Statistics and Analysis Directorate Homepage

Careers in Statistics  - Visit the GSS Recruitment website

Strategic Policy Analysis

The statistical side of the Directorate is headed by Tim Andrews, the Chief Adviser on Statistics and Chief of Profession for BERR statisticians. The directorate is organised as follows:

SPA – Statistics and Analysis

The SPA-SA team provides core statistical support, mainly to colleagues in the Department. Work areas include regional statistics (Regional competitiveness and State of the regions); survey control and advice; UK trade in goods and international trade; and service sector statistics. It also undertakes analysis of personnel statistics and ad hoc consultancy work for other parts of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). Staff deals with issues that extend beyond a single industry such as cross-sectoral industry analysis and trade statistics. There is also an important advisory role, liaising with data providers and keeping statisticians in the Department informed of developments in statistical sources.

Top

SPA – Economic Analysis

SPA-EA coordinates BERR research and analysis assessing developments in the domestic and world economy so as to underpin the UK's productivity agenda and support strategic policy development, and the impacts of globalisation.

The statisticians within SPA-EA provide macro economic statistics on the domestic economy and international comparisons.

SPA – Construction Market Intelligence

Construction Market Intelligence statisticians produce and interpret construction data for use by policy teams, UK business, consumers, industry researchers and National Accounts.  Data are available on request.

SPA – Performance Evaluation and Business Economics

The Performance Evaluation and Business Economics Team responsibilities include:

- Target setting and performance measurement;

- Guidance, methodology and peer review for appraisal and evaluation of programmes and policies, including regulations;

- Economic and statistical advice on business and industrial issues;

- Co-ordination of cross-cutting economic research;

- Effects of EU Emissions Trading Scheme on industrial sectors; and

- Green and low carbon industrial policy and sustainable development.

The statistician helps obtain and interpret the raw data needed by policy directorates and get them in the form needed for economic project work.

Other BERR directorates

Enterprise Directorate

The Statistics and Performance Indicator Team responsibilities include:

The production of National Statistics and general statistical briefing on SMEs including analysis to inform policy development or assess policy impact and performance against key measures;

Providing advices on suitable data sources, statistical methodology, and reliability of external surveys/sources; and Taking forward work to improve access to data on SME's across Government.

The statistics covered by the section include:

SME Statistics for the UK, including data on the number and contribution of businesses in each size band and industry;

VAT Registration and De-registration Statistics;

Business Survival Rates; and Enterprise in Disadvantaged Communities.

Regional Policy

The statistician in the Regions Team is responsible for providing statistical advice on various regional issues, including BERR’s Regional Economic Performance PSA target and Gross Value Added (GVA), regional analytical advice, and technical queries on Assisted Areas and the SFIE (Selective Finance for Investment in England) Grant Scheme.

Employment Relations

The ER directorate is responsible for policy on Dispute Resolution including tribunals. It also works to develop a framework for employers and employees which promotes a skilled and flexible labour market founded on principles of partnership. It deals with relationships between workers and their employers, including individual rights as well as collective arrangements.

The Economics and Statistics Unit within ER provides labour market briefings on pay, minimum wage, and long hours working. They are also responsible for trade union data, and the Labour Force Survey.

Energy

Analysis on energy statistics are provided by the Energy Market Unit (EMU) and the Energy Strategy and International Unit (ESIU).

EMU

The Energy Markets Unit is responsible for UK, international and European, energy policy, for the domestic electricity, gas and petroleum markets, and for the development of North Sea infrastructure. This includes social, environmental and consumer issues, information and statistics.

Top

ESIU

One of the purposes of ESIU is to set the strategic direction and provide the analytical underpinning for energy policy at regional, national, European and International level, and to provide a challenge function for the rest of the Energy Group.

Agencies and associated bodies

Insolvency services

Since 2 January 2006, responsibility for publication of insolvency statistics has transferred to The Insolvency Service, an Executive Agency of BERR. The Statistics Team there are based within the Policy Directorate, which is responsible for all aspects of insolvency policy for England and Wales and for certain aspects of corporate insolvency policy in Scotland. The statisticians' responsibilities include the compilation and dissemination of insolvency statistics and statistical consultancy, principally within the policy area but also more widely across The Service.

Insolvency website

Low Pay Commission

The Low Pay Commission is an independent body advising the Government about the Minimum Wage. The LPC undertakes the following activities:

Extensive research and consultation;

Commission research projects;

Analyse relevant data and actively encourage the Office of National Statistics to establish better estimates of the incidence of low pay;

Carry out surveys of firms in low-paying sectors;

Consultation with employers, workers and their representatives;

Take written and oral evidence from a wide range of organisations; and Fact-finding visits throughout the UK to meet employers, employees and representative organisations.

LPC website

Office of Manpower Economics

The Office of Manpower Economics (OME), established in 1970, is a non-statutory Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB), independent of HM Government. The Office provides the Secretariat for six Pay Review Bodies that exist to advise HM Government on the remuneration of certain occupational groups in the public sector:

- Armed Forces' Pay Review Body (AFPRB);
- Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB);
- NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB);
- Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB);
- School Teachers' Review Body (STRB);
- Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB).

The OME also provides secretariat services for:
- The Police Advisory Board England & Wales (PABEW):
- The Police Negotiating Board (PNB).

The Research and Analysis Group within the OME is responsible for devising and implementing the OME and Pay Review Bodies research strategy.

OME website

Return to Code of practice