• cymraeg

• UK Snapshot
• Neighbourhood
• Economy
• Census
• About ONS
• Jobs

John Philpott, Chief Economist, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Check e-mails, look at BBC website and then onto the ONS site for the daily news releases. A wake-up coffee in hand, this is my usual morning ritual. Along with The Financial Times, ONS statistics frame a work agenda built around instant analysis of, and often public comment on, emerging statistical evidence on conditions in the UK economy and labour market.

My love affair with official employment and pay statistics began 30 years ago and is still going strong, despite the occasional ups and downs typical of any long-lasting relationship. But it has been the availability of on-line access to data during the past decade that has really made a difference.

I think of the ONS website as an open treasure chest of information. And with the changes to ONS products and services that are now on the way, I imagine more people will start to discover what is on offer.

ONS gives the lie to the phrase ‘dry statistics’. The wealth of material collected and published by ONS in a variety of formats adds colour to many of the key economic and social issues of our time – and provides the starting point for informed discussion, debate and understanding. ONS helps me gain a clear view of the ever changing contours of our increasingly complex society.

Andrew Parker, Research Officer, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

At Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, we use the statistics produced by ONS in a variety of ways: 

• to gain a clear picture of the local, regional and national economic and social situation. This allows us to build statistical profiles for different areas, while information about demographic make-up gives us insight into the needs of local communities. This all helps to secure external funding, such as funds for economic regeneration and other grants available from central government or the Welsh Assembly Government.

• ONS statistics guide local primary and secondary research (such as Resident Satisfaction Surveys) by giving a clear picture of the demographics of communities, which we use to determine the focus of this research.

• timely and relevant statistics facilitate improved decision-making on housing needs, educational provision and financial planning.

The census is vitally important to Local Authorities and, even though it is only conducted once every ten years, the intelligence it gathers is used to develop and guide many other more frequent statistical sources such as the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The development of the Neighbourhood Statistics Service is excellent as it draws together all the statistical information for a local area such as population figures, demographic, social and economic information. This informs Local Authority officers, elected members and the general public about their communities and enables comparisons with other areas to be made. It helps gauge what is happening in the local areas in which they work, serve or live.  It is an easy system to use which delivers statistics in a way everyone can understand.

Maxine Walter, Head of Communications, UK Transplant (part of NHS Blood and Transplant)

UK Transplant (UKT) is the NHS organisation that matches and allocates organs donated for transplant. We also have a remit to promote donation, encouraging people to think about and discuss their wishes, and consider joining the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).

Although the UKT communications department is not a heavy user of official statistics, we often draw on census data to help us plan our publicity campaigns and evaluate their success.

Typically this involves comparing ODR membership with population figures to help us identify areas, and population groups, who may be under-represented on the ODR. This type of analysis has led to direct mail campaigns targeting specific towns and cities that have low ODR membership, as well as ongoing campaigns to encourage more black and Asian people to consider donation.

We also use census data, via the ACORN consumer classification system, to help us understand the socioeconomic profile of people who have joined the ODR. This type of analysis adds significantly to our understanding of ODR membership, providing feedback on existing campaigns and guiding the development of future communications strategy.