Frequently asked questions

iO-Sphere is a UK-based data and AI training provider. We offer funded qualifications (through the Growth & Skills Levy), intensive bootcamps, and corporate training. We've trained 1,000+ professionals since 2022.

Three things. First, Prism — our proprietary platform with 500M+ rows of real e-commerce data. You solve real business problems, not hypothetical case studies. Second, our coaches are industry practitioners from companies like Accenture, Expedia, and BT — not lecturers. Third, our funded programmes and Applied Diplomas lead to nationally recognised qualifications: on a funded programme an independent assessment organisation assesses you and your certificate comes from the Department for Education, and our Applied Diplomas are awarded by NCFE. Our professional short courses award a practitioner iO-Sphere certificate of completion.

Depending on your programme: SQL, Python, Power BI, Excel, Google Cloud, Apache Airflow, BigQuery, and generative AI tools. Our curriculum is updated regularly to reflect what employers actually hire for.

These are Level 3-5 qualifications funded through the Growth & Skills Levy — a UK government scheme. If you're employed in England, the training costs you nothing. If you're under 25, it's fully funded at any employer (a levy payer uses its levy funds while it has them). If you're 25 or over, an employer that doesn't pay the levy co-invests 5% and the government pays 95%; a levy payer uses its levy funds and pays 25% only if those funds run out. VAT is added to any employer share. We offer 5 funded programmes: AI Transformation (L4), Data & AI Essentials (L3), Data Engineering (L5), Advanced Data & AI (L4), and Data & AI Governance (L4). Data Engineering are paused for now: you can register your interest on their pages.

6 hours per week: 2 hours in a live session with your coach and cohort, 2 hours of self-paced learning, and 2 hours of dedicated project work. All programmes run for 15 months plus 3 months of end-point assessment.

You need to be 19 or over, on your employer's payroll (PAYE), contracted for 30 hours or more a week, in a permanent job or with at least 18 months left on your contract, working at least half your hours in England, with the right to work in the UK, and to meet the government's residency rules (usually 3 years living in the UK if you're not a UK national). You don't need a degree or a technical background. GCSEs in English and maths help but are not required: everyone takes our short English, maths and digital skills assessments.

Employers with a payroll under £3 million don't pay the levy. For learners under 25 the government pays the full cost, and for learners 25 and over it pays 95% and the employer pays 5%, plus VAT. Either way, nothing comes out of your pocket.

They almost never do. Our team preps you on exactly what to say, and if it helps, we'll join the conversation with your manager directly. We handle the employer side of this every single day.

Two kinds. Our Skills Bootcamps are 10 weeks full-time and free for eligible learners: the London bootcamp is funded by the Mayor of London (Greater London Authority) and the Oxford bootcamp by the Department for Work and Pensions. Our Applied Diplomas in Data Analytics and Data Engineering are 14 weeks full-time, lead to an NCFE Level 4 qualification and include 6 months of career coaching; there are no Applied Diploma cohorts scheduled at the moment, so register your interest on the programme page and we'll tell you when the next one is confirmed.

No prior data experience is required. Our bootcamps are designed for career changers from any background. What matters is aptitude, curiosity, and commitment.

Not right now: there are no cohorts scheduled for the Applied Diplomas in Data Analytics or Data Engineering. Register your interest on the programme page and we'll tell you when the next cohort is confirmed. In the meantime, funded apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps are open.

An Applied Diploma (Higher Technical Qualification) is a Level 4 or 5 qualification developed against employer-led standards. Our Applied Diploma in Data Analytics leads to an NCFE Level 4 Diploma and our Applied Diploma in Data Engineering to an NCFE Level 5 Diploma, both Higher Technical Qualifications. They're rigorous, employer-recognised qualifications — not certificates of attendance.

No — unlike funded qualifications (apprenticeships), Applied Diplomas are self-funded or employer-sponsored. You can study while employed, self-employed, or between roles. Many learners use employer L&D budgets or payment plans.

Both lead to nationally recognised qualifications and use the same real-world curriculum. The key difference is funding: apprenticeships are funded through the Growth & Skills Levy (free if eligible) and require employer enrolment. Applied Diplomas are self-funded or employer-sponsored, giving you flexibility to study without employer sign-off.

Data Analytics starts from £2,950 and Data Engineering from £4,800. There are no cohorts scheduled right now, so no payment plans are open. When a cohort is confirmed, the options will be on the programme page. Some employers cover the cost as part of L&D budgets. We can provide an invoice and training agreement for employer purchase orders.

We don't guarantee jobs: that's not honest and it's not useful. What we guarantee is that you'll graduate with a nationally recognised qualification, a portfolio of real work, and 6 months of career coaching. Each bootcamp page publishes its latest outcome figures.

Yes. We offer Data & AI Fluency programmes for non-technical teams, Technical Upskilling for existing data professionals, and bespoke training designed around your tech stack and business challenges. We also deliver funded qualifications for employees via the Growth & Skills Levy.

Book a free consultation. We'll understand your team's needs, design a programme, and handle delivery. For funded qualifications, we guide your HR team through the levy setup. Contact us at info@io-sphere.io or through the website.

Yes. Through our Hire Talent service, you can meet iO-Sphere graduates who have trained on real data and are job-ready from day one. Our apprentices and Applied Diploma graduates hold nationally recognised qualifications; our Skills Bootcamp graduates have completed a 10-week full-time programme. All candidates are pre-vetted and come with a skills profile so you know exactly what you're getting.

Traditional recruiters find CVs. We produce the talent. Every candidate you meet through us has trained with us on real data, coached by practitioners. You know exactly what skills they have before the first interview.

Get in touch via the Hire Talent page or email us at info@io-sphere.io. We'll share the candidate pipeline, skills profiles, and availability. There's no fee for registering interest.