In our recent Introduction to Data Visualisation workshop, led by Senior Tutor Scott Owens, attendees were introduced to the power of business intelligence and how tools like Power BI can transform raw data into clear, compelling insights that drive smarter decision-making.

Whether you’re just getting started with data or looking to sharpen your visualisation skills, this session was packed with actionable advice, real-world examples, and a live dashboard demonstration that brought data to life.

Why Data Visualisation Matters

Scott kicked off the session by reminding us that data doesn’t speak for itself—it needs a storyteller. Using visualisation tools like Power BI, businesses can uncover trends, track performance, and understand the narrative within their numbers:

What happened? Where are we now? How did we get here and where are we going?

With experience spanning industries from painting to pension funds, Scott brought a fresh perspective to the role of business intelligence in everyday decision-making. His key message? Data is only as powerful as your ability to interpret and communicate it.

Power BI: Your Visualisation Superpower

Scott introduced Power BI as a user-friendly, powerful tool, often freely available via Microsoft Office 365, that enables users to create interactive dashboards. These dashboards allow teams to collaborate, track key performance indicators, and identify trends with just a few clicks.

He shared some simple but effective rules for building dashboards:

  • Keep it clean: Avoid clutter and focus on what really matters.
  • Tell a story: Use the right visuals to guide your audience through the data.
  • Know your audience: Design with the end user in mind—clarity over complexity.

From tree maps to slicers and line charts, Scott demonstrated how to build a Power BI dashboard step-by-step using a real financial dataset. He covered:

  • Importing and transforming data using Power Query
  • Creating intuitive filters (slicers)
  • Designing visuals that highlight gross sales, profit, and regional performance
  • Incorporating maps to visualise geographic trends

The result? A dashboard that not only looks great, but actually helps organisations act on what the data is telling them.

Advanced Features & What's Next

The session wrapped up with a peek into Power BI’s more advanced capabilities—like predictive analytics, time series, and bookmarks—along with encouragement to dive deeper and continue exploring.

For those looking to take the next step, Scott introduced the Level 4 Data Analyst Apprenticeship, a hands-on course designed to equip learners with core data analysis and visualisation skills. From regular tutor support to real-world projects and hackathons, the course offers a structured yet flexible way to build data confidence.

Bonus: attendees also received a 50% discount code for our upcoming October Hackathon, a fun and competitive opportunity to test your new skills, meet other learners, and even win prizes.

Interested in joining the next session or learning more about the course?

Whether you’re new to data or looking to upskill your team, our Level 4 Data Analyst course can help you turn curiosity into capability.

Enquire now or join our next free workshop to start your journey into data storytelling.