ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Career Case Study: AI Engineer

The role: An AI Engineer develops programs and algorithms that enable computers to perform tasks, recognise patterns and learn from data. You could be developing machine-learning models, testing prototypes, analysing data, fixing problems and helping organisations introduce AI solutions. AI Engineers already work across sectors including healthcare and manufacturing. 

Typical salary: £35,000 starting → £75,000 experienced according to the National Careers Service. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Computer Science + Mathematics → AI/Computer Science degree or apprenticeship → Junior AI/Software role → AI Engineer → Senior AI Engineer

At Sixth Form, Computer Science and Mathematics would provide particularly relevant foundations. You could then progress into subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering or Mathematics. The National Careers Service identifies both university and apprenticeship routes into AI engineering. 

Could this be you: If you enjoy coding, mathematics, solving complex problems and asking how technology could become smarter, AI could be worth exploring.

cyber security

Career Case Study: Cyber Security Professional

The role: Imagine being asked to investigate a potential cyber attack. Your job could involve examining systems and devices, identifying vulnerabilities, recovering digital evidence and helping an organisation understand what happened and how to prevent it happening again. One example is a Forensic Computer Analyst, a cyber security professional who examines digital devices to recover and investigate files and data. 

Typical salary: £30,000 starting → £65,000 experienced for a forensic computer analyst. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Digital Support & Security/Computer Science → Cyber Security degree or apprenticeship → Cyber Security Technician/Analyst → Cyber Security Specialist

Our proposed Digital Support and Security T Level could provide a particularly relevant technical route, while Computer Science and Mathematics can provide strong academic foundations. Potential specialisms extend across security analysis, penetration testing, digital forensics, cyber intelligence and network security.

Could this be you? If you like finding weaknesses, solving puzzles, understanding how systems work and spotting things other people miss, cyber security could turn those strengths into a career.

DATA ANALYTICS

Career Case Study: Data Analyst

The role: A business has thousands – perhaps millions – of pieces of data but needs somebody to make sense of them. As a Data Analyst, you could identify trends, create models and turn complex information into insights that help an organisation make decisions. Data analysts work across an enormous range of industries rather than just technology companies.

Typical salary: A Data Analyst-Statistician can earn around £28,000 starting → £65,000 experienced. Data Scientist roles can extend further, with the National Careers Service currently giving a range of £32,000–£83,000. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Mathematics + Computer Science/Digital Systems & Data → Data Science/Mathematics degree or apprenticeship → Data Analyst → Data Scientist/Senior Analyst

You could eventually work with data in technology, finance, healthcare, sport, retail, government, science or marketing.

Could this be you? If you enjoy numbers, finding patterns, solving problems and asking “What is this information actually telling us?”, data could be your direction.

GAME DESIGN

Career Case Study: Games Developer

The role: You're part of a team developing a new game. One day you might be writing code; another could involve working with designers and artists, developing gameplay, creating or integrating assets, or fixing bugs identified during testing. Games developers can specialise in areas ranging from gameplay programming to virtual reality, and experienced developers can progress into senior development, production or technical direction. 

Typical salary: £27,000 starting → £71,000 experienced. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Digital Games Production + Computer Science/Mathematics → Games Degree or Apprenticeship → Junior Developer → Games Developer → Senior Developer/Technical Director

A portfolio matters in this industry. The National Careers Service specifically recommends creating a portfolio or online demo to demonstrate your skills to employers. 

Could this be you? If you've ever played a game and found yourself thinking about how the world, mechanics or systems were actually made, you may already be thinking like a games developer.

e-sports

Career Case Study: Esports Professional

The role: The obvious role might be professional player – but the industry around the player is much bigger. Esports careers can involve coaching, performance analysis, event management, social media, games development, sponsorship and marketing. A professional esports player, for example, trains, competes in tournaments, works with coaches and content creators, attends promotional activities and may travel to competitions. 

Typical salary: Earnings for professional esports players vary significantly. At lower professional levels, players may earn around £20,000–£80,000 a year, while leading players in major Tier 1 esports can potentially earn £100,000+. At amateur level, players may receive no guaranteed salary at all. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Esports → Esports/Business/Digital degree or apprenticeship → Events, Analysis, Content or Team Operations → Specialist/Management role

You could ultimately work in coaching, performance analysis, tournaments, events, marketing, sponsorship, content or community management.

Could this be you? If you love competitive gaming but are equally interested in the strategy, business, communities and technology behind it, esports offers much more than becoming a player.

Digital Media

Career Case Study: Social Media Manager

The role: Imagine being responsible for how an organisation communicates with thousands of people online. A Social Media Manager coordinates online content and communication strategies. That can mean understanding audiences, planning content, managing campaigns and using digital platforms to build an organisation's presence. 

Typical salary: £25,000 starting → £50,000 experienced. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Creative Digital Media + English/another complementary subject → Digital Media/Marketing degree or apprenticeship → Digital Content role → Social Media Manager/Digital Marketing Manager

Relevant higher education subjects can include advertising, marketing and PR, digital marketing, digital content creation and journalism. 

Could this be you? If you're interested in audiences, communication, trends and why some digital content captures attention while other content disappears, digital media could turn that curiosity into a profession.

CREATIVE CONTENT PRODUCTION

Career Case Study: Digital Content Producer

The role: A Digital Content Producer can help decide what an organisation says online and how it communicates it. A closely related National Careers Service role is Web Content Editor, also known as a Content Designer, Digital Editor or Online Content Producer. The role involves researching, writing, editing and managing online content, while potentially using audience feedback and data to improve it. 

Typical salary: £25,000 starting → £40,000 experienced. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Creative Digital Media + English Literature → Content Creator Apprenticeship/Digital Media, English or Marketing degree → Junior Content Role → Digital Content Producer → Lead Content Designer/Content Manager

The National Careers Service identifies the Level 3 Content Creator apprenticeship as one potential entry route, while experienced professionals can progress towards lead content design or content management. A portfolio can be particularly useful here. Your Sixth Form projects, websites, campaigns, writing and other digital work can begin demonstrating what you are capable of producing.

Could this be you? If you have ideas and enjoy finding the right way to communicate them to an audience, content production combines creativity, communication and digital technology.

TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES

Career Case Study: IT Project Manager

The role: Major technology projects need people who can bring everything together. An IT Project Manager plans and organises teams to deliver digital products and services on time and within budget. The role can sit at the intersection of technology, people and business – coordinating specialists and making sure a complex project actually gets delivered. 

Typical salary: £35,000 starting → £60,000 experienced. 

Your journey could look like: BOA Digital → Technical or Digital pathway → Computing/Information Systems/Project Management degree or apprenticeship → Digital Project Role → IT Project Manager → Senior Project/Programme Manager

With experience, progression can include becoming a digital delivery manager, senior project manager or programme leader, specialising in areas such as cyber security or technical architecture, or working as a consultant. 

Could this be you? If you're interested in technology but also enjoy organising people, communicating ideas and making things happen, you don't necessarily have to become a programmer to build a successful career in tech.