Concluded task and finish groups

Purpose

The aim of this review was to ensure that the GSS has the right governance in place to deliver the GSS Vision: Strength in Numbers. The review focussed on three elements of GSS governance that were highlighted in the GSS vision strategic delivery plan:

• committees
• networks
• a mandatory objective for all GSS HoPs that reflects a contribution to a GSS wide initiative

The review did not cover the role of the National Statistician, Deputy Head of the GSS, or Head of Profession for Statistics.

Scope of the review of committees and networks

The following areas were reviewed.

Committees

• National Statistical Executive Committee (NSEG) with regards to GSS participation and decision making
• GSS People Advisory Group
• GSS International Committee
• GSS Presentation and Web Dissemination Committee
• GSS Heads of Profession fortnightly and quarterly meetings
• GSS Regional and Geography Committee (added retrospectively after this committee was identified during the research)

In addition to these formal meetings, there are:

• monthly meetings between the Deputy Heads of the GSS and the Deputy National Statistician covering the GSS
• quarterly meetings between the Deputy Heads of the GSS and the National Statistician
• Deputy Heads of the GSS attendance at the Analysis Function board

Networks

• GSS champion networks
• GSS theme leads

Duration

The group’s research ran over the summer of 2025, conducting interviews with a broad range of committee leads, champion network co-chairs and Heads of Profession. The group made recommendations to NSEG in November 2025 based on their findings.

Actions

The group made a number of recommendations to NSEG, all of which were accepted. The recommendations are listed below.

1. Document and review the governance structures across the GSS to address inconsistencies in reporting lines for cross-GSS groups such as champions networks, steering groups and boards. This will ensure cross-GSS groups have the governance in place to achieve their goals, and that this is transparent to the rest of the GSS. This work is currently underway, led by the GSS Policy and Coordination team.
2. Establish a clearer link between the GSS and the Analysis Function, to better understand the opportunities for collaboration. This is being taken on by the Deputy Heads of the GSS.
3. Establish a Senior Civil Service or Grade 6 level sponsor for each champions network, who will work with network leads to define a consistent set of roles, responsibilities and expectations for a champions network. This will also include reviewing the role of the GSS geography champions in relation to other existing cross-GSS geography networks. These roles will be announced shortly.
4. Assign an ambassador to promote and coordinate GSS activity to use and develop artificial intelligence (AI) enabled analysis. The GSS AI working group has been established in response to this.
5. Develop and promote a mandatory a HoP objective to encourage engagement in cross-GSS activity. This is underway in consultation with GSS HoPs.
6. Deputy Heads of the GSS to provide feedback to GSS HoPs’ line managers on the impact of their involvement in cross-GSS initiatives. This process has been set to provide proportionate feedback to HoPs when required.

With thanks to all the Committee leads, champion networks and Heads of Profession who gave their valuable time in interviews with the task and finish group, which helped us form the recommendations, and to the Deputy Heads of the GSS who gave advice and guidance throughout.

This group was active from June 2025 to February 2026.

Purpose

This task and finish group supported collaboration between the GSS and RSS to develop a clear, shared vision for the future of the statistician profession and identify priority areas for developing capability and skills over the next decade.

Key achievements

Future Statistician Vision published

We developed a clear, forward‑looking vision for the future statistician, which has been published on the RSS website: Government Statistical Service (GSS) and Royal Statistical Society (RSS) report on the vision for the Future Statistician

Engaged stakeholders and gathered evidence

We synthesised evidence from a joint GSS and RSS roundtable and led a public consultation to identify which skills and capabilities should endure, and what needs to evolve in the profession over the next decade.

We tested emerging thinking through a session at the 2025 GSS Conference to ensure the vision and recommendations reflected the priorities, concerns and experience of the profession.

Thematic deep dives and analysis

We analysed the GSS/RSS consultation responses, including manual thematic analysis and AI‑assisted summarisation of priority areas. The outcome of analysis were published in the future statistician consultation summary document on the RSS website.

Next Steps

Going forward, our focus is on the delivery of the Future Statistician vision, which includes:

• establishing GSS and RSS governance to provide ongoing leadership to the initiative including monitoring and reporting progress to Heads of Profession
• establishing a new task and finish group to develop action plans for delivering the recommendations
• ongoing engagement with the GSS and RSS communities to embed the vision and support capability development
• a progress report, which will be published in January 2027

With thanks to:

Members of the GSS and RSS Future Statistician Task and Finish Group, representing departments across government: Cheryl Blake (MoD), Joe Bohoslawec (DSIT), Holly Goss (ONS), Arti Jones (MoJ), Justyna Owen (DWP), James Stokes (CO), and Onur Teymur (DESNZ), and colleagues from the Royal Statistical Society, including Deniz Gursul and Ricky McGowan, for their time, expertise and commitment in shaping this work, and to Jade Lester and colleagues in the GSS Policy and Co‑ordination team for supporting engagement, coordination, and briefing.

This group was active from June 2025 to February 2026.

Purpose

To improve the monitoring system that was designed in 2024 to track progress against the GSS Vision: Strength in Numbers and provide insights for the National Statistics Executive Group (NSEG).

Key achievements

GSS survey launched

We designed and delivered a survey for all Government Statistical Service members across government.

Survey questions were drafted and grouped using the GSS Vision pillars, and questions were designed to align with the vision and fill gaps in existing data.  A small pilot was planned and delivered with volunteers across several departments to select the most useful questions and to inform instructions for the survey.

To analyse responses, the group applied automated descriptive analyses and designed visualisations for the dashboard, as well as using Factor Analysis to explore subgroups of answers by their GSS vision pillar for more informative reporting.

Refreshed the GSS Vision Dashboard

Building on the successes of the previous group, we worked with data providers to improve the data that feeds into the reporting dashboard, working with senior civil servants across departments to set benchmarks and targets for the included GSS metrics.

We conducted new analysis and integrated survey findings, then improved the presentation of the dashboard to provide clearer and richer insights. We also made recommendations about future improvements that could be made, such as developing a Head of Profession (HoP) survey, adding departmental case studies, and future adjustments to metrics to ensure they were measurable.

Progress report published

We led breakout discussions on emerging findings at a GSS HoPs meeting and then presented our findings and recommendations to the National Statistician’s Executive Group (NSEG). Using insights from this work, a report was published on the progress of the GSS vision one year on: February 2026 progress updates on the GSS Vision: Strength in Numbers.

Next Steps

This task and finish group has now closed, and the GSS Policy and Coordination team will deliver future GSS surveys, update the existing dashboard, and present insights to NSEG to monitor progress against the GSS Vision.

With thanks to:

Members of the GSS Metrics Task and Finish Group, representing departments across government: Sebastian Aston-Deaville (ONS), Katherine Buzzard (ONS), Matthew Davies (ONS), Catherine Goodhead (DBT), Ellen Green (MHCLG), Martin Harris (DfE), Aamina Hussain (HMRC), Katherine Jones (MoJ), Karina Matjuhhina (DSIT), Sarah Murphy (DEFRA), Annie Sames (Scottish Government), Katie Wilkinson (DWP) for their time, expertise and commitment in shaping this work. The group was led by Jamie Thomas (MHCLG).

Purpose: To develop a strategy for the GSS Community to support engagement and networking opportunities, with clear and regular communications and enhanced visibility of GSS leadership.

Duration: October 2023 to April 2025

Actions

GSS Vision: Capability and Community

Established an aspiration for a vibrant community in the development of the GSS vision, which became the Capability and Community theme within Strength in Numbers. This includes commitments on GSS Community groups, the GSS Conference, and improved visibility of GSS leadership.

GSS community groups

Launched the GSS regional community groups page on the Analysis Function website, promoting local groups and activities.

GSS leadership visibility

• Introduced the GSS Senior Leaders Blog in the monthly GSS newsletter.
• Developed the comprehensive Meet the GSS Senior Leaders webpage which provides information about the Heads of Profession across the GSS.

GSS Community events

• Engagement with the GSS community to shape the vision, including a session at the 2023 GSS Conference and within Departments.
• Supported the team responsible for delivering the 2024 GSS Conference.
• Informed the new quarterly GSS Community calls and knowledge sharing sessions.

Next steps

The GSS Policy and Co-ordination team are taking on delivering and maintaining the outputs from the task and finish group. They have developed the GSS Community and Engagement Plan 2025 which builds on this work to:

• bring the community together more often for regular updates and knowledge sharing
• improve visibility across the community and celebrate success
• empower and support the GSS to plan, develop and deliver best practice in alignment with government priorities and needs
• enable regular networking in-person and online
• increase the sense of community for statisticians across government

With thanks to: Naeem Abdulhussein (HMRC), Sam Caton (HMRC), Jane Chandler (DESNZ), Simon Clarke (HSE), Steve Ellerd-Elliott (DWP), Sarah Lasher (DCMS), Delphine Robineau (DfE), and John Wilkins (DfT), and Eleanor Cuzner and Jade Lester from the GSS Policy and Coordination team.

Purpose: To identify gaps or specific requirements for under-represented groups in the statistics profession regarding job application and interview support, and to make recommendations to address these.

Actions

Recommended changes to GSS recruitment materials

Reviewed recruitment materials and worked with the GSS Recruitment team to prioritise recommendations. All changes are subject to team capacity.

Gathered feedback from current sifters and interviewers

Gathered feedback from a range of experienced Government Statistician Group (GSG) assessors for statistical officer central campaigns (grade EO to SEO) on:

• how candidates from different backgrounds have performed in sifts and interviews
• where there were areas of potential disadvantage
• what actions could be taken to reduce any barriers for certain candidates

Used existing resources to help with application and interview support

Produced a version of a recent Office for National Statistics blog on a personal experience of the GSS Dissemination Exercise and tips for applicants to be shared across the GSS.

Drafted guidance on reducing the time it takes to onboard people

We created guidance and actions for GSS Heads of Profession (HoPs), Analysis Function, and Departmental Directors of Analysis to help reduce candidate drop-outs and onboard candidates swiftly. This assists with inclusion issues for disadvantaged groups as they will start to be paid sooner.

Commissioned the Diversity and Inclusive group to support

In discussion with the Diversity and Inclusion Group lead and a HoP sponsor, we recommended the following ideas:

• career presentations from senior statisticians in under-represented groups
• share existing Civil Service and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) groups with GSS members to improve awareness

Actions

The GSS Career Framework Steering Group will track progress on the actions from the task and finish group. The Diversity and Inclusion group has been asked to help with the final action.

With thanks to: Adrian Chesson (ONS), Andrew Etherington (ONS), Jessie Evans (DSIT), Ally McAlpine (SG), Maeve McMahon (BDUK), Stephen Oxley (DSIT), Sian Rasdale (FCDO)