Welsh Government Government Statistical Services (GSS) Michelle Morgan

Overview

• Government Statistical Services (GSS) • GSS recruitment schemes • Restraints on graduate employment opportunities • Implications on graduate employment opportunities • Graduate Employability Skills • Questions?

What is the Government Statistical Service (GSS)?

The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is a decentralised professional community spread across most UK government departments and devolved administrations. The GSS is the UK’s largest producer of statistics, providing trusted, authoritative information, making valued input into every major government activity and informing decision makers in all sectors of our society.

The GSS provides great opportunities to network, provides useful training, and also acts as a sort of ‘pass’ to move between organisations.

GSS Recruitment Schemes There are 2 ways to join the GSS as a professional Government Statistician: • Fast Stream intake – Assistant Statistician (AS): The last application window for this scheme closed in April 2012. The next window will open in September 2012.

• Main intake – Statistical Officers (StO): GSS currently advertised for Temporary Statistical Officers in Welsh Government. We expect to run further rounds later in the year, but this is not guaranteed.

Differences between the schemes: The AS route is the statistical entry to the analytical strand of the Civil Service Fast Stream scheme. It’s an accelerated development programme for graduates preparing themselves for careers at the highest levels of the Civil Service. The StO route is the main intake for Government Statisticians.

Recruitment stages:

Fast stream:

1. Registration 3. Practice online tests 4. Online tests 5. E-Application Form 6. Application form sift* 7. Statistical Assessment Centre (1 day in London)* 8. Fast Stream Assessment Centre (1 day in London)* 9. Allocation to department

Main stream:

1. Complete the application form 2. Application form sift 3. The StO board (held in Newport) 4. Allocation into a department * Please be aware that your invitation to these stages of the selection process depends on passing the preceding stage.

Requirements: To apply for either stream, candidates should already have, or hope to obtain this academic year, a minimum 2.1 honours degree (2.2 honours degree for the main stream route) in a discipline containing formal training in statistical theory and methods. Subjects such as: • Statistics • Mathematics • Economics • Sciences • Business studies • Psychology • Sociology

What competencies do we look for?

• • • • • • • • • •

Fast stream:

Driving for results Learning and improving Constructive thinking Decision-making Building productive relationships Communicating with impact Dissemination Analysis and interpretation of data Collection of data Professional statistical knowledge • • • • • •

Main stream:

Collection of data Analysis and interpretation of data Ability to communicate, particularly statistical or technical ideas Ability to deliver results Team working skills Personal effectiveness

On the application forms candidates will be expected to describe their knowledge and experience in several of the following statistical skills: • Analysis of Variance • Index numbers • Linear / multiple regression • Modelling and forecasting • Multivariate analysis • Time series • Data collection • Sampling

Restraints on graduate employment opportunities: • StO recruitment freeze • Fast stream recruitment scheme • Summer placements • Student placements • Career Fairs

Implications on graduate employment opportunities: • Shortage of fast streamers in WG • Unable to apply to become a permanent StO • More competition for student placements • Companies limited to resources

Graduate Employability Skills

• Academia achievement • Student Work Placement • Work Experience/ Volunteering Work • Sporting Achievements • Grammar in Application Forms / CV / Covering Letters • Body Language/ Attitude

Contacts For any further queries or questions, please visit our website or send us an e-mail: Visit: www.wales.gov.uk/statistics Visit: www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/national-statistician/government-statistical-service E-mail: [email protected]

Questions?