Bethan Evans
Employer: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Qualifications: BA economics and social studies, University of Manchester
After university, I spent a year travelling and then worked in various finance, HR and most administrative roles. The public sector is one of the strongest and most supportive employers in South Wales, which was an important consideration for me when looking for a new position in my area.
During my degree, I was primarily interested in macroeconomic policies and I chose to apply for a position with my current organisation because it contributes to official statistics that aid decision-making in government fiscal and monetary policies. The application process involved an online form followed by an assessment centre.
Monitoring the economy
I work on the official statistics that are widely and intensively used by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, HM Treasury, city analysts and journalists.
I work in the national accounts division at the heart of developing systems. My role is to provide detailed specifications for systems that calculate indicators of the UK’s economic performance, such as GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and RSI (Retail Sales Index).
Once a system has been built it undergoes testing, and I’m on hand to provide support and advice on the methodology behind the system during this period. The type of work and system changes regularly, which keeps me fulfilled in my current position.
I work on the official statistics that are widely and intensively used by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, HM Treasury, city analysts and journalists. My daily tasks range from detailed numerical work at lower levels of systems to compiling web reports on methodological changes and improvements.
I attend regular meetings, both with my team and with colleagues from other business areas. One of the perks of being a part of a large public sector organisation is flexible working hours, which makes it easier to balance my work and social life.
I enjoy the the variety of systems, surveys and publications that I get to work on: I normally juggle large projects alongside work on lots of smaller tasks. It can be tough to meet strict deadlines for larger projects where there is no room for manoeuvre, but I keep in touch with other business areas to make sure my work meets the quality requirements.
Small projects with a big impact
One of my most memorable projects was working towards extending the coverage of a key measure within GDP (Gross Domestic Product) that has been criticised in the past for inaccuracy. The suitable measure we created improved the reliability of the data, and therefore the results that have a substantial influence on GDP.
Training and development
When I started at the ONS, I undertook basic training followed by specific national accounts training. I’m also studying for a Royal Statistical Society higher education qualification, which is equivalent to the first year of a statistics degree and will give me a more detailed working knowledge.
There are lots of opportunities for me to develop in my division and graduates are also encouraged to move around and experience different areas – it makes you a more rounded individual if you understand how the data collection and survey processes work.
Top tip: demonstrate a blend of skills
You need to demonstrate to recruiters that you have a blend of analytical, communication and negotiation skills and a broad range of interests – my studies in different areas of economics, finance and statistics combined with previous work experience aided my application. Have confidence in your abilities and push yourself forward; no-one else is going to do it for you.