The National Data Strategy is here
What are its fundamentals and are we ready for it?
September saw the long-awaited publication of the National Data Strategy by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The policy paper, which is available to read here[1], is the culmination of months of evidence building through the submissions of research reports and case studies, as well as roundtables with hundreds of organisations. The result: a succinct outline of 5 missions based on 4 pillars of ‘effective data use’ to create opportunities for jobs, public services, research, and society at large. But the journey is far from over – the NDS calls for continued consultation from individuals and organisations, so you can still have your say!
The sizeable document can be unpacked in different ways, much as we at Kubrick Group have been doing since its publication. The final picture will undoubtedly look somewhat different from this initial sketch and we will keep monitoring its progress. Nonetheless, I’d like to share my initial thoughts on its outlines and the significance of its publication in the current political moment.
The Pillars
To summarise, the 4 pillars are:
- Data foundations – looking to improve quality of data for effective use
- Data skills – how to educate and develop these skills to make data work
- Data availability – encouraging the sharing of data, including ensuring protections for the access of data internationally (namely, post-Brexit)
- Responsible data – allowing data use to grow in a way which is lawful, ethical, and transparent.
To my mind, these accurately capture the fundamentals for success in any data-driven practice, in whatever sector. And, rightly so, the goals which these pillars support span the private, public and third sectors. However, prioritisation in how we build the pillars will prove to be key. Much of the establishment of Pillars 1, 3 and 4 rely upon the success of implementing Pillar 2. There will be an indisputable need for data-centric education in schools and universities to prepare young people for the future workplace. Yet, the demand for stronger data skills to advise upon and secure the objectives of the other pillars is immediate. In fact, the strategy acknowledges predecessor reports which highlight the current and growing skills gap in sectors such as cyber security[2]. The implementation of the regulations, technologies, and platforms necessary to achieve the requirements of the other pillars will put a toll on the UK’s currently “limited pool” of data specialists, as also recognised in the report.
Why now?
The NDS was first announced in June 2018 for an initial draft release in 2019. The delays on its publication have been attributed, as many governmental functions of late, to Brexit and the snap General Election in December. Yet, the ultimate blocker of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, has been cited as a motivator for the strategy. In his Ministerial Forward, the Secretary of State for DCMS, Oliver Dowden, praises the effectiveness of tracking of infections and states that the NPS ‘seeks to maintain the high watermark of data use set during the pandemic’. Moreover, Dowden has previously understood Brexit to be a driving factor for the NDS, rather than an impediment for its publication. At the Enders Media and Telecoms conference on March 4th of this year, he declared:
"We have an opportunity as we leave the EU to be an unashamedly pro-tech nation, and unleash all the innovation and enterprise that emerging technologies can provide. And this includes data, which is the beating heart of any digital economy.”[3]
Looking forward
The publication of the strategy’s outline and intentions is just the start. While the interest in data strategies for private businesses has already been growing over the last decade, there is a great sense of promise in a government initiative which looks to align with the needs of the UK economy. Nonetheless, the overarching message of the report should not come as a surprise to any organisation, but rather a reinforcement of an undeniable truth in today’s digital world: improving and investing in data literacy is a top priority. However, the challenge is not recognising this weakness, but mitigating against it. Indeed, the aims of Pillar 2 will ensure tomorrow’s workforce are equipped with the right skills, but for those organisations who are looking to invest now, the task of finding and retaining talent may be a daunting one.
At Kubrick Group, we have been working to bridge this growing data skills gap for our clients by hiring, training, and deploying consultants in key specialisms and technologies. We hire the top 1% of our applicants, who undergo an immersive 15-week course with industry experts in data engineering, data management, data product consulting, and machine learning engineering. Moreover, our model absorbs the risks of investing in a data transformation beyond hiring and training, including HR functions, well-being and upskilling initiatives, and the opportunity to hire after our development period to retain talent and IP. As the pressure increases on data teams to expand their capabilities, leaders require sustainable, low-risk solutions to succeed.
We are excited to see how the announcement may spur on those organisations who have not yet started their digital transformation or are tentatively approaching it. I am certainly looking forward to engaging with current clients, fellow members of the data space, and our applicants – the future data leaders – regarding the NDS, what it means for our industry, and how Kubrick can work in tandem with its needs and vision.
In these uncertain times, we can all welcome a clear direction for progress.
We want to hear from you! To learn more about Kubrick Group’s data professionals, get in touch: [email protected]
[1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-data-strategy
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-security-skills-in-the-uk-labour-market-2020/cyber-security-skills-in-the-uk-labour-market-2020
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/secretary-of-state-oliver-dowdens-speech-at-the-enders-media-and-telecoms-conference