The latest UK Data Service Annual Report is now available. This report covers the period between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
The UK Data Service has become more than the principal social science digital repository in the UK as we continue to enhance learning, research and policy development. This latest report details how we continue to lead and share best practice across the national and international research landscape, shaping and delivering active data preservation services, data curation, literacy and impact for a stronger society.
An exciting time
This is a time of change for the Service as we near the end of our current award and our key funder, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), leads work to define Future Data Services. The full potential of AI and machine learning is there to be explored when it comes to enriching data and procuring the maximum value from our resources. While we anticipate that during our new award we will be pushing the boundaries of technical innovation ever further, our primary aim remains the provision of access to data enabling quality social and economic research. Now and in the future, our Service users will be at the centre of everything we do.
Highlights of our reach and impact from the UK Data Service Annual Report
- We now have over 48,000 registered users of the Service, based all over the world.
- Nearly 220,000 downloads from across our data services.
- 349 new studies and editions added to our curated data collection.
- 9% increase of Training reach since the previous period. We hosted 107 training events and received nearly 90,000 visitors to our YouTube channel.
- We launched new online resources aimed at undergraduates, training courses on using new Census data and a new teaching dataset built on the Understanding Society: COVID-19 Study.
- 10% increase in access to controlled data since the previous period, through streamlining and improving service delivery.
- The UK Data Service Safe Room reopened in August 2022, following its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Impact case studies include additional reporting by the Homelessness Monitor on the disproportionate number of people from black and minority ethnic communities who experience homelessness and The Living Wage Foundation launch of the ‘Living Hours’ accreditation scheme for employers.
More information
- If you wish to comment, please email Andrea Munson at comms@ukdataservice.ac.uk.
- View our past Annual Reports.