LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association

LARIA Webinar Series - Working Together
2020-10-15 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/London)
Thursday, 15th October 2020
Working Together
2021 Census Outputs and Beyond
Callum Foster, Head of Census Outputs and Dissemination & Jo Maimaris, Office for National Statistics
From ‘Public Health Policy’ to ‘Healthy Public Policy’ – an introduction to the SIPHER consortium
Mary Gogarty, Lead Analyst, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Nicola McHugh, Data Scientist & Chris Gibbons, Health Economics and Research Manager, Sheffield City Council

LARIA Webinar Series - Data and Segmentation
2020-10-05 14:00 - 15:30
Monday, 5th October 2020
Data and Segmentation
How COVID-19 is changing the movement of your residents?
Stewart Eldridge, Associate Partner – Public Sector, Alex McCulloch, Director & Ed Sewell, Partner – Data Strategy, CACI Limited
Who is the All in City for All?
Dr. Curtis Horne, Research and Intelligence Analyst, Westminster City Council
Understanding Housing Affordability on the Isle of Wight
Danika Barber, Public Health and Strategic Analytics Lead & Gino Wooldridge, Graduate Trainee, Isle of Wight Council

LARIA North East Networking Event October 2018
2018-10-01 13:00 - 16:30 | Darlington Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5QT, United Kingdom
Attendees from across the North East at the last LARIA NE networking event in Durham.
The latest LARIA networking event for local area and social researchers in the North East will take place on 1 October 2018, 1-4.30pm Darlington Town Hall. We’ll be finding out more about:

using behavioural insight in local government from With the Grain and Sunderland City Council
preventing homelessness from Newcastle City Council’s Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer, and
measuring health inequalities in Teesside from Public Health England.

Come along and network with local area and social researchers in the North East. There will be cake!
We look forward to seeing you – book here: LARIA North East October 2018 or contact the organiser, Louise Reeve, at: louise.reeve@newcastle.gov.uk or ring: 0191 277 7508.

LARIA North East Networking Event May 2018
2018-05-31 13:30 - 16:00 | Durham County Hall, Aykley Heads, Durham, Tyne and Wear, DH1 5UZ, United Kingdom
A networking event for North East LARIA members will take place on Thursday 31 May between 1.30-4pm in conference room 4B, Durham County Hall, Durham.
We’ll be hearing from Rachel Crossley at Kirklees Council about her team’s new approach to identifying the current and future health and care needs of their local population (JSNA), from Laura Cole at VOA about the new ANNE network (Analysts Network North East), and there will be the opportunity to network with other local area researchers. Book here: LARIA NE Networking Event 2October 2018
If you’ve got questions about it, please contact the organiser, Louise Reeve, at: louise.reeve@newcastle.gov.uk. We look forward to seeing you!

Connected Local Government Live
2017-06-28 - 2017-06-29 | The Bond Company, 180-182 Fazeley Street, Birmingham, B5 5SE, United Kingdom
LARIA is partnering with the Connected Local Government Live event which aims to bring together innovators across local public services in a ‘festival of thinking and events about a devolved and digitally enabled future’.
There will be a workshop at the event focused on digitally enabled data and insight, content for which is being created in collaboration between ourselves and the organisers.
As well as the data and insight workshop, a ticket (discounted for LARIA members) will entitle you to attend a range of briefings, masterclasses and innovation showcases related to digital development. Topics include digital inclusion, digital and data literacy, online security, public services and the mobile user and more.
There will also be workshops, similar to our own, focused on other local authority professions.
Digital innovation showcases – a cross between Dragon’s Den and a speed dating session – will be running on both days of the event to enable participants to hear about new ideas applicable across local public services and to engage immediately with their developers.
Please go to the Connected Local Government Live event website for more details and links to booking.
Please contact the organisers directly if you have any questions.

Photo credit: Birmingham City Centre by Chris Homer

LARIA Listens Event, Perth – A Summary
2017-04-21
On Friday 21 April 2017 LARIA in Scotland had an interesting and informative event which explored the topic of Engaging Communities and Understanding Poverty. Presentations and discussions of the day included:

Learning from Participatory Budgeting in Paris: Coryn Barclay, Fife Council, presented a an overview of participatory budgeting in Paris based on her participation in the What Works Scotland’s two-day visit to Paris to learn about the city’s experience of participatory budgeting.
Evaluating the use of the Place Standard Tool: Megan MacPherson, NHS Health Scotland provided a ‘sneak peek’ to the evaluation of the Place Standard Tool, how it has been used across Scotland.
Less Heard Voices: Paul Nelis, SCDC, provided an overview of the National Standards for Community Engagement and how they can be used to engage with communities including those that are ‘less heard’.
Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill: Alastair McAlpine, Scottish Government led a discussion about the data/information that may assist in understanding child poverty in Scotland and contribute to the proposed “Local child povety action report”.
ScotPHO Profile Development: Vicky Elliot, ISD NHS Scotland, along with Jamie Villicampa, presented an update on the future development of the SCOTPho profiles with discussions about data sources, considerations when selecting /defining indicators, current challenges and using a new technical platform.

The next LARIA Listens event will be held in the autumn, topics TBD – ‘Watch this Space’, the Analysis, Intelligence and Research (AIR) – Scotland site, and the LARIA website.

LARIA Listens in Perth: Engaging Communities and Understanding Poverty
2017-04-21
This event takes place on 21st April 2017.
Key discussions will be:

Megan MacPherson, NHS Health Scotland – Place Standard Tool evaluation work.
Alastair McAlpine, Scottish Government – Talking about what CPP’s need to support duty on Child Poverty.

For booking information, please click here.

SRA National Conference
2016-12-06 10:00 - 17:00 | British Library Conference Centre, 96 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
‘Making the links: New directions for social researchers’
Now more than ever, social researchers need to build strong connections outside our industry. Traditional boundaries between research methods have softened as researchers and funders recognise the value of combining approaches. Hard and fast divisions between academics, practitioners and policy researchers are blurring. Researchers are increasingly collaborating with other professionals, in fields such as bio-tech and engineering. And new opportunities arise as technology redraws the limits on data collecting, data sharing and research dissemination. What challenges does this new landscape bring?

LARIA Autumn One Day Conference 2016
2016-11-24 | Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
“Output to outcome – getting results through effective communication”
Early bird booking rates available until 2 Sept 2016.
Bookings now open for our One Day Conference on Thursday 24 Nov 2016 in Manchester.
See the agenda and book your place now by visiting our conference website.
The conference will be looking at ” and speakers include:

Esther Roughsedge & Victoria Avila, National Records of Scotland
Robert Radburn, Leicestershire County Council
Suzanne Hall and Rachael Docking, Ipsos MORI
Dr James Beard, Mott MacDonald

If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the LARIA One Day Conference, please take a look at our opportunities document
Early bird rates start from £99 for corporate members and £120 for all other members and non members.
The conference is fully accredited by the Market Research Society as part of their professional development framework.
If you have queries you can contact Sarah Welsh, Conference Organiser by email admin@laria.org.uk or by phone on 0345 676 9598

Annual Conference on Fire Related Research and Developments (RE16)
2016-11-15 08:30 - 16:30 | West Midlands Fire Services HQ, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW, United Kingdom
Bookings are now open to attend a special conference marking 20 years of fire-related research, development and innovation (RE16). Looking Back, Looking Forward will be held on Tuesday November 15 2016 at West Midlands Fire Service HQ. Located in Birmingham City Centre, the venue is within walking distance of New Street and Moor Street stations and also convenient for Birmingham International Airport.
Presentation themes this year include: the organisation and management of fire and rescue services (FRS); the role of FRS in community safety and community engagement; collaborative working; firefighter health, welfare and wellbeing; improving FRS’ operational response; addressing firesetting; fighting fires and fire safety in particular environments; and community resilience and emergency preparedness.

How to increase the accuracy of your surveys by reducing your sample size
2016-09-21 18:00 - 20:30 | Armada House, Telephone Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4BQ, United Kingdom
Choosing the right sampling method, be it cluster, stratified, sequential or simple, can make a dramatic difference to the accuracy of your results. In some cases the best option can allow you to reduce your sample size and thus costs. Of course if you get it wrong you will pay the price, so in this overview of the importance of sampling methods when designing your surveys, Nigel Marriot will demonstrate how you can decide which to use with the help of some playing cards and your willing participation!

Migration Statistics User Forum Conference
2016-09-21 | Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF, United Kingdom
The Migration Statistics User Forum are pleased to announce that a date has been set for the 21st September for its annual conference. The venue will be the Home Office HQ, Marsham Street, London
The Conference will cover the production and usage of migration data, in particular international migration, and aims to provide a forum for discussion on migration statistics and to enable users to discuss their needs and use of the data, and for producers to consult on presentation and changes. More details will be circulated closer to the date including exact timings and booking arrangements. Entry will be free.
The Migration Statistics User Forum is an independent user group, affiliated to the Royal Statistical Society.
For further details please contact Damian Highwood at Westminster City Council – dhighwood@westminster.gov.uk / 0207 6413283

LARIA East Midlands Networking Event
2016-09-15 10:00 | Derby City Council, The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 2FS , United Kingdom
The next meeting of the LARIA East Midlands group will be in Derby. Shelley Harrod from Derby City Council will be chairing the meeting where there will be the chance to network with other LARIA members.
If you are interested in attending please contact Shelley direct Shelley.Harrod@derby.gov.uk

LARIA North West Awards Showcase
2016-07-15 00:15 - 16:00 | Churchgate House Room 6, Ground Floor, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EU
Join us on Friday 15 July 2016 between 12:15 and 4pm for the next LARIA local event in the North West of England and hear the shortlisted and commended entries from the North West into the LARIA Research Awards 2016 showcase their work.
New researcher of the year (highly commended) – Haydn Brown, Manchester City Council – Light rail and the Manchester property market

Most engaging presentation of local area research (shortlisted) – Steven Hibbert, Manchester City Council – Public service reform outcomes
Best use of local area research 1 (highly commended) – Gemma Jones, Lancashire County Council – Breaking the boundaries- service planning based on need not construct
Best use of local area research 2 – (shortlisted) – Tim Robinson, Manchester City Council – Neighbourhood intelligence
Best use of social care or health research 1 – (highly commended) – Farhat Abbas, Lancashire County Council – Saving the children – making infant deaths everybody’s business
Best use of social care or health research 2 – (highly commended) – Revealing Reality/Wirral Council
– The barriers of binary thinking: tackling health-related worklessness on the Wirral
Best use of social care or health research 3 – (shortlisted) – Leo Wall, Manchester City Council and Manchester CCGs Business Intelligence
– Understanding health demands in Manchester

LARIA North East Networking Event
2016-07-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Newcastle University Business School, 5 Barrack Road, Newcastle, NE1 4SE, United Kingdom
A networking event for North East LARIA members will take place on Tuesday 12th July 10:00 – 12:00 in room 1.04, Business School, Newcastle University. Refreshments will be provided.
We hope you can come along and network with other local area researchers. More information will be provided on the training event that will be held mid-September at Durham University from NOMIS and LG INFORM.
For more details and to register your interest in attending please email Jo Cairnes j.m.cairns@durham.ac.uk

FREE SRA Scotland Evening Seminar
2016-06-27 17:45 - 18:45
The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS): Making better use of existing data sources
Speaker: Carolyn Black, Associate Director, Ipsos MORI
Monday, 27 June 2016
Arrival: 5.45pm
Seminar: 6pm – 6.45pm
The Melting Pot, Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PR
For more information and to book you place, please see here.

The Evaluation Society Conference 2016
2016-04-26 08:00 - 2016-04-27 17:00 | Holiday Inn Regents’ Park, Carburton Street, W1W 5EE, United Kingdom
The 2016 Annual Evaluation Conference will take place once again at the Holiday Inn Regents’ Park, London on 27-28 April. The call for proposals for presentations will be circulated during the autumn.
Feedback from some of the delegates who attended this year’s conference included:
• “Good speakers of high calibre, interesting topics, good balance of theoretical input and practical experience”
• “The discussion in the parallel sessions was of a very high standard this year, I did not hear one disappointing talk”
• “Well organised, with enough time to network and good balance between plenary sessions and parallel sessions”
• “I value the conference as an open platform to discuss evaluation methodologies beyond the contractual relationships we face in our daily work”
• “Brought together a diverse range of evaluators from all over the world, with detailed technical content”
• “Overall a good event, helping to motivate to learn more about different methods of evaluating and hearing other people’s experiences”
• “A useful break from day-to-day NGO delivery to think about bigger issues and sparked some ideas for potential follow up in internal systems”
• “As ever, I came away excited to be an evaluator and buzzing with ideas”
Save the date!

LARIA Annual Conference 2016
2016-04-19 09:00 - 2016-04-20 17:00 | University of Birmingham, Arts Building, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
Why should you attend the LARIA Annual Conference?

Support your professional development: We bring you the latest thinking on the issues that matter
Learn from the best: We have brought together leading experts in the field of local area research including the Institute for Government and NIHR Public Health Research
Share your ideas with colleagues: More UK local area research professionals attend our events than any other
Celebrate Success: Find out who has won the LARIA Local Area Research Awards and take part in the Local Area Research Fortnight – Enter here

Do it your way: Choose which workshops to attend, so you get the most from the conference

Keynote Speakers include:

Dr Jo Casebourne: Programme Director, Institute for Government
Abdool Kara: Chief Executive, Swale Borough Council and Policy Spokesperson on Evidence Based Policy for Solace
John Pullinger CB: UK National Statistician, Head of the Government Statistical Service (GSS) and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority
Robert Radburn: Research and Information Team Leader, Leicestershire County Council
Catherine Staite: Director of INLOGOV and Research Facilitator for Local Government
Patrick Tate: Director, Location Strategy & Analytics, CACI Ltd
Colin Wojtowycz: Customer Insight Business Partner, Warrington Borough Council

Book Now:

Two days at conference, accommodation and awards dinner ticket from £339 (including discounts)
Day tickets from £149 (including discounts)
The conference will be worth 9 hours towards the Market Research Society CPD (* please note you must be an MRS Member to gain these hours).
Email admin@laria.org.uk for more information and details on sponsorship

Mystery shopping - Is it truly market research?
2016-04-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Armada House, Telephone Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4BQ, United Kingdom
This Market Research Society (MRS) event, free for members or non-members, will look at:

When to use mystery shopping and when market research
Survey fatigue – what is cheap is not necessarily effective
Mystery Shopping pricing
DIY or sub-contracting
Tips for successful sub-contracting
Future trends in mystery customer research

Time: 6:00-7:00pm, followed by drinks and networking

Keynote speaker

Paul Grafton
Paul Grafton spent five years as an Army officer following university, before a 13 year career with British Airways in various cabin service management roles, including Inflight Product Manager for narrow bodied aircraft and Concorde, and Training Manager for Shorthaul & Concorde cabin crew. Paul was chosen to take part in BA’s ‘Top Flight’ senior management development programme which included an MBA from Lancaster University. In 1991 he left BA to set up Mystery Shoppers, which has grown to be one of the UK’s leading specialist customer experience research agencies. Paul is a Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. His wealth of experience in the use of mystery shopping for performance management and other business objectives within a variety of industries gives him a privileged insight into how mystery shopping can best fit within the research sector.

LARIA in Scotland (LiStens): Citizens Panels
2016-03-18 09:00 - 17:00 | Perth and Kinross Council, Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom
This will be the first networking event of 2016 for Laria in Scotland.

It is intended to bring together those involved in running or commissioning Citizens Panels, or involved in corporate consultation, across different Scottish Council areas.
The event – hosted by Perth and Kinross Council, in Perth, on 18 March 2016 – will allow for networking and discussion of a number of topics including:

Scottish Survey Core Questions
Pros and cons of running a Community Planning Partnership Panel
How Councils are using the Place Standard Tool
How Commmunity wikis can help develop a story of place

If you are involved in running or commissioning a citizens panel, or are a local area researcher in Scotland, you can book a place here

SSRG Annual Workshop (2016) - Sharing Knowledge and Resources to Improve Practice and Outcomes
2016-03-15 09:00 - 17:00 | BVSC, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DR, United Kingdom
Click here to download the full programme and booking form
9.00: Registration and Coffee
9.50: Welcome and Introduction
Martin Stevens, Chair SSRG
10.00: What Might Good Adult Social Care Look Like in Times of Austerity?
John Bolton, Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University
10.40: Big Data: It’s Role, Implications for Data Sharing and the Human Angle
Stephen Curtis, Centre of Excellence for Information Sharing
11.15: Break
11.45: Concurrent Sessions:
(a) Integrated Information: Experience of its Uses and Challenges
Michele Chew, Derbyshire CC and Matt Williams, Leicestershire County Council
(b) An Agenda for a Conversation: How Can NICE Guidelines Help Improve Person-Centred Integrated Working?
Carolyn Denne, NICE Collaborating Centre for Social Care, SCIE
(c) Research Governance – Updating the Policy Framework and Social Care Research
Amanda Hunn, Health Research Authority
12.45: Lunch and SSRG AGM
2.00: Concurrent Sessions:
(a) Sharing and Comparing Knowledge across Agencies and Regions
Gordon Smith and Stephen Kerr, Health and Social Care Benchmarking Network
(b) Meaningful and Measurable – The Critical Link Between Information and Practice
Emma Miller, University of Strathclyde and Karen Barrie, Edinburgh University
(c) Driving Forward Research and Evidence for Social Work: Reflections from Northern Ireland on the Development of a Social Work Research and Continuous Improvement Strategy 2015-2020
Anne McGlade and David Bickerstaff, Health and Social Care Board
3.00: Break
3.30: Research Impact: Tales of the Unexpected
Martin Knapp, NIHR School for Social Care Research
4.15: Closing Remarks
5.00: Networking Session: Details to be sent with confirmation of booking and posted to the SSRG website

Impact 2016 - Market Research Society Conference
2016-03-15 - 2016-03-16 | Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, 45 Prescot Street, London, E1 8GP, United Kingdom
As the Market Research Society celebrates its 70th year, Impact 2016 showcases the research sector’s burning curiosity, its talent to mine dazzling insight and its ability to ignite revolution in business and society.
It’s the leading conference for anyone who wants tap into big ideas, practical guidance and inspiring strategy.

Keynotes:
Gavin Patterson
Chief executive, BT Group
On navigating technological change and the shifting commercial landscape.
Bill Bryson
International best-selling author
On the power of observation, popular enthnography and the joys of the curious mind.
Stan Sthanunathan
Senior vice president, consumer & market insights, Unilever
On the future shape of insight and tactics for riding the new wave of consumer demand.
Richard Osman
Producer and co-presenter of Pointless
On trivia, game shows, audience engagement and the future of programme making.
Rabbi Baroness
Julia neuberger dBe, senior rabbi, West London Synagogue
On effecting meaningful, moral and lasting change in a turbulent society.

See also:

Data visualisation
Insight and design
From data to decision-making
Wearable technology
Researchers share personal stories of change
Immigration and migration
Communicating and activating insight through business
Responses to the polling failures of 2015
Manifestos for tomorrow

LARIA Local event - East of England
2016-02-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Dacorum Borough Council, Civic Centre, Marlowes, Hemel Hempsted, Hertfordshire, HP1 1HH, United Kingdom
Sign up to attend the next LARIA local event in the East of England and hear from the following speakers:
Alan Fletcher, Business Development Manager/Lab Manager – Kmi, The Open University – Open data in the Milton Keynes Data Hub. The practical use of this in the MK Data Observatory

Michael Soper, Research Manager at Cambridgeshire County Council – Engaging with Members
Other topics which will feature:
• Public Health with Local Authorities,
• Research and budgets – helping service planning, and planning research services in the challenging financial future.

ONS Economic Forum - Wednesday 3 February 2016
2016-02-03 09:30 - 12:30
The Hilton Hotel
303 Deansgate
Manchester
M3 4LQ
Wednesday, 3 February, 09:30 – 12:30

We warmly invite you to attend the ONS Economic Forum to be held in Manchester on Wednesday 3 February 2016.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for producing many of the principal economic statistics that are used to report developments in the UK economy. We are keen to meet users of these statistics, and anybody who is interested in the behaviour of the UK economy, in order to understand how best we can fulfil your statistical requirements and help you make better decisions.
ONS has recently started holding a successful quarterly Economic Forum in London aimed at City commentators, business analysts, media, and academic researchers, as well as government and other decision makers. It provides an opportunity to discuss the state of the economy in the light of relevant ONS economic statistics, including GDP, the labour market, prices and the public finances.
We are now extending these events to other parts of the UK in order to connect with a wider range of analysts and decision-makers. One of the first such events will be held in Manchester on Wednesday 3 February and will provide attendees with the opportunity:

To hear what ONS statistics have to say about the UK economy
To ask questions about ONS economic statistics, what they mean and how they are compiled
To offer views on shortcomings of existing statistics and how they can be improved
To find out what statistics are available for research purposes and how to access them

The agenda will include the following:
UK and regional economic statistics – What ONS economic statistics say about the UK economy and the regions and countries within it
What’s New – a look back over recent ONS economic statistics and developments, and forward to forthcoming publications. This session will include:

Recent developments in the UK economy
Trade, foreign direct investment, and the balance of payments
Analysis of earnings growth using ASHE survey results
Family Spending survey – headline messages
Wealth and assets survey
Bean Review – interim report and next steps
Blue Book 2016 changes
Use of VAT administrative data
Construction output and prices developments
New ONS website plans

Please RSVP to regional.economic.forum@ons.gov.uk , providing details of any accessibility requirements.
We are keen to tailor the ONS Economic Forum agenda to the issues that are of most interest to you. If you have suggestions for topics to be covered at this or at a future ONS Economic Forum, please email them to regional.economic.forum@ons.gov.uk . Similarly if you have any questions about economic statistics, you can email these to the same address and we shall answer them as soon as possible.
We hope you will value this opportunity to hear about the latest economic statistics and discover how they can help you make better decisions. We look forward to welcoming you on Wednesday 3 February.

ONS Economic Forum - Tuesday 26 January 2016
2016-01-26 09:30 - 12:30
Park Plaza Hotel,
Greyfriars Road, Cardiff CF10 3AL
Tuesday, 26 January, 09:30-12:30
We warmly invite you to attend the ONS Economic Forum to be held in Cardiff on 26 January.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for producing many of the principal economic statistics that are used to report developments in the UK economy. We are keen to meet users of these statistics, and anybody who is interested in the behaviour of the UK economy, in order to understand how best we can fulfil your statistical requirements and help you make better decisions.
ONS has recently started holding a successful quarterly Economic Forum in London aimed at City commentators, business analysts, media, and academic researchers, as well as government and other decision makers. It provides an opportunity to discuss the state of the economy in the light of relevant ONS economic statistics, including GDP, the labour market, prices and the public finances.
We are now extending these events to other parts of the UK in order to connect with a wider range of analysts and decision-makers. One of the first such event will be held in Cardiff on 26 January and will provide attendees with the opportunity:

To hear what ONS statistics have to say about the UK economy
To ask questions about ONS economic statistics, what they mean and how they are compiled
To offer views on shortcomings of existing statistics and how they can be improved
To find out what statistics are available for research purposes and how to access them

The agenda will include the following:
UK and regional economic statistics – What ONS economic statistics say about the UK economy and the regions and countries within it
What’s New – a look back over recent ONS economic statistics and developments, and forward to forthcoming publications. This session will include:

Recent developments in the UK economy
Trade, foreign direct investment, and the balance of payments
Analysis of earnings growth using ASHE survey results
Family Spending survey – headline messages
Wealth and assets survey
Bean Review – interim report and next steps
Blue Book 2016 changes
Use of VAT administrative data
Construction output and prices developments
New ONS website plans

Please RSVP to economic.forum@ons.gov.uk , providing details of any accessibility requirements.
We are keen to tailor the ONS Economic Forum agenda to the issues that are of most interest to you. If you have suggestions for topics to be covered at this or at a future ONS Economic Forum, please email them to economic.forum@ons.gov.uk. Similarly if you have any questions about economic statistics, you can email these to the same address and we shall answer them as soon as possible.
We hope you will value this opportunity to hear about the latest economic statistics and discover how they can help you make better decisions. We look forward to welcoming you on Tuesday 26 January.

Social Research Association Conference 2015
2015-12-14 09:00 - 17:00 | British Library Conference Centre, 96 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
‘Social research in the 21st Century: what makes for evidence we can trust?’
The 2015 SRA Annual Conference on 14 December is now open for bookings – with a 10% early-bird discount on the delegate fee that applies until 31 August.
This year the SRA ask: What are the elements of research that combine to produce robust, high quality findings? Can traditional research methods survive the pressure for quicker, cheaper results? Where do innovation and creativity take us, and how do we assess research done at the cutting edge using new tools and techniques? Do the old methods for judging research quality continue to apply or do we need to develop new assessment criteria? The conference will feature the work, ideas and debates of practicing researchers from all sectors, who face these issues every day.
Keynote speaker: Paul Johnson, Director, Institute of Fiscal Studies
Plenary speakers:

Jane Millar, Institute of Policy Research, University of Bath: People remember stories: Research, evidence and policy
Leon Feinstein, Early Intervention Foundation: What counts as good evidence?
Christine Hine, University of Surrey: The promises and perils of opportunistic data in qualitative research
And a range of workshop presentations

14 December at the British Library conference centre, London
Refreshments and lunch provided, wine reception to follow
£150 delegate fee (discounts for SRA members)
The SRA annual conference is a unique event: it is the only forum the UK has for bringing together social researchers from all sectors and disciplines to share knowledge and ideas, to debate our most pressing professional issues, and, of course, to meet and talk. Every social researcher who wants to keep abreast of what is happening in our profession should be there.

Local Government Data Research Seminar: Supporting local authorities through data driven solutions
2015-11-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Local Government Association, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Friday 20 November, 10am to 3.30pm
Local Government Association

The Business and Local Government (BLG) Data Research Centre jointly with the Local Government Association (LGA) invites you to this seminar where we will bring together researcher and local authority decision makers to understand, explore and define the questions for future research to address local problems.
The seminar will introduce the research topics of the Centre around support for vulnerable people, local economic growth and access to infrastructure followed by presentations from local authority decision makers to present their current issues to meet public service needs.
For the full programme and to book your place, please see here.

Scotland: Laria Listens
2015-11-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Glasgow City Council – Learning Academy, City Chambers, Glasgow, G2 1DU, United Kingdom
The second of what will be regular events and networking sessions to support the work of local area researchers in Scotland, under the umbrella of Laria Listens (Laria in Scotland, Training Events and Networking Sessions)
Come along to Laria Listens if you want to share practice and network with others involved in local area research in Scotland.
Book your place via the eventbrite link below
Please contact Erin Murray ermurray@scotborders.gov.uk or Coryn Barclay coryn.barclay@fife.gov.uk to tell us about any wicked or burning issues you have with local research, analysis and use of evidence, that you would like to see discussed through Laria Listens

LARIA Autumn Conference 2015: Researching together to protect vulnerable people
2015-11-18 | Robinson College, Grange Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 9AN, United Kingdom
Researching together to protect vulnerable people: Poverty, ageing, disability and avoiding the winter crisis
Wednesday 18 November 2015
Robinson College, University of Cambridge
LARIA is pleased to announce the one-day conference on the 18 November 2015 at the University of Cambridge. The full programme is now available. The conference will be a mixture of plenary sessions and breakout sessions. All participants will get the chance to discuss how researching together can protect vulnerable people. The places are priced at just £120 for Corporate Members and £140 for non-corporate members.
The day will be worth 5 hours towards the Market Research Society CPD framework (* please note you must be an MRS Member to gain these hours). For exhibitor opportunities, please see here. We hope that you can join us.

Fire-Related Research and Developments (RE15) Conference
2015-11-12 09:00 - 17:00 | Fire Service College, London Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0RH, United Kingdom
Presentation themes this year include: Performance Management, Financial Resilience and Creating Public Value in FRS; Fire Service Organisation, Leadership and Management; Hazard Perception and Decision-Making; Operational Preparedness, Communication and Emergency Response; Understanding Fire-Related Behaviour and its implications for Fire Service Interventions; Fire Safety, Fire Protection and Fire investigation; and Firefighter Health, Rehabilitation and Wellbeing. Please see the attached programme for more information.
