BRC partners with Cambridge Spark to launch Master’s Level qualification in data analytics for retailers

The British Retail Consortium’s educational arm, BRC Learning, has partnered with Cambridge Spark, a leader in transformational data science and AI education, to develop a Master of Science (MSc) level qualification for advanced data analytics, funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.

The Level 7 apprenticeship in ‘Data Science and Machine Learning’ aims to provide a fast-track programme for upskilling people into machine learning engineer roles.

The course will provide the skills that customer data analysts need to discover and identify areas in which AI solutions can be used to develop new business opportunities.

With increasing competition for data science and analyst talent, retailers are increasingly turning to educational programmes to boost skills in their organisation and make use of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Through the partnership with Cambridge Spark, BRC Learning can now offer a full suite of levy funded data education, which also includes a "Level 3 Data and AI Professional Apprenticeship" - aiming to provide “essential data literacy and analytics skills to drive business value,” and a "Customer Commerce and Customer Economics" programme “to optimise customer data use to drive business performance.”

Lucy Crowther, Director of BRC Learning, said: It is one thing to have the data, but to truly use it to drive business decisions our retailers need the skills to mine it, sort it, make sense of it and critically turn it into insight. The ability to be a data 'super user' only comes with considerable learning that includes a deep understanding of all aspects of data science and AI.

“I believe Cambridge Spark is the best Data Education provider who crucially are themselves data scientists. They have developed programmes (both levy and non-levy funded) that help retailers grow data and AI expertise that will gives them the right data to power their business."

Dr Raoul-Gabriel Urma, CEO and founder of Cambridge Spark, added: "There is an incredible untapped operational and data opportunity available within retail organisations to increase competitiveness. Through our partnership with BRC we are looking to upskill retail professionals so they can be an integral part of the digital revolution."

The BRC will offer the new courses from February, 2021. Initially, all courses will be digital, using the BRC Learning's new online education platform.