I’ve worked my whole career in Retail, in customer facing store roles for different high street retailers across all levels, from customer assistant up to Regional field roles. I decided to diversify my career and move into the world of data after successfully securing a place on a Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship, provided by M&S. This programme allowed me to build my knowledge of data science from non-existent, to a level that enabled me to obtain a role in the People Analytics team in October 2020. In the time since then I’ve helped to drive further adoption of data, analytics, and insight across the People function. I’ve also stepped up to lead the team, consisting of insight partners and analysts, who contribute towards enabling our business to make more data-led decisions in relation to our colleagues. Recently I’ve completed another apprenticeship through the business, a Level 7 in Data Science & AI, which will help me to further drive the use and adoption of advanced data science techniques in People Analytics at M&S, providing the business with targeted insights to enable strategic decision making.