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Talk Data to Me: Growing an Analytical Network in the North East

The North East Analysts Together (NEAT) network connects public sector analysts across the North East of England. Originally formed to revive a pre-pandemic analytical network in Newcastle, NEAT brings together professionals from departments including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Department for the […]

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Me, myself and D&I

Hello! My name is Edisa Livingstone, and I am a Grade 7 Statistician at the Department for Transport and co-chair of the GSS Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Working Group. It might sound odd to some, but I’ve been passionate about statistics for a while now! Statistics really came to life for me when I studied […]

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How to RAP: bringing good practice to life

This is part two of a series. Part one: ‘RAP: it’s all about the code’ covered Reproducible Analytical Pipeline (RAP) definitions and coding standards. The technology we use and how we communicate affect how well we can implement Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAP). We’ve established RAP ways of working to promote industry best practices for working […]

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RAP: it’s all about the code

What is RAP? RAP stands for Reproduceable Analytical Pipeline. A pipeline is a coding project with data as an input, and a process to transform or clean it and output it again. While that might be a description for every coding project, the ‘reproducible’ part is what separates a RAP from general analysis or processing. […]

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Navigating a career in statistics: reflections from senior leaders

Since 2024, I have enjoyed being the sponsor for a Government Statistical Service (GSS) Fast Stream cohort. It’s been great to hear about the new skills they’ve gained and the experiences they are embracing to set them up for their future careers. In talking to them it’s clear they are ambitious, and rightly so! However, […]

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My apprenticeship journey at the Home Office

I joined the Home Office as a Data Analyst Apprentice in March 2023 and completed my apprenticeship in August 2024. Although I already had a BA in International Affairs, over time, I realised that data science was the career path I wanted to follow. My interest in maths and data led me to complete several […]

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From Curiosity to Cutting-Edge AI: My Journey in Data Science

The first time I encountered the power of data, I was mesmerized. It was not just numbers or statistics; it was a gateway to understanding the world in ways I never thought possible. My journey into artificial intelligence (AI) and data science has been an adventure—one filled with discovery, challenges, and innovation. Today, I have […]

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