5 Real-World Power BI Projects Every UK Data Analyst Should Try

Learning Power BI is one thing — applying it to real business problems in the UK is where the real value lies.

In the current UK job market, data analysts are expected to do more than build charts. Employers want professionals who can take messy, scattered data and turn it into dashboards that drive strategic decisions.
 

That’s why hands-on Power BI projects — built with UK datasets and business scenarios — are a game-changer for anyone looking to prove their skills and boost their CV.

Here are 5 UK-specific Power BI project ideas that will sharpen your technical ability, deepen your business knowledge, and make your portfolio stand out to UK employers.

1. Retail Sales Performance Dashboard (UK Regional Stores)

Why it’s valuable:
Retail is one of the UK’s biggest sectors, worth over £450 billion annually. Brands like Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and John Lewis rely heavily on regional sales tracking.

Skills you’ll practise:

• Connecting to EPOS, CRM, and stock systems
• DAX calculations for KPIs like sales per store, footfall conversion rates, and year-on-year growth
• Building regional comparisons (London vs Manchester performance)

UK twist:
Use ONS regional retail sales data to assess store performance against local demographics.

💰 Salary insight: Retail data analysts in the UK typically earn £32,000–£45,000 depending on experience and region.

2. NHS Wait Time & Patient Flow Analysis

Why it’s valuable:
NHS trusts face strict targets on patient wait times and bed usage. Analysts who can visualise and forecast these metrics are in demand.

Skills you’ll practise:

• Cleaning messy healthcare data in Power Query
• Time intelligence measures for weekly/monthly targets
• Conditional alerts for breaches in wait time thresholds

UK twist:
Use NHS England A&E and treatment waiting time datasets for realistic dashboards.

💰 Salary insight: Healthcare BI analysts in the UK earn £35,000–£50,000, with London-based NHS data leads earning more.

3. FCA Compliance & Financial Risk Monitoring

Why it’s valuable:
UK financial firms must comply with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reporting, making automation critical.

Skills you’ll practise:

• Combining accounting and transaction system data
• Automating monthly compliance KPI calculations
• Adding drill-throughs for transaction-level audit detail

UK twist:
Simulate FCA reports using metrics like liquidity ratios, capital adequacy, and exception rates.
Reference FCA handbook reporting guidelines for compliance structures.

💰 Salary insight: Financial analysts with Power BI + compliance skills can earn £45,000–£70,000, with regulatory reporting specialists at the top end.

4. Transport & Logistics Delivery Tracker

Why it’s valuable:
From Royal Mail to DPD, UK logistics runs on on-time delivery KPIs. Mapping and tracking can save millions annually.

Skills you’ll practise:

• Mapping deliveries with Power BI geographic visuals
• Calculating on-time delivery percentages
• Analysing delays by region, courier, and time of day

UK twist:
Integrate Met Office weather data to correlate delays with storms or snow events.

💰 Salary insight: Logistics and supply chain analysts with Power BI skills typically earn £35,000–£50,000 in the UK.

5. Carbon Footprint & Sustainability Reporting

Why it’s valuable:
With the UK’s Net Zero by 2050 goal, companies are under pressure to report sustainability metrics.

Skills you’ll practise:

• Tracking energy use, CO₂ emissions, and waste reduction
• Using DAX to calculate rolling averages
• Creating progress indicators against environmental targets

UK twist:
Use DEFRA’s carbon conversion factors for accurate CO₂ calculations.

💰 Salary insight: Sustainability analysts with Power BI experience earn £38,000–£55,000 in the UK.

Why These Projects Matter in the UK Market

UK employers value Power BI analysts who understand local regulations, data sources, and industry-specific KPIs.
By building these projects with real UK datasets, you’re not only proving technical skill but also demonstrating you can operate in the exact context employers need.

Providers like Excelgoodies often include similar UK business scenarios in their Power BI courses, combining DAX, Power Query, and dashboard design with projects that mimic real-world industry needs.

Editor’s Note: These project ideas are based on UK industry trends and job market data from 2025. Salary ranges are approximate and based on publicly available UK recruitment sources.
 

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