Working with Government Statistics Careers for Mathematicians and Statisticians Newcastle University Wednesday 19 th November Dave Wilson

Career History 1984/ MOD, RAF Sealand Avionics Technician 1994/ University of Liverpool B.Sc. Marine Biology – 2:1 1998/2002 – University of Liverpool Ph.D. Freshwater Ecology 2002/2005 – University of Liverpool Postdoc – Secondary production in the North Atlantic 2006 – University of Liverpool University Teacher Jan-Oct 2007 – Unemployed Oct 2007-present – Department of Health Statistical Officer

The Government Statistical Service 1,333 Government statisticians Recruitment Promotion standards Learning & development Conferences StatNet (Statisticians intranet)

The Government Statistical Service GSS – Statisticians GES - Economists GSR – Social Researchers GORS – Operational Researchers

Departments

Locations - North Sheffield - Children, Schools, and Family - Innovations, Universities, and Skills - Work and Pensions Leeds - Health - Information Centre York - Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Darlington - Children, Schools, and Family - Innovations, Universities, and Skills Newcastle - Work and Pensions

Locations - South Titchfield - Office for National Statistics Newport - Office for National Statistics Bath - Defence Analytical Services and Advice High Wycombe - Defence Analytical Services and Advice London - Most Government Departments Southend - HM Revenue and Customs

Grades and approximate starting salaries Grade 555k Grade 740k SStO32k HStO / AS27k StO22k

Why Join the GSS? High profile work High impact Variety of work Mobility between departments Locations Structured promotion Training Work – life balance

What do Gov Statisticians do? Data Collection –Surveys –administrative data Data analysis –Analysis –Policy Dissemination –Publishing

What do Gov Statisticians do? (2) Immigration, RPI & CPI, hospital waiting times, re- offenders, travel, school league tables, employment, military personnel, tourism, crime, tax, population, trade, pollution, manufacturing, traffic accidents, pensions, the census, housing, farming, workplace and home accidents, regional statistics, prisons, patients, foreign aid, teachers, students…

Recruitment Schemes Statistical Officers (Mainstream) Assistant Statisticians (Fast Stream) –Long & challenging recruitment process –Accelerated promotion Temporary StOs (Fixed term contract) Candidates can apply to all schemes.

Statistical Officers 60 per year Eligibility –2:2 Honours degree in a numerate subject Continuous recruitment Application form assessment (Sift) Interview & Written test –Data Collection –Data Analysis –Dissemination –General skills Allocation into department

Assistant Statisticians 25 per year 2 rounds per year Round 1: Sept 15 th to Oct 31 st Round 2: Feb 1 st to April 30 th On-line tests Sift Statistical Assessment Centre E-tray Fast Stream Assessment Centre Can pass as AS or StO

Temporary Statistical Officers About 10 per year Eligibility –2:2 Honours degree in a numerate subject Continuous recruitment Informal sift Interview with department 12 months contract TSOs usually pass the StO scheme

Contact info –Profiles, salaries, locations, departments, eligibility criteria, closing dates, StO / TSO application forms, guidance for completing the application form, link to the Fast Stream website StO (mainstream) –Jane Dumayne – AS (Fast Stream) –Simon Nicholas –