Welcome to the UK Data Service
Trusted access and training to use the UK's largest collection of economic, population and social research data for teaching, learning and public benefit.
Please be aware that helpdesk queries and support services will be restricted on May 5 due to UK bank holidays.
Highlights

We're nominated as a finalist for the British Data Awards 2025
We’re delighted to announce that the UK Data Service has been nominated as a finalist in the Not-For-Profit of the Year category at the British Data Awards 2025! Winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Brewery in London on 14 May.

Our April 2025 UK Data Service newsletter is live
In this issue we are delighted to announce our re-accreditation by the UK Statistics Authority, for the provision and preparation of data under the Digital Economy Act. We also highlight five key conferences taking place this summer and share updates on our latest projects.

UK Data Service introductory training series: Spring 2025
To help you get the most from our resources, we run a free introductory training series every spring and autumn to introduce different aspects of the UK Data Service. Book your place now for our Spring 2025 series.
Upcoming training and events
Our impact

No progress: breaking the cycle of long-term insecure work
In this Data Impact blog post, Rebecca Florisson, from the Work Foundation, discusses the issue of long-term insecure work.

How are children’s social, emotional and behavioural outcomes impacted by poverty?
This case study looks at the importance of social factors in mitigating disparities in the lives of young people in areas such as poverty, health, housing and discrimination.

The Good Childhood Report 2023
The Children’s Society’s Good Childhood Reports provide an annual overview of the current state of children’s subjective well-being. Read about how they make use of data from our catalogue, in this case study.
Seamless access to key data: explore by themes, types, and teaching datasets
Discover a wide array of national and international key datasets across various categories.

Watch our data skills training webinars

Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Watch and learn all the latest data skills from our free webinars, training and video tutorials.

Introduction to anonymisation techniques for social sciences research data
This session is designed to equip researchers with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of data anonymisation. From survey data to transcript data and audio/visual materials researchers must have a keen eye on safeguarding privacy.

Data in the spotlight: Census and population studies
We introduce you to the UK Census, the data held by the UK Data Service, and how to use the web interfaces to access the data. We also cover up to date information on the progress of the 2021 Census for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the 2022 Census for Scotland.
Ignite discovery: elevate your research with data deposits
Deposit your research data free, in our ESRC funded data catalogue.

Latest news

April 2025 UK Data Service newsletter
Read the full stories in our April 2025 Newsletter. In this issue of the UK Data Service Newsletter, we are delighted to announce our re-accreditation by the UK Statistics Authority for the provision and preparation of data under the Digital Economy Act. We also highlight five key conferences taking place this summer, including the Understanding […]

The Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development (SA-TIED) programme seeks new collaboration with the UK Data Service
This SA-TIED project has been set-up to support the development of policymaking in the Southern Africa region by working closely with researchers to close knowledge gaps, which are crucial to the achievement of inclusive growth and economic transformation in this area of the world. Through the SA-TIED programme, researchers have access to the comprehensive anonymised […]

Harnessing the power of VCSE data – with your insights
Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations that work across the UK collect a wealth of data, highlighting the needs and experiences of the people they serve. However, once its immediate purpose has been fulfilled, it often remains dormant on organisational servers, limiting its potential use by others working towards similar goals. The UK Data […]
Who makes us special?
Our podcast series, The Experts’ Expert, showcases some of the unique work we do to enable evidence-led research for public benefit.
