The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics and is the recognised national statistical institute for the UK.
It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels. It also conducts the census in England and Wales every ten years. ONS plays a leading role in national and international good practice in the production of official statistics. It is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority and although they are separate, they are still closely related.
We are eager to contribute positively to a fairer society and recognise the importance of our statistics in the UK wide debate on equality. We aspire to provide a range of statistics that will allow for a great understanding of UK society, such as: age, disability, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy , maternity , race , religion or belief , gender reassignment and sexual orientation.
We are always searching for new ways to improve and connect accessibly with the users of our data and with our many partners. It is through these great relationships and value-based conversations that we believe we will succeed in meeting our 10-year vision.
Spectrum: ONS LGBT staff network group
ONS Spectrum Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Network Group represents the LGBT staff employed by the Office for National Statistics. ONS Spectrum helps to ensure ONS’s policies and practices reflect the needs and aspirations of ONS’s LGBT population. The group also offers support and advice to those experiencing difficulties with LGBT issues inside and outside the workplace; including staff who are the family and friends of those who identify as LGBT.
ONS Spectrum’s membership is diverse with members at varying levels throughout the organisation. ONS Spectrum is led by two Spectrum members who chair the group and are supported by a senior staff sponsor at deputy director level and the head of equality and diversity.
ONS Spectrum also receives support from the ‘Friends of Spectrum’ a group of ONS staff who have signed up to a charter showing their support for Spectrum and the LGBT community.
Over the last few years ONS Spectrum has organised a number of events usually centred around LGBT history month; such as exhibiting the Pink Portraits in our coffee longue in 2012 , or the seminar on sexual identity statistics that we hosted in 2013.
ONS Spectrum has collaborated with other local LGBT workplace network groups to organise events and is always willing to offer advice and support to any other LGBT groups and engage in community activities.
ONS is proud to take part in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and in 2013 was named best Welsh employee network group. The Office for National Statistics placed 6th in the Welsh index and 40th in the UK wide index.