GSS user engagement champions

Purpose

The Code of Practice for Statistics requires government statistics to ‘support society’s needs for information’. This means that our statistics and data need to be useful, easy to access, relevant and support the understanding of important issues.

In July 2019, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) published its inquiry into the governance of statistics. In their report, PACAC recommended that the United Kingdom (UK) Statistics Authority should develop a strategy for engaging all users of official statistics.

In response to that recommendation, GSS-wide user engagement strategy and implementation plan has been developed. This is to enable a more strategic, inclusive and coordinated approach to our engagement activities across government.

The purpose of the user engagement champion network is to support statistical Heads of Profession (HoPs) to develop and implement the GSS User Engagement Strategy across the Government Statistical Service (GSS).

The network will also facilitate knowledge sharing and innovation across government and will have the opportunity to link in with the work of the other well-established networks and forums such as the Statistics User Forum.

Roles and responsibilities

Support the delivery of the GSS User Engagement Strategy within their department by:

• helping produce and monitor an action plan outlining what activities need to take place in their department to achieve the GSS aims within the strategy – these action plans should be produced through consultation with GSS members in the department
• providing biannual updates on these actions to enable progress of the strategy to be tracked
• identifying and help to address barriers to user engagement in their department
• identifying areas where support is needed

Attend and actively participate in user engagement champion network meetings by:

• submitting an agenda item or presenting at a champion meeting to showcase developments or practices relating to user engagement or to discuss a challenge

Build links with champions in other departments to:

• build and maintain links to facilitate innovation and the sharing of user insight across the GSS

Identify, promote and share best practice and innovation in engaging with users across government by

• ensuring analytical colleagues within their department are kept up to date with guidance and any other developments relating to user engagement
• acting as the central point of contact within their department for advice on user engagement

Membership

The group membership consists of representatives from departments across the GSS and devolved administrations. The following organisations have network members:

• Cabinet Office
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Department for Education
• Department for Transport
• Department for Health and Social Care
• Department for International Trade
• Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
• Department for Work and Pensions
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Food Standards Agency
• Health and Safety Executive
• Higher Education Statistics Agency
• Higher Education Statistics Authority
• HM Revenue and Customs
• Home Office
• The Insolvency Service
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Justice
• NHS
• NHS Digital
• Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
• Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation
• Office of Health Improvement and Disparities
• Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills
• Office for National Statistics
• Office of Rail and Road
• Public Health Scotland
• Scottish Government
• UK Health Security Agency
• Valuation Office Agency
• Welsh Government

Benefits

The user engagement champion network is being built as a vibrant, cross-government community. It provides a space for analysts to share their experience, learn from others and support the wider analysis community. We want to ensure that user engagement is as the heart of the statistics the GSS collects, analyses and publishes.

On a personal level, being a champion is a great corporate objective as it is an important “big picture” contribution to the civil service and a significant development opportunity.

Scope

In scope:

• To advise and encourage GSS members to undertake user engagement
• To promote good practice in user engagement
• To facilitate discussion and knowledge sharing
• Building links across departments

Out of scope:

• Enforcement of the GSS User Engagement Strategy

It is not the intention for the GSS User Engagement Champions to enforce user engagement compliance, but rather to promote good practice and to offer support and advice.

Communication

Communication with the user engagement champions will be through email correspondence, meetings, and ad hoc updates. There may also be opportunities to hold training, workshops and events for user engagement champions.

Read the GSS User Engagement Strategy for Statistics.