As part of the Analysis in Government month, we are hosting a series of 'Five things you didn't know about…' blog posts. Analysis in government is being used more than ever in policy, decision making and the media, this series of blog posts will share, showcase and celebrate the vast variety of professions and work within the Analysis Function.
Jump to one of our posts:
- Five things you didn't know about the Analysis Function
- Five things you didn't know about how we ensure you can trust statistics
- Five things you didn't know about working in the Geography profession
- Five things you didn't know about working as a government analyst
- Five things you didn't know about decarbonising the UK
Five things you didn't know about the Analysis Function
By the Analysis Function Capability Team, Office for National Statistics
The Analysis Function (AF) is a cross-government community of around 17,000 people involved in the generation and dissemination of research, analysis and evidence. Our mission as a function is to support the government to make better decisions in every aspect of policy, delivery and operations, to deliver value for money and to improve the lives of the UK population.
As a Function we aim to improve analytical capability across government by providing opportunities for analysts to collaborate, develop, and share knowledge across profession and departmental boundaries. If you work in analysis in government or public services, you are a member of the AF.
So, what can we offer you? Perhaps you didn't know that…
1. We will support your learning and development
As a Function we want to ensure that our members have the skills they need to deliver in their roles, as well as access to further development opportunities that will enable them to meet their potential.
The AF Learning Curriculum is our one stop shop for analytical learning and development. In line with the Civil Service Success Profiles, the Curriculum signposts opportunities to develop your behaviours, strengths, ability, experience and technical skills.
2. We want to help you plan your career
The AF is in the process of rolling out an online skills tool. The tool will support analysts to plan their own development; allowing you to evaluate your skills against current and aspirational roles, identify knowledge gaps and quickly access relevant learning opportunities. In April 2021, government statisticians, operational researchers and some members of the Geography profession started using the tool. We hope to expand across the wider AF over time.
Don't have access to the online skills tool yet? Keep reading to understand how you can use our Career Framework alongside the AF Learning Curriculum and loan or secondment opportunities available across the AF to support your own development and realise your career ambitions.
3. We've developed a framework to help you consider a wider range of potential roles
A career in the AF can be vast and varied, allowing you to be at the heart of decision-making in government. The AF Career Framework will support you to consider your future career trajectory with confidence by clearly defining the skills and experience needed for typical analytical roles at various grades across government. We encourage you to consider how your skillset aligns to roles that you might not have previously considered.
Spotted a possible knowledge gap? Head back to the Learning Curriculum to find relevant learning! Discovered a role you're interested in? Consider a loan or secondment to gain experience across the AF. Opportunities are shared in our monthly newsletter, sign-up by emailing
