Office for National Statistics (ONS)
As the Office for National Statistics (ONS) moved into our new ADR UK investment period until 2031, we were pleased to see some long-running work through to completion, while also kicking off some new, exciting projects and initiatives.
Increasing the data and support available for researchers
We confirmed the Secure Research Service (SRS) as our sole externally facing trusted research environment following the formal closure of the Integrated Data Programme in March 2026. Usage of the service remains strong, with over 800 live projects accessing over 150 datasets. To help us continue to scale but maintain performance levels, we have established a dedicated service improvement function with a focus on improving both internal efficiency and the user experience.
Some significant new datasets have been made available, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register linked to Census 2021 – England and Wales and RAPID: Population interactions with employment, benefits and pensions – UK. Demand for RAPID is expected to be particularly high. Importantly, we have worked to ensure that existing ADR UK flagship datasets, such as Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) and Education and Child Health Insights from Linked Data (ECHILD), have been refreshed and enhanced to ensure continued research relevance.
Building cross-sector collaborations
The successful delivery this year has been made possible through continued collaboration with multiple partners:
- data owners and academic partners, to create research ready datasets
- ADR UK national partnerships, to facilitate the onward sharing of ONS data
- the ADR UK central team, to progress the Fellowship and PHD Studentship funding opportunities.
We have continued to be active in promoting our work externally through in-person and online events, as well as tracking the impact of research conducted in the SRS.
This year marks an important transition as we move into a new ADR UK funding period and a renewed focus on the Secure Research Service as ONS's externally facing trusted research environment. By expanding access to data, improving the researcher experience and strengthening partnerships across government and academia, we are enabling administrative data research at scale and helping deliver insights that inform policy and improve lives.
ONS spotlight: Collaboration across departments
The ONS has led a series of collaboration workshops with key data owners to improve the experience of researchers accessing data through the SRS. Working in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ), ONS brought together colleagues from across organisations to review existing processes, identify barriers, reduce unnecessary administrative burden, and strengthen collaboration while maintaining the governance and security controls required for secure data access.
Significant progress has been made during the year. The DfE workshop resulted in the streamlining and removal of several non-standard processes, reducing complexity and improving efficiency across the researcher journey for researchers securely accessing the data. The MoJ workshop established the foundations for a more streamlined project application process, increased transparency around data owner assurance checks, and improved shared understanding of project application and output review requirements. Across both initiatives, colleagues worked together to identify issues, develop solutions, agree new ways of working, and implement practical improvements.
While the full benefits are still being realised, the workshops have already reduced duplication, simplified processes, and improved transparency between organisations. They have also strengthened relationships, clarified roles and responsibilities, and reduced administrative effort for both researchers and operational teams. This increased alignment across government departments will support a more efficient, consistent and user-focused service to data access.
ONS data spotlight: RAPID - Population interactions with employment, benefits and pensions - UK
RAPID: Population interactions with employment, benefits and pensions is a highly anticipated UK‑wide, population-level dataset created from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) administrative records. It provides a whole‑population view of employment, benefits, pensions and income, covering tax years 2010/11 to 2023/24.
The dataset includes all UK National Insurance number holders, as well as children with Customer Reference Numbers, with de‑identified, individual‑level annual summaries.
RAPID supports high‑quality research into long‑term trends in work, welfare, income, and population dynamics across the UK.
RAPID was made available in the ONS Secure Research Service in April 2026. As a new ADR UK flagship dataset, it was included in the latest funding opportunity for ADR UK Research Fellowships. The project has been a great example of cross-government collaboration between ONS, DWP and HMRC.
