GSS engagement theme leads and groups

The Engagement Hub has set up 12 core engagement themes to encourage members of the GSS to develop user engagement by working together across government. Each theme is led by a senior civil servant who is an expert in their subject. The leader for each theme will have at least one deputy from another government department.

There will also be other themes that are “cross-cutting”, such as sub-national statistics. We will arrange appropriate user forums or events to identify and discuss these as they emerge. Each cross-cutting theme will also be led by a relevant expert.

To register your interest in particular themes, please contact the team at Engagement.Hub@ons.gov.uk.

Themes

Select a heading to find out more about each theme and see information about the theme-leads and deputies.

You can also sign up to the online forum StatsUserNet to contribute to discussions and share information about any of these themes.

This theme group is led by Delphine Robineau from the Department for Education (DfE) and Jason Bradbury from the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted).

The data and statistics covered by this theme are about all stages of education, from early years, to university and beyond.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of children and education.

This theme group is led by Ian Townsend from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Madeleine May from the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The data and statistics covered by this theme are about the environment, nature and climate change. This includes information about climate change mitigation (net zero) and how we are adapting to a changing climate.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topics of environment, climate, and nature.

This theme group is led by Chloe Gibbs from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of global trade and investment.

This theme group is led by Julie Stanborough from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and members of the United Kingdom Health Statistics Steering Group.

The data and statistics covered by this theme measure the health of the UK population.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of health and social care.

This theme group is led by David Freeman from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The data and statistics covered by this theme are about people’s jobs, employment, earnings, and working patterns. This information will help us understand our working lives.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of labour market.

This theme group is led by Craig McLaren from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The data and statistics covered by this theme measure and describe how the UK economy is changing at a national and regional level. This includes estimating the income, output, and expenditure of the economy to inform policy and decision making. The main measures include gross domestic product (GDP) and the increasing use of real-time indicators.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of national accounts.

This theme group is led by Rich Pereira from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The data and statistics covered by this theme are about:

  • the size and geographic spread of the population
  • the factors causing population change – this includes births, deaths, and migration

Government departments and other organisations rely on population estimates to plan services such as housing, school places, and hospital beds. They are also a valuable denominator and underpin many things such as:

  • weighting household survey interviews
  • important statistics like employment rates
  • Key Economic Indicators – which use population estimates as a basis for producing outputs such as productivity measures and GDP per capita

The Census also provides a detailed overview of our society and how we are living at a point in time. It produces important outputs on ethnicity, religion, the labour market, education, housing and other topics.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topics of population, migration, and census.

This theme group is led by Mike Hardie from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The data and statistics covered by this theme will help us understand how prices change and how this affects households, businesses, and the cost of living.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of prices and inflation.

This theme group is led by Jessica Barnaby from the Office for National Statistics

The data and statistics covered by this theme will help us understand the UK government’s fiscal position. This includes estimates of public sector income, expenditure, borrowing and debt. It also includes the implied fiscal positions of UK countries, regions and local authorities.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of public sector finances.

This theme group is led by John Marais from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The data and statistics covered by this theme are about crime, policing, family, civil and criminal justice systems, and national security.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topics of security, crime, and justice.

This theme group is led by Gemma Brand from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The data and statistics covered by this theme are about transport, transport users, and transport infrastructure.

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topic of transport.

This theme group is led by Steve Ellerd-Elliott from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The data and statistics covered by this theme are about the welfare and pension system that support our understanding of how people feel and function on a personal and social level. This includes measures of:

  • employment and in-work progression
  • poverty and financial resilience
  • deprivation
  • housing
  • homelessness
  • planning performance
  • land use

Find out about statistical engagement groups on the topics of welfare, wellbeing, and housing.

There are a range of statistical engagement groups who discuss topics at a national level outside of these themes. Find out about statistical engagement groups by country.

If you have any questions or want to know more, you can contact the engagement hub team by email at Engagement.Hub@ons.gov.uk.