Reflecting on our Analysis in Government (AiG) Award win

I am part of the UKHSA’s Public Health Analysis team and we recently won the Analysis in Government Award in the Inclusion category for our Health Inequalities in Health Protection report, which we worked on with the UKHSA’s Health Equity and Inclusion Health team, and the Strategy team. It’s an incredible achievement – not just because of the recognition we have received from the Government Analysis Function and the media (although that still gives a warm fuzzy feeling) – but because of the clear impact the project has had.

Why this project was important

The report explored how:

• infectious diseases and environmental hazards impact some groups disproportionately
• factors like deprivation, ethnicity and geography affect people’s health and outcomes

These are longstanding, systemic issues in public health. By continuing to highlight these inequalities to the public and wider government we can help reduce them.

My role

My contribution focused on qualitative research and helping to co-ordinate the project. I kept the work moving, assigned tasks, and supported colleagues so their analysis could come together into a single, impactful narrative. I worked closely with teams across the organisation, making sure everything aligned and that the final product was accurate, accessible, and ready for publication. That collaboration was a real highlight for me. It demonstrates how much stronger and more impactful our work becomes when we all bring our expertise together.

What the award means for UKHSA

Winning in the Inclusion category recognises the purpose behind the work: to give visibility to communities who often face the highest risks and burdens of ill health. It shows that good analysis can guide conversations, encourage change and improve outcomes for the people who need it most. UKHSA has a cross-cutting objective to achieve more equitable health security outcomes, and this report demonstrates our continued commitment to those people and places at highest risk.

What happens next

This report is just one part of a much bigger goal to reduce inequalities in health protection. There is more we can do to continue highlighting these issues. I’m immensely proud to have been part of this work and what we accomplished across our team and UKHSA. I’m looking forward to supporting all our communities to live longer and in better health in our future analytical projects.