Data for Good News: March 2025 Edition
Smart Data Foundry
Opening financial data for social good. SDR UK's Financial Data Service (FINDS).
Hello and welcome to the March 2025 edition of Data for Good News, the monthly newsletter from Smart Data Foundry.
Read on for new research into the net zero poverty premium, proposals for a national data library, and how de-identified financial data is opening fresh insights on the UK economy.?
And make sure you register for our next event with Joseph Rowntree Foundation on 12th March.?
But first...
Dougie Robb confirmed as Smart Data Foundry CEO.
This week, Dougie Robb was confirmed as CEO of Smart Data Foundry.?
Dougie has been with SDF from the start, and has been key to establishing the SDF vision of opening financial data for good. Please join us in congratulating Dougie on his appointment!
Is there a net zero poverty premium?
Only 20% of people in Scotland can comfortably afford the home upgrades required to meet the Scottish Government’s ambitious net zero targets.
Using anonymised consumer banking data, we studied how the estimated costs of retrofitting compare with people’s disposable income.?
The findings highlight the affordability challenge of retrofitting and expose the ‘poverty premium’ associated with making homes more energy efficient – as those who can least afford upgrades end up paying more in the long run.
Unlocking research opportunities: the vision for a UK National Data Library
A National Data Library for researchers would be a welcome addition to UK research data infrastructure, writes Head of Academic Engagement Magdalena Getler.
Using data, we can bring together government, NGOs, academia and the public and private sectors to tackle the socioeconomic challenges we all face.
A National Data Library could help us reach this goal sooner; find out more in Magdalena's blog.
De-identified financial data: fresh insights on the UK economy
Every time we tap our bank card or make an online payment, we leave behind a “digital footprint”.
While a single transaction might seem insignificant, at scale, these data points reveal powerful socioeconomic patterns.
Linda King wrote for Smart Data Research UK on how private-sector financial data can help us to understand people’s financial challenges across the country; and develop meaningful solutions.
Webinar: Shaping policy with Income Volatility Data
Income volatility poses significant challenges to economic stability and individual wellbeing.
This webinar, hosted alongside Joseph Rowntree Foundation, on 12th March will showcase how data-driven insights?can help policymakers, researchers, and social organisations?develop targeted solutions?to mitigate its impact.
About Smart Data Foundry
We believe financial data holds untapped potential to drive meaningful change. By making private sector financial data both accessible and discoverable, we enable impactful research and inform decision-making - helping reduce poverty and inequality and improving economic wellbeing.