On 12-13 June, we welcomed experts and researchers to the UK Census User Conference 2025 in Manchester. The event, which was also available to attend online, featured a wide range of research presentations, as well as updates from the UK Data Service Census Team and the Census Agencies.
Challenges and opportunities
Highlights from the first day included a powerful keynote speech by Jeni Tennison, the Founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data. The speech emphasised the importance of user and public voices being included within official statistics.
Our Census experts, Oliver Duke-Williams, Finn Dymond-Green and Vassilis Routsis, also gave attendees a detailed update about their recent work on Census data. This highlighted the wide selection of resources available from the UK Data Service to assist researchers. Additionally, they fielded questions about the challenges and opportunities they have faced with the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
This was followed by two presentations by Mary Gregory and Jen Hampton from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These covered the approach taken by the ONS to reporting on population and migration statistics from Census data, and the organisation’s work on Census geographies in the past, present and future.
The final parallel session of the day and the first session of day two showcased how researchers are using data from the Census. There were some fascinating insights on a variety of topics, including:
- The challenges brought on by the changing geographies of ageing and age-mixing in Scotland.
- Navigating and using the ONS Longitudinal Study of England and Wales.
- How to carefully manage the topological challenges involved with mapping the Census.
- Understanding the different geographic locations where religions have been based in England and Wales between 2001-2021.
- Gender inequality in general health among young people and the contribution of socioeconomic indicators included in the 2021 Census microdata.
Real-world impact
Following the parallel sessions on day two, Morgan Brown and Ellen O’Connor from the Royal British Legion explained how they have used Census data to inform the support they provide to armed forces communities in the UK. The data has enabled them to redesign and deliver enhanced support services to help improve the lives of veterans.
John Sanderson, the Deputy Director of the UK Data Service, who watched the talks, added: “Morgan Brown spoke about the real-world application of Census data and how it helps the Royal British Legion better support veterans and those serving in the armed forces. It also helps to support their ‘wider aim to be much more data led and evidence driven’”.
The final session brought attendees together to discuss the future of the Census. Ian White, an international Census consultant, reflected on recent international developments and their potential impact on the 2031 UK Census.
Oliver Duke-Williams and Nicola Shelton also discussed the future of the Census and fielded thought-provoking questions from the attendees about what kind of changes might be expected to happen. The closing remarks emphasised that “we must closely involve those the data is about, we have to remember the data is of the people, and so our work should be for the people and with the people”.
On behalf of the UK Data Service, we would like to thank everyone involved with this fantastic conference and all of you who joined us online. You can access slides from each presentation via our event page.