SQL for Data Analysis
A two-day hands-on programme for people who need data out of a database and currently have to ask someone else for it. SQL is the most durable skill in analytics: it long predates every tool built on top of it and will outlast most of them. For an analyst, the ability to write a query directly is the difference between answering a question today and raising a ticket.
The course is entirely practical, working against a realistic database throughout. Day one covers querying, filtering, sorting and joins. Day two covers aggregation, subqueries, common table expressions, window functions and the query performance basics that stop a report from taking twenty minutes to run.
HRD Corp SBL-Khas Claimable
Programme Agenda
Day 1, 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Welcome and Programme Overview
Introduction to the session, objectives, and housekeeping.
Day 1, 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Introduction to Databases and SQL
What relational databases are, how tables and relationships work, and where SQL is used in business analytics.
Day 1, 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
Day 1, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Basic Queries
Use SELECT, FROM, WHERE, ORDER BY, and LIMIT to retrieve and filter data from a single table with precision.
Day 1, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Filtering and Conditions
Use AND, OR, NOT, IN, BETWEEN, and LIKE to write conditions that extract exactly the records you need.
Day 1, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
Day 1, 1:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Aggregation and Grouping
Use COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, and MAX with GROUP BY and HAVING to summarise data for reporting and analysis.
Day 1, 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Break
Day 1, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Joining Tables
Use INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, and RIGHT JOIN to combine data from multiple tables and answer cross-functional questions.
Day 1, 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Day 1 Close
Recap and what to review before day two.
Day 2, 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Day 1 Review
Recap of day one and the questions it left open.
Day 2, 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Subqueries and CTEs
Use nested queries and Common Table Expressions to build complex, readable analysis in logical steps.
Day 2, 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
Day 2, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Working with Dates and Text
Format dates, calculate durations, and manipulate text fields for cleaner reporting outputs.
Day 2, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
Day 2, 1:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Practical Business Scenarios
Apply SQL to real questions about customer behaviour, sales trends, inventory levels, and operational metrics.
Day 2, 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Break
Day 2, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Business Analysis Query Set. Participants write a set of queries answering five real business questions from a provided dataset, covering filtering, joining, and aggregation. Key Outcomes:
Query databases to retrieve and filter business data accurately Summarise and group data for management reporting Join multiple tables to answer cross-functional questions Write subqueries and CTEs for structured, readable analysis Work with dates, text, and calculated fields Apply SQL to real business scenarios without a coding background
Day 2, 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Wrap-Up and Q&A
Key takeaways, next steps, and close.
Key Outcomes
- Write queries to select, filter and sort data from one or more tables
- Join tables correctly and recognise when a join is silently dropping or duplicating rows
- Aggregate and group data, and filter on aggregates
- Use subqueries and common table expressions to structure a complex question
- Apply window functions for ranking, running totals and period comparison
- Write queries that perform acceptably against a large table
Training Mode Physical / Online / Hybrid / e-learning
HRD Corp SBL-Khas Claimable
Level Intermediate. Suitable for analysts, finance and operations staff, report writers and anyone who works with data. Spreadsheet familiarity assumed; no prior SQL or programming required.
Duration 2 Days (16 Hours) | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily
Venue In-house at the client's premises, or delivered via the client's preferred platform (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or equivalent)
Assessment A set of queries answering real analytical questions against a supplied database, reviewed for correctness and performance
Certificate Certificate of Completion issued to all participants upon full attendance