Discover secure research data

We publish these figures quarterly to give an overview of datasets available in the Secure Research Service (SRS).

Figures last updated: March 2026

Current datasets: 146
The total number of datasets available to accredited researchers.

The Secure Research Service (SRS) Metadata Catalogue helps you discover what data are available for research in the SRS. You can search by name, keyword, or variable to find datasets and view key metadata, including geographic coverage, frequency, and a high-level description. This allows you to assess whether a dataset meets your research needs before applying for accreditation or submitting a project.

The catalogue was developed with our partners ADR UK and Metadataworks. We welcome feedback, please contact SRS.data.management@ons.gov.uk or complete the feedback form.

Access the SRS Metadata Catalogue

Citing data in the SRS Metadata Catalogue

Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) are available for the Secure Research Service (SRS) Metadata Catalogue. You should add the DOI to your data citation in any published work from your research - from journal papers and reports to pieces in the media, social media and wider internet. Those writing about or promoting data can also cite the DOI, so that mentions can be picked up for impact tracking.

Help on using our DOIs and catalogue can be found in Frequently Asked Questions.

An economic reference library is available to all projects in the Secure Research Service (SRS). This library contains publicly available economic reference data, providing a single, central source that projects can use alongside their core data.

These are the datasets available as xlsx downloads, with their geographic level.

The economic reference library remains a dynamic product that will be updated on a quarterly basis. We may, in time, expand the library. If you have any suggestions, please email srs.service.improvements@ons.gov.uk.

To access data that are not already available in our Metadata Catalogue, a request to add a new dataset must be submitted to adrcuration@ons.gov.uk. Once a request form and a blank Data Dictionary (see Related downloads) are completed and returned, the team will triage the request to ensure it aligns to our Secure Research Service (SRS) Data Strategy (see key principles below) and indicate whether we can prioritise the request to meet user needs.  

The SRS does not offer a service to prepare, curate or link data by default. However, requests may be considered if they are funded by supported organisations and/or align with Office for National Statistics (ONS) core priorities. Requests that involve ONS resource to acquire, engineer or link data will require an assessment of resource needed.  

It may take a number of months between the initial request and data becoming available, depending on the complexity of the request and other priorities. In general, requests relating to ONS or ADR UK agreed priorities will be prioritised over other requests.

The SRS Data Strategy sets out how ONS assess and prioritise new data requests. The main principles are:

• the SRS onboards de-identified, unpublished data for research projects for the public good; requests for data that will be used for defined, high-impact projects will demonstrate stronger public good than data provided in anticipation of a demand

• data must be available to all accredited researchers by default; access limited to bespoke projects will only be considered if there is a clear plan and commitment to opening up access in future, or where there is a clear evidence that research findings will significantly contribute to government and ONS priorities or policy

• data will be provided to external researchers under the Digital Economy Act 2017 by default and access should align to DEA and SRS standard processes

• provision of data to researchers via the SRS will aim to maximise the future use and research value; where possible, the same version (or "cut") of that data will be reused

For more information, please contact adrcuration@ons.gov.uk

Researchers can match together different datasets they have access to in their Secure Research Service (SRS) project using common variables (for example, Local Authority, Occupation codes).

Where data have been provided with an operational ID, we will pseudonymise it (transform it into a mix of numbers and letters) to become an Office for National Statistics (ONS) ID that is meaningless outside the SRS environment. The ONS ID enables the researcher to match tables within the SRS environment. An example of an operational ID that has been pseudonymised is the "entref" variable, which is included in many of the business datasets held in the SRS.

If you need to identify a specific subset of businesses within datasets held in the Secure Research Service (SRS) and/or match data in the SRS to data you already hold for a subset of businesses, this can be using either Companies House Reference Number (CRN), or business names and addresses.

This linkage work needs to be carried out by the ONS' Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) team who operate separately to the SRS. There is a charge for this service. Researchers wanting to make a request for a business-linked dataset should contact idbrdas@ons.gov.uk to discuss their requirement. If this service is required, researchers will need to confirm they are happy to proceed with their project on this basis. Researchers must be willing to pay for the matching work based on the cost provided by the ONS before the application is submitted to the Research Accreditation Panel for approval.

If you require one of these services, this should be clearly specified in the linkage section of your project application. For either method, the results will be de-identified before being made available to you in your project.

If you are looking to use the LEO dataset you are required to complete the relevant variable request form and attach alongside your application on the Project Application System for SRS (PASS) to specify the data tables or variables that are required for the project. This is required to support the technical handling of any variables.

Please find the variable request form and an exemplar copy of a well-completed form in the documents list. A LEO Project Application Guide is also available.

You can contact the Secure Research Service (SRS) Customer Support team for more information by email srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk.

If you require initial log on credentials or a password reset, please contact by telephone on +44 1329 447871 between the hours of 9am and 11am and 1pm and 3pm.