’, while ensuring every dataset is secure, validated, and compliant with GDPR standards.
Model with precision
Move beyond the surface. Use SQL and statistical methods to blend and manipulate data. Transform raw figures into the timely intelligence required to support operations.
Optimise through validation
Eliminate the risk of bad data. Use cross-checking techniques and basic algorithms to identify faults or omissions, ensuring results are accurate and ready to drive improvements.
Present with impact
Turn data into action. Master the visual tools to present insights in relevant formats for your audience. Navigate ethics governance and sustainability to deliver future-proof solutions.
Start your application
Complete the form below to take the first step toward joining the programme.
Our Curriculum
Level 3 • 15 months + 3 months assessment
Understand how data flows through a business, the key roles involved, and the governance that keeps it reliable. The context every data practitioner needs before touching a dataset.
Master Excel the way real teams use it — structure, clean, and interrogate data without fear. From CRM exports to monthly reports, build the spreadsheet fluency your role already demands.
Pull data from databases, join it with your spreadsheets, and stop waiting for IT to run your queries. SQL from zero — the skill that separates people who find answers from people who wait for them.
Turn data into Power BI dashboards people actually use — the reports that get forwarded, not the ones that get ignored. Tailor your message to your audience and drive decisions, not just inform them.
AI tools, responsible data use, GDPR basics, and the evolving data landscape. Apply everything you’ve learned to a real business project and present your portfolio at End-Point Assessment. No written exam.
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Learn by doing with scenario-led training, and earn a recognised qualification standard. Funded through the Government's Growth & Skills Levy.
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Level 4FAQs
How long are the programmes?+
iO-Sphere’s government-funded training programmes are 15 months of scenario-based training, followed by 3 months of end-point assessment. There’s no exam or stress, just projects within your role, and a portfolio review. Accelerated programme options are also available a few times a year. Express your interest with our team to learn more.
What is the cost?+
iO-Sphere programmes are funded through the government’s Growth & Skills Levy, meaning there’s no cost to employees for the training. If your business doesn’t pay into the Levy and has a wage bill under £3 million, the government covers 95% of the programme cost, with the employer contributing the remaining 5%.
Who is eligible for this Government-funded training?+
As an employee, to be eligible you must: have a contract of employment under PAYE for the duration, be aged 19 or over, have the right to work in England, and have lived in the UK or EU for the last 3 years.
How often do training cohorts start?+
We run cohorts every 2-3 months. These open cohorts let trainees start when they’re ready. Are you an employer and need a custom cohort for a larger group? Talk to us and we can find a solution that works.
Ready to lead in Data & AI?
Talk to a member of our team to learn more about our professional apprenticeships. We're here to answer any questions you have about the programmes.