Insight Blog

Essex Open Data needs you!

Posted by: Tom Aldworth, Posted on: 3 March 2023 - Categories: Open Data

I am going to let you in on a little secret that is going to change your life. I hope you’re sitting down. You need open data. And, what’s more, open data needs you. Has your life changed yet? Ok, …

The Pursuit of Knowledge

Posted by: Stephen Simpkin, Posted on: 2 December 2022 - Categories: How we work

“Knowledge is having the right answers Intelligence is asking the right questions Wisdom is knowing when to ask the right questions” Professor Richard Feynman (American Physicist) The Pursuit of Knowledge was the title of the session we delivered …

Open Data: You have to see it for yourself

Posted by: Jevonharper, Posted on: 17 November 2022 - Categories: How we work, Open Data

I often wish I had the ability to recall information about Essex at will. Like Neo, instantly learning how to do kung-fu while plugged into The Matrix. While it might not allow you to dodge bullets, Essex Open Data (found …

All the things She Said running through my head...

Posted by: Emma Sparrow, Posted on: 10 November 2022 - Categories: About the teams, How we work

As part of our Women in data and Research group I recently had the chance to participate in a new professional, and personal, development programme She Said! Billed as ‘a guide for millennial women to speaking and being heard’, I …

Making ends meet….

Posted by: Michele Figg, Posted on: 27 October 2022 - Categories: How we work, Open Data, Our projects

Michele Figg, BSc Geology (Bristol ’98) Listening to the radio a few weeks ago, over a cup of tea (and TBH a biscuit or two), as the government announced measures to alleviate fuel poverty over the winter months, I reflected …

Delving deeper to assess carers needs

Posted by: Alice Lown and Rachel Newby, Posted on: 20 October 2022 - Categories: Our projects

In Essex there are estimated to be as many as 154,000 adults providing unpaid care. NLP is helping us to understand their needs in greater depth.

Why can't we just get the data?

Posted by: leeburton, Posted on: 14 October 2022 - Categories: How we work

Why can't we just get the data? Why are there so many problems? Why are you asking me so many questions??? These are three things that I get asked regularly by people throughout my organisation, from senior management to frontline …

Everyone's talking about it, but is anyone actually doing it?

Posted by: Stephen Simpkin, Posted on: 29 September 2022 - Categories: About the teams, How we work

There is always a buzz topic in the world of data analytics and in the last few years ‘data literacy’ has been thrust into the spotlight. Specifically, “raising data literacy”. ‘What do we mean by data literacy and how do …

Practice Makes Perfect: Our Approach to Learning Our Trade

Posted by: Dan Fitzgerald, Posted on: 22 September 2022 - Categories: About the teams, How we work

The greatest piece of advice I was given when I joined Essex County Council as a Junior Analyst almost exactly one year ago, was to dedicate time to learning. This is just one example of the strong culture of personal …

Data – Providing Clarity in Crisis

Posted by: Dave Hagan, Posted on: 8 September 2022 - Categories: About the teams, How we work

As an authority, Essex County Council is no stranger to crisis management. We have a large coastline and as such regularly face flooding risks. We have well practiced processes in place to deal with these short-term crises. The processes work …

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Celebrating World Oral Health Day with a shiny new set (of data!)