Connect with analysts in your area and across government
Networks, communities, and discussion groups provide excellent ways of getting support, help, and guidance from your peers. As a government analyst, there are many groups across government that you can join.
If you run a network or group and would like it to be added to this list, please email the team at Analysis.Function@ons.gov.uk.
Regional networks, groups, and communities for analysts
Regional networks, groups, and communities offer the chance to get to know other analysts and statisticians from your area. There are several local communities listed below that you can join. You can also find other analysts working in your location from the Civil Service Statistics data browser (2024)
Who can join
All analysts based in South Wales are welcome to join the network.
About this network
The network aims to bring together all analysts from across the various departments in South Wales. The network will provide:
- opportunities for work-shadowing across different departments, to learn about other departments and their work
- workshops for promotion boards and support with competency writing and mock interviews
- training and development opportunities across the different departments
- networking events, with guest speakers from Whitehall and beyond — there are separate tailored events for senior analysts and junior analysts
- outreach events to try to recruit more analysts in Wales
- mentoring opportunities
- volunteering activities — using your three volunteering days
- regular socials
How to join
To join the All Analysts Wales Network, email Fahmida.Qureshi@ons.gov.uk.
Who can join
This Network is for anyone with an interest in quantitative & qualitative analysis happening in North East England. Members include Business and Financial Analysts, Statisticians, Data Scientists, Modelling Analysts, Economists, STEM students, Operational and Social Researchers.
About this community
ANNE is a network where analysts from the academic, public & private sector can connect & exchange ideas on analysis (quantitative and qualitative). ANNE holds three events each year, held at locations in the North East of England. Events are free to attend and a CPD opportunity.
ANNE facilitates the matching of people who want to learn from each other through a mentoring scheme and promotes the study of STEM subjects to encourage people to pursue STEM careers.
How to join
Submit a joining request form on the Operational Research Society’s ANNE web page.
Who can join
The community is open to all analysts from any department based in or around Darlington.
About this community
The community meets every two weeks and the meetings are hybrid events. The community partakes in various activities, including:
- a monthly analyst coffee roulette
- a quarterly cross-departmental meeting where analysts talk about their work
- engagement with academics among others
The community also has a newsletter which features cross-departmental job opportunities and learning and development opportunities.
How to join
To join the Darlington Analytical Community, email Promit.Anwar-Westander@hmtreasury.gov.uk.
Who can join
All analysts working across government, including local government can join this network.
About this network
The group started in 2024, and holds events including:
- networking opportunities
- talks
- knowledge sharing sessions
- skills sharing workshops
- careers advice
How to join
To join the Liverpool Analytical Network, email David.Barkshire@communities.gov.uk
Who can join
Analysts working in central government departments based in Greater Manchester.
About this community
The community aims to build our cross-government analyst network in Greater Manchester. Their main activities are:
- building knowledge and skills through a monthly seminar series
- supporting career development through a buddying and mentor-matching scheme
- building a talent pipeline and establishing areas of shared research interest through university outreach
- running MAC Fest, an annual festival showcasing the range analysis conducted in Greater Manchester, aimed at strengthen networking ties between government departments
How to join
Each department with a presence in Greater Manchester is represented at the Manchester Analyst Community group. To join, please get in touch with contacts in your respective department.
You can also email Maddy.Ell@businessandtrade.gov.uk for more information.
Who can join
This group is open to all analysts across central government, with plans currently underway to expand the network to local government analysts too.
About this network
The network hold quarterly in-person meetings at various department offices in Birmingham. Sessions include:
- networking
- career talks
- show and tells about projects that Midlands-based analysts are working on
How to join
To join the Midlands Analysts Network, use our sign up form.
Alternatively please email Holly.Tyers@dsit.gov.uk or Shannon.Doughty@energysecurity.gov.uk.
Who can join
This group is open to GSS Statisticians in the Newcastle area.
About this network
This group brings together GSS statisticians from the Newcastle area across multiple departments, including but not limited to Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), and Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
The group meet in person approximately every six weeks to share news, listen to guest speakers, and discuss and exchange ideas around the topics raised. Following the meetings there is also usually a social lunch.
How to join
To join the Newcastle Statisticians Group group, email Stuart.Grant@dwp.gov.uk.
Who can join
Anyone in the public sector in the North East of England can join.
About this group
The group aims to connect people in the North East who work in the public sector and have an interest in analysis. Their objectives are to:
- build a community of analysts
- share knowledge through seminars and conferences
- provide opportunities for networking and social events
- promote an understanding of the analytical ecosystem and opportunities through emails about events and activities from other analyst groups in the North East
The group aims to hold hybrid meetings once a month.
How to join
To join the NEAT group, email Alexander.Matthews@hmrc.gov.uk, Lewis.Weinberger@dwp.gov.uk, or Jacquelyn.Keun@dwp.gov.uk
Who can join
The group welcomes statisticians:
- from within Scottish Government and its agencies
- who are based in Scotland who work for other government organisations
About this group
The group was created to build connections, find out about career opportunities and share knowledge across the statistical community in Scotland through meetups and events.
This group is currently in development.
How to join
To join the community, email Craig.Mejury@dwp.gov.uk, Paul.Matthews@gov.scot or Katie.Allison@gov.scot.
Who can join
The group is open to all analysts based in Wales and the South West of England in any government department. Although, as we get the group up and running, the focus will initially be on topics relevant to the Government Statistical Service.
About this group
This group is currently getting up and running with the first in person meeting scheduled for Spring 2025.
The intention is to have biannual meetings rotating around different department offices (in Bristol, Cardiff or Newport), presenting on the work being done across departments, and promoting collaboration and networking.
How to join
This group is currently in development, but you can contact Matt.Evans002@gov.wales for updates.
Other networks for analysts
Online communities and discussion groups provide an opportunity to meet and network with other analysts across government. There are several active online communities and groups you can join.
Who can join
All GSS Fast Stream Statisticians automatically become part of the Assistant Statisticians’ Network upon joining the Fast Stream.
About this network
The network is ran by an elected group of GSS Fast Streamers who are committed to supporting all GSS Fast Streamers. The committee put on a range of events for the network, including L&D sessions and an annual in person ‘Cohort Day’, as well as communicating feedback received from GSS Fast Streamers to FSET in the Cabinet Office and the GSS’s Head of Emerging Talent.
Contact
To get in touch with the current committee, please contact ascommittee@faststream.civilservice.gov.uk who will be more than happy to help.
The GOV.UK Accessibility Community is a group where you can:
- ask questions about accessibility
- develop your knowledge around accessibility
- get or give advice and support about accessibility
You can find instructions for joining the accessibility community discussion group on the Accessibility Community page on GOV.UK.
Who can join
The network is open to all GSS apprentices in any department.
About this network
The network has regular calls and is also planning to hold an in-person conferences in 2025.
How to join
To join the GOV.UK Accessibility Community, email GSS.Careers@ons.gov.uk.
The Interdepartmental Working Group was formed in 2013 to progress the recommendations of the Macpherson report. The Group produced the Aqua Book and has continued to provide an informal forum for sharing experiences and good practice among Government Departments and Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) in the area of quality assurance relating to analytical models.
The group is currently working on the revision of the Aqua Book.
Who can join
The group is open to government departments and arms-length bodies (ALBs) that have or wish to have modelling capability. The group is comprised of one or two representatives per department or ALB.
Meetings
The team meets online once a month.
How to join
To join the GOV.UK Accessibility Community, email Tim.Knight@dwp.gov.uk.
The RAP Champion Network:
- share best practice, success stories and challenges for achieving change
- create products to help with change
- report on progress of RAP uptake within departments
The network is made up of cross government partners who are responsible for encouraging the use of RAP in their respective organisations. They meet quarterly and have their own Slack channel.
Find out more about the RAP Champion Network and how to join.
Online message boards
Online message boards offer the opportunity to get quick advice on specific problems you may be encountering in your work. There are several message boards you may find useful.
Basecamps are online spaces with a message board where you can ask questions and share ideas. There are also areas to share documents and advertise events.
You may find the Presentation and Dissemination of Statistics and Analysis Basecamp community a useful source of support. Please email the team at Analysis.Function@ons.gov.uk to request an invitation to the community.
Slack channels allow you to organise conversations and collaborate on projects and shared topics. You can join the UK Government Digital Slack and contribute to the community, sign up using your ‘gov.uk’ email address.
Useful channels for communicating analysis include:
- #accessibility
- #content
- #design