Summary of Strength in Numbers: a strategic vision for the Government Statistical Service

Policy details

The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is the community for all UK civil servants that collect, analyse, produce and communicate statistics. We are responsible for ensuring that statistics effectively inform decision-makers and the public. We innovate by investigating new data sources, methodologies and processes to improve the quality of analysis and statistics.

We come from over 50 different bodies, each with different policy and operational focuses and different statistical priorities. We act collaboratively across organisational boundaries in order to maximise impact. More information about the GSS and GSG is available on the GSS webpages.

Our vision statement, ‘Strength in Numbers’, aims to strengthen our identity and explain the focusses of GSS collaboration across four themes:

• Coordination, Cooperation and Leadership
• Capability and Community
• Setting Standards
• Transformation and Innovation

Each theme describes initiatives that we need to maintain, alongside ambitious proposals we aim to deliver in the medium and long term.

 

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Coordination, cooperation and leadership

Vision statement

GSS decision making is system-wide by default, focused on delivering in partnership across departmental boundaries. GSS governance is transparent and inclusive, with roles and responsibilities clearly set out between departments, the GSS and Analysis Function.

We will maintain

• the role of the National Statistician, wider governance and champions networks, and the leadership this brings to the GSS

Our ambition is to implement

• a new Deputy Head of the GSS role to strengthen leadership
• a permanent central team that provides support across the GSS
• improved cross GSS topic prioritisation to support collaboration

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Capability and community

Vision statement

GSS members can come from any background and work in supportive teams across the UK to reach their full potential, with clear progression routes and guidance from junior to the most senior grades. The GSS comprises a diverse, inclusive and vibrant community which people want to join and stay to build their career in.

We will maintain

• the People Advisory Group and the Government Statistician Group (GSG) competency framework to provide essential ‘people’ support
• the GSS conference as a flagship event
• GSS community groups to strengthen networks

Our ambition is to implement

• improved induction and talent management to support staff
• horizon scanning on the evolving role of statisticians to prepare for the future
• greater understanding and embedding of diversity and inclusion for the GSS
• a clear identity for the GSS within the Analysis Function
• improved visibility of GSS leadership

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Setting standards

Vision statement

The principles of the Code of Practice for Statistics underpin all GSS activities and outputs. They are supported by harmonised, coherent standards and shared practices that promote high-quality, trustworthy statistical production across the UK.

We will maintain

• clear adherence to the Code of Practice for Statistics
• prioritisation of harmonisation

Our ambition is to implement

• a raised profile for the Code of Practice and intelligent transparency
• a greater focus on UK comparable data and statistics

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Transformation and innovation

Vision statement

The high quality and innovative statistics the GSS deliver are created through an interconnected data estate and contribute to a unified evidence base, planning to inform public and decision makers of what they need to know for now and the future.

 We will maintain

• continued transformational leadership for reproducible analytical pipelines
• support for the Integrated Data Service

Our ambition is to implement

• increased leadership to influence data sharing
• a focus on the use of Artificial Intelligence in statistics
• better sharing of methodological expertise
• a government-wide dissemination platform for statistics

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A PDF version of this summary is available to download.

Read the full version of ‘Strength in Numbers’.

 

 

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