Government Statistical Service Newsletter - October 2020
News
The Government Statistical Service (GSS) People Committee is launching a diversity and inclusion (D&I) reverse mentoring scheme for the Government Statistician Group (GSG).The scheme provides the opportunity for all staff from underrepresented groups with diverse backgrounds to mentor and engage with Senior Civil Servants (SCS) within the profession. If you are interested in taking part please email gss.careers@ons.gov.uk. You can also read blogs on why Simon Skerritt, Edisa Livingstone and Jason Bradbury are supporting the scheme.
The Analysis Function standards working group are looking for volunteers to join a Task and Finish Group to review and update the draft Government Analysis Functional Standard. If you would like to volunteer, please email Analysis.Function@ons.gov.uk with the subject “Analysis Function TFG” setting out in a paragraph or two how your experience and skills can support the work and confirming that you will be able to commit time to the project. You should discuss this with your line manager before responding.
Nominations for the Civil Service Awards 2020 close soon. Have you, your team, a colleague or colleagues worked on something recently that you believe should be celebrated more widely? If so, you only have a few days left to enter a nomination for the Civil Service Awards 2020 ahead of the Friday 16 October deadline. There are 16 categories, ranging from ‘Public Service’ to ‘Commercial’, ‘Inspirational Leadership’ to ‘Developing People’'. You can find out more and submit your nominations on the Civil Service Awards website.
You can now respond to the Coding in Analysis and Research survey. This survey will inform the activities of the Analysis Function. They want to know whether you use programming in your analytical work including Official Statistics, which tools you use if you do, and which software engineering practices you bring in to help your research. This survey is meant for anyone that considers the work they do analytical whether you program or not. If you are interested in this survey or have questions please contact goodpracticeteam@statistics.gov.uk .
Upcoming Events
The Best Practice and Impact division is hosting a sharing webinar on research and development in the transformation of UK consumer price statistics on 27 October 10:00 to 12:00. Find out more and book your place via Eventbrite.
The closing date for abstract submissions for the GSS Methodology (GSSM) Symposium has now been extended to 16th October 2020, to submit an abstract or find out more information visit the GSSM event page.
The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) are hosting monthly seminars.
On 26 October will be discussing OSR's role during the COVID-19 pandemic share insights from their experience of regulating statistics at this critical time. You will hear how OSR have pushed for better data on COVID-19 in the public domain. Sign up and find out more information on Eventbrite
On 26 November will focus on from Test & Trace to block grant transparency data – how to demonstrate professional standards. This session is aimed at those working on official statistics or other analytical outputs in government and public bodies who may be interested in learning more. Sign up and find out more information on Eventbrite
Guidance
The Good Practice Team are putting together guidance on Accessibility and statistical publications, and want to know what you would like to see included. Check out the news article for the proposed topics, and e-mail goodpracticeteam@statistics.gov.uk with any suggestions you have.
Vacancies
Grade 7 Statistician at Her Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC) closes on 8 October.
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are recruiting a Deputy Principal Statistician closing date is 16 October.
Learning and Development
The Good Practice Team have recently released version one of their introduction to data visualisation e-learning course. To access the e-learning course, you will need to have a UKSA Learning Hub account. If you don’t already have one, you can email gsscapability@statistics.gov.uk to set one up.
Blog
Mark Pont from the Office for Statistics Regulation discusses compliant toddlers and minor train delays and the effect adjectives can have on how we interpret statistics.
Helen Miller-Bakewell has blogged about the value and importance of official statistics for the public good and where the UK statistical system can make improvements.
Andy Schofield discusses data quality in the time of coronavirus (COVID 19) including delivering at pace, data visualisations and communication.
And finally ...
I didn't get chance to try out the garlic spray on my broccoli, I went away for a few days and the wind knocked my small greenhouse over onto all my plants and they died. This weekend I'll be packing the greenhouse up ready for spring and trying to find things in my local lockdown area to do as a family.
Ami
|
