Starting my data science degree apprenticeship was one of the most important decisions of my career. I had spent more than twenty years in technical roles, from IT engineering to software development, data engineering and data analysis. Although I had trained extensively, I had no formal qualification to show the depth of my knowledge. I […]
Learn more on From Self-Taught to Distinction: Barry’s Apprenticeship JourneyI was honoured to be invited as closing keynote at the UK Government Statistical Service (GSS) Conference in Manchester in November 2025. GSS Statisticians occupy a critically important space at the intersection of evidence, public trust and national decision-making. Statistics are being reshaped on an unprecedented scale by digital technologies, including AI-assisted modelling, automated quality […]
Learn more on The future of GSS is in the hands of humansIn the world of animal and plant health surveillance, tools that help users make sense of complex pathogen and genetic relationship data are essential for rapid disease detection and effective disease control. Recently, our team set out to transform how APHA staff and partners interact with genomic data by applying user-centred design (UCD) to two […]
Learn more on Putting users at the heart of designPresenting at the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Conference this year was a real privilege. It was a fantastic opportunity to share the progress we’ve been making in the Welsh Government to modernise our ways of working. I was also able to learn a lot from GSS colleagues about how they are innovating and improving. For […]
Learn more on The death of Excel? How our community delivered change at Welsh GovernmentIt’s been a year since the launch of the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Vision, and this year’s conference, Ahead of the curve: preparing for the future of statistics, centred one of the core themes: Innovation and Transformation. The day demonstrated the vision in action as we celebrated the work of over 20 speakers, demonstrating our […]
Learn more on A day of connection and collaboration at the GSS ConferenceThe need for norovirus statistics Every year in the UK, there are an estimated 3 million cases of norovirus, also known as the “winter vomiting bug”. While most people recover quickly, norovirus can cause severe disease in vulnerable groups. The public health burden of norovirus is considerable, causing ongoing disruption to health and social care, […]
Learn more on RAP in reality: automating the production of high-quality norovirus and rotavirus statisticsFollowing the publication of our HIV Official Statistics in October 2024, there was a lot of media backlash due to an increasing number of people arriving in the UK from abroad with HIV diagnoses. The language we used within the release did not help with destigmatizing this population, so we decided to embark on a […]
Learn more on Revamping HIV Official Statistics together with stakeholdersFind out more about how the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and NHS England (NHSE) are working together to understand how chronic health conditions and medical interventions affect employment and earnings.
Learn more on Exploring how personal health affects economic activityStarting a new chapter When I joined the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a Senior Statistical Officer, I was excited but also a little daunted. I had spent years working with data in academia and the private sector, but this was a different world – one of the largest government departments in the […]
Learn more on Behind the Scenes: Coordinating the Statistical Work Programme at DWPIn September 2024, England’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme was launched, protecting those at highest risk of serious illness: newborns (maternal programme) and older adults. Integral to the epidemiological surveillance of any new vaccine programme, the UKHSA monitor the uptake, safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Our job is to ensure data flows that are […]
Learn more on Vax to the future: reproducibility powered by epidemiological know-how