A non-linear path to data science: building a career through apprenticeships
I was 20 and part way through the third year of my degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare when I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. This felt like the end of the world at that time as I was too ill to complete my studies. I managed to scrape a Foundation Degree, which given how ill I was at the time was a real accomplishment.
Unable to do the manual labour required for jobs in the animal field, a family member who worked at the Office for National Statistics recommended them as a brilliant employer, and I started working there as an administrative officer. On discovering a love of training through volunteering with network groups, I applied for my first apprenticeship.
The level 3 qualification in Learning and Development was a promotion and a pathway into work-based learning. Over 18 months, I created a portfolio of work exploring the theory and the practical elements of learning and development and how to apply those to my role. During this time, I specialised in digital training and found my love of coding.
When a promotion came up to deliver analytical coding training, I knew that I had to take the opportunity, and I was successful. Alongside this came my second apprenticeship – this time a level 5 in Human Resources. As I improved my coding skills and analytical skills in my every day work, I was learning about different areas of human resources, always with a side view on how data can benefit these fields.
This really cemented my love of analysis and, as much as I loved that role, I applied on promotion for a more data driven role. In these roles, I had learned a lot about myself, including things like seeking support from my friends, family and colleagues when balancing deadlines. I learnt to use study leave within the department to help keep on top of work, and the flexible working system to balance times when I needed more recovery with those when I was raring to go! I got to the point where I felt I could balance life and work enough to take on the challenge of a degree apprenticeship – this time a level 7 BSc in Applied Data Science.
I was critically aware that although I had some data experience, it was narrow in parts and I didn’t have the qualifications to back it up. After my first year on the level 7 apprenticeship, I moved departments to the Intellectual Property Office. The problem solving and data science skills I’d developed in that year certainly helped with my interview!
With the support of my departments, I was able to continue learning and graduated in November 2025 with a First class honours degree. This was beyond my wildest dreams when first diagnosed back in 2010. Although there were times when it was difficult, including additional health setbacks, I felt so proud walking across that stage with my classmates.
Three different apprenticeships in three very different areas have given me new skills, perspectives and confidence to look at complex challenges in different ways. My career may not look like I imagined it at 16, or even at 25, but the journey is much more fun! Who knows where it’ll take me next.
Hannah Hodge Waller, Data Scientist and Analyst at the Intellectual Property Office