Government Statistical Service

Government Statistical ServiceThe Government Statistical Service (GSS) is a community for all civil servants working in the collection, production and communication of official statistics. Our members come from a range of professions, including statisticians, data scientists, economists, social researchers and communicators. They are spread across most UK government departments and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The National Statistician is head of the GSS.We collect, analyse and publish official statistics to help government, business, and the public understand the current state of the UK economy and society. Our statistics allow people to make informed decisions, whether it’s the Prime Minister trying to improve the UK economy, or a citizen interested in the crime rate in their area.GSS statistics are produced without any political influence, to ensure that they are a trusted and authoritative source of information.Government Statistician GroupThe Government Statistician Group (GSG) is a professional community for civil servants who are recognised members of the statistics profession. To become a member of the GSG you must complete the GSG entry process, and meet professional standards which are set by the GSS Professional Support Team. These standards cover recruitment, qualifications, competence and training.Members of the GSG have unique continuous professional development opportunities and guidance open to them through the GSS Professional Support Team. They allow statisticians to develop both specific statistical skills and operational skills.Each government department has a Head of Profession (HoP) for statistics, who is responsible for professional statistical matters and statistical staff working in their departments. HoPs are professionally accountable to the National Statistician.