Data scientists convert raw data into useful information businesses may use to improve their operations.
Organisations are increasingly collecting and using larger amounts of data. Your job is to analyse data to uncover trends and help businesses solve problems in novel and inventive ways, from predicting what customers will buy to addressing plastic waste.
To make data available to organisations, you will extract, analyse, and interpret massive amounts of data from various sources using algorithmic, data mining, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistical methods. After analysing the data, you’ll present your results clearly and engagingly.
Data scientists are in high demand in various industries because companies require a unique combination of technical, analytical, and communication skills.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- use data to identify, manage and solve business problems
- gather and manage data from different sources to create models and test hypotheses
- manipulate, analyse and visualise data using statistical software
- produce recommendations and explain them to different audiences
- build complex mathematical and analytical models using algorithms and machine learning techniques
- identify and explain how AI and data science can benefit your organisation
- keep up to date with developments in data science and AI.
Salary
- Salaries for apprentice data scientists tend to start at around £25,000 to £30,000, rising to £40,000 depending on your experience.
- With a few years’ experience you can expect to earn between £40,000 and £60,000.
- Lead and chief data scientists can earn upwards of £60,000, in some cases reaching more than £100,000.
Working hours
You can expect a good work/life balance depending on the organisation you work for. Main office hours are typically from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, working outside regular office hours or on weekends may sometimes be necessary, particularly for short-term projects.
Specific organisations may allow you to work remotely or on a flexible schedule.
Working environment
You could work in an office or remotely.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice data scientist include:
- Level 6 Data Scientist – Entry requirements for this level include 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. This qualification takes 36 months to complete.
Skills
On an actuary apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of maths and statistics
- knowledge of computer operating systems and software packages like R or Python
- an understanding of how businesses are managed and operated
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent written communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently.
Employers
Most data scientists work in finance, retail, and ecommerce. Businesses in these sectors are keen to learn more about their target consumers so that they may focus their efforts on relevant products and services.
Telecommunications, oil and gas, and transportation industries increasingly depend on big data to make decisions that benefit their employees, operations, or sales.
Professional development
Most companies provide on-the-job training, and you will often have the opportunity to learn from more experienced colleagues. You will be expected to learn and develop new skills by staying current on new and emerging technologies and practices. In addition, you will be able to broaden your experience by sharing ideas and problem-solving solutions with other team members since work is typically collaborative.
Some organisations may give further training in their operational procedures or encourage you to attend sector-specific events to help you understand potential problems, innovations, or growing trends. This knowledge may then be applied to suitable assignments to help you enhance your problem-solving skills.
Career prospects
Your ability to quickly acquire the core skills necessary to analyse large data sets and your commitment to the organisation for which you work will decide your advancement. You may be promoted within your company to more senior data science positions, which may entail line management of junior data scientists.
Moving from junior to senior data scientist may take two to five years. After five years, you will be expected to take on more people management responsibilities.
Because the skills you develop are transferable across sectors, switching careers may be straightforward.
Another alternative is to join a start-up business and work on projects outsourced by larger organisations.