This year, the UK Data Service reached an incredible milestone – over 10,000 data collections are now discoverable through our Data Catalogue. In this two-part series we discuss the journey to this milestone, why it matters, and how it sets the stage for the next chapter of data innovation and impact.
Why 10,000 matters?
Reaching 10,000 data collections is far more than a numerical milestone — it represents six decades of collaboration, trust and commitment to enabling high-quality social science research.
In part one of this series, we followed the journey that led to before the formation of the UK Data Service.
In this second part, we continue the UK Data Service story and explore why this milestone matters, the impact it has already enabled, and how it is shaping the future of data-driven insight and innovation.
Integration and innovation: 2010s – 2020s
In 2012, the launch of the UK Data Service, coordinated by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), marked a new era. This brought together multiple resources, united multiple partners and integrated access to UK Census, government and international data through one trusted platform.
The UK Data Service’s vision and mission
The vision is for economic, population and social research data to drive an innovative and thriving research and policy-making ecosystem, leading to enhanced knowledge, better decisions and improved outcomes in society.
The mission is to catalyse impactful social science research by providing access to high-quality, curated and trustworthy datasets of national strategic importance; fostering data literacy; and contributing to the advancement of knowledge through dynamic data infrastructure and strategic partnerships.
Five strategic pillars have been set out as a foundation for achieving the UK Data Service’s goals:
- Data enabled infrastructure
- Data quality and trust
- Data curation and active preservation
- Data literacy and capacity
- Advocacy and outreach
The partners in the UK Data Service are
- the UK Data Archive
- Jisc
- University College London
- EDINA at the University of Edinburgh
- the Cathie Marsh Institute at the University of Manchester.
In October 2013, the UK Data Service coordinated the Administrative Data Research Network (ADRN) – the predecessor of ADR-UK – which was designed to streamline research access to data routinely collected by UK government and other agencies.
Since then, the UK Data Service has continued to expand its reach and technical excellence by launching tools such as Qualibank (2014) and QAMyData (2019). It has also contributed to initiatives including the SafePod Network (2021), which enables wider geographical research access to sensitive data.
The UK Data Service has also played a major role in shaping data ethics and governance in the UK. It advised the Cabinet Office on the Data Ethics Framework, which influenced the implementation of the Digital Economy Act 2017, and supported the Office for National Statistics’ trusted research environment.
The UK Data Service is often called upon to input into government White Papers around the use of data for research.
Cristina Magder, Data Collections Development Manager at the UK Data Service, reflected on how reaching 10,000 data collections demonstrates the Service’s deep roots in the UK’s research ecosystem:
“For me, this milestone clearly demonstrates how embedded the Service is within the fabric of academic and applied research overall.
“From undergraduates exploring their first research questions to policymakers assessing the impact of legislation, thousands of social scientists depend on UKDS not only for data but also for guidance, training, trustworthiness, and infrastructure.”
In recognition for its leadership, the UK Data Service was accredited in 2020 by the UK Statistics Authority under the Digital Economy Act, enabling continued secure access to controlled data for research. During this time, the Service also helped develop the CoreTrustSeal, which sets out international requirements for trusted data repositories.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK Data Service ensured uninterrupted access to data, releasing the first COVD-19 datasets in July 2020 and hosting an online data dive with researchers and policymakers within six months.
Today, the UK Data Service remains a Core Trust Seal-certified and ISO 27001-accredited repository, upholding rigorous standards in data preservation, security and access.
Figure 1 – A timeline of the UK Data Archive and UK Data Service: 2010s – 2020s.
Larger version of figure / Accessible version of figure.
10,000 datasets: the present day and beyond
Reaching 10,000 data collections is not just a milestone, but a moment to reflect on these 60 years of dedication to data stewardship, collaboration and public value. It is a legacy that continues to empower discovery, inform policy and shape our collective understanding of society.
Marking this milestone, Steve McEachern, Director of the UK Data Service, said:
“The fact we can now make over 10,000 data collections available to our users underlines the importance of the UK Data Service to the country’s research infrastructure.
“We’re immensely grateful for the support we continue to receive from the wider research community, and we remain committed to working tirelessly in the coming years to further expand our collection and create an even richer resource for researchers.”
Our 10,000 data collections span some of the most important studies in the UK social and economic history. From the Census, the British Social Attitudes Survey, the General Household Survey and the Labour Force Survey to world-leading longitudinal studies like the British Cohort Study.
Recent additions reflect emerging needs and evolving research priorities, including the UCL COVID-19 Social Study, the work on the Lives of Young Carers, the People and Nature Survey, the UK Business Data Survey and public attitudes to data and AI trackers.
Figure 2 – A sample of the UK Data Service’s 10,000 data collections.
Cristina Magder, recalling this journey and what the milestone means for the research community, said:
“Reaching 10,000 collections is a testament to decades of trust and collaboration across data producers, funders, and researchers, turning data into insights that shape policy and improve lives. We couldn’t be prouder, or more thankful, to work alongside such a dedicated community.”
Reaching 10,000 data collections is not just about numbers – it is about widening access and bringing our vision and mission to life.
Nearly six decades of impact… What is next?
The Impact team continues to uncover the stories behind these 10,000 datasets – from the research they have powered to the real-world change that they have helped deliver. Through Case Studies, our Data Impact blog and conversations across the research community, we are capturing how UK Data Service data transforms lives, decisions and understanding.
You are part of this story – and we want to hear from you. If your work has been supported by UK Data Service resources, we invite you to share your impact and help us continue building this legacy together.
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