Hello great people here!
I am currently planning to apply for UK GTV endorsement under the Promise route.
However I am a bit confused even though I have core tech experience across product led companies due to the below reasons.
- I have transition based on where I work from Data Analyst to Data Scientist and Business Process automation except
- Currently, I see myself more of a solution provider as I provide leadership (mentorship) across Data, AI and Process automation. I am a Senior Data Scientist with vast experience in Data, AI (ML/Deep Learning) and Process automation (from python, to n8n, Microsoft Power Platform etc)
- Currently doing my MSc in Data Science and have submitted 2 NLP research papers currently pending reviews.
I hope my divergent technical expertise won’t be a stumbling block. Note that I have also done several things outside employment like building employees’ capacity for some Top Globally recognized companies in Nigeria and even some government MDAs as ways of improving data and AI culture, in addition to been invited to speak at conferences in Nigeria and a Microsoft Webinar on one of the automation product I built.
I am open to any guidance and advice on some of the things to ensure I put in place especially evidence.
Having a career that spans data science, AI, and process automation isn’t a problem in itself. The guide describes eligible technical applicants as those with “proven technical expertise with the latest technologies in building, using, deploying or exploiting a technology stack.” Data science and AI sit squarely within that. The risk is the process automation side, specifically n8n and Microsoft Power Platform work, which can read as consultancy or service delivery rather than product-led digital technology. The guide explicitly excludes “Service Delivery, Process Delivery, Outsourcing, Consultancy (technical or management)” from suitable specialisms. Anchor your narrative on data science and AI, and frame any automation work as building products rather than delivering services.
The MSc research papers are worth flagging carefully. OC4 requires research “published in a top-tier peer-reviewed journal,” and the guide states that “research undertaken as part of an undergraduate or MSc thesis does not qualify.” If the NLP papers are independent of your thesis and published in a recognised venue, they could work. If they’re thesis-derived, they won’t carry weight under OC4.
For OC2, conference speaking and capacity building for external organisations can work, but the bar is specific. Conferences need “at least 100 attendees (not registrations)” and you must be “speaking on the main stage,” with the invitation not paid for by your employer as sponsorship. The Microsoft Webinar is promising if it was an independent invitation based on your expertise. Capacity building for companies reads closer to consulting unless it was through a structured voluntary programme with selection criteria.
Before worrying about evidence structure, map every piece of evidence you have against the specific language in each criterion. The most common failure pattern is having strong experience but submitting evidence that doesn’t match what assessors are told to look for.
Thank you so much for your well detailed insights, Akash.
The 2 NLP papers are independent from my Thesis which is on XAI and Loan Approval context. I submitted the papers to Indaba and Neurips as a co-researcher as I work extensively in the pipeline and modelling part of the research.
With regards to the Microsoft Webinar I wish to add as evidence, I did demo and indepth knowledge sharing around how I built an Estate Visitors’ management application (I have email, blog, LinkedIn post and YouTube evidence from the organizers) and for the intended conference, it’s a Microsoft Global Power Platform Boot camps with hundreds in attendance where I spoke and demoed a HR recruitment chatbot I built.
So can I start working towards the promise Part?
I will share later on the forum more details about my planned evidences for all criteria for more guidance.
Once I am very grateful for your response and to know that I can apply for the GTV with my over 3 years direct experience in product led companies.
@Gift_Warieta
Your experience across different disciplines can demonstrate flexibility, growth, and the fact that you are a T shaped professional. However, for the Tech Nation application, you should only highlight one eligible discipline and skill area. This keeps your narrative focused and clear. You can still present your evidence strategically even if it spans multiple roles.
Your two NLP research papers can be okay. Natural Language Processing is one of the strongest and fastest growing areas in AI because it sits at the centre of how humans and machines communicate. However, research completed as part of an MSc project will be dismissed. When publishing, it’s better to publish as an expert rather than as a student. Also, publishing a paper alone does not show how it has advanced the sector, you need to show metrics such as how many people read, downloaded, referenced, or cited the papers.
For speaking if you are invited as an expert or as a result of recognition, and being a tech focused top tier event, then this will be okay. Microsoft Webinar is not sufficient, as its a web seminar that is normally done online, the guidance requires that you are speaking on a main stage (This from recent feedbacks, is interpreted as physical) to at least 100 people.
With this information, you can build a strong narrative. But remember that the Tech Nation application is evidence based, so you still need to provide documents like letters and evidence to support every claim.
All he best.
Thank you so much Raphael for the clarity.
I will keep all these in mind as I work on my application and evidence.
I am actually a professional in Data Science and furthering my education as a pathway to PhD.
Thank you all for your help. Super amazing guidance shared. I feel so loved and encouraged.
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