Research Services

Our services

Our team are experts in neighbourhood level data. We:

  • Apply knowledge and understanding of knowledge about neighbourhoods
  • Bring together the strategic big picture as well as the local detail
  • Identify important issues and patterns from large datasets
  • Produce evidence-based, robust measure of need

Take a look at some of our standard services. If you would like to enquire about a bespoke project, please get in touch.

Data downloads

Place-based open data in CSV format for any topic and geographies of your choice.

 

Data downloads save time and resources in the collection, cleaning and aggregation of data – freeing up your time to analyse the data.

Our data downloads include:

  • Flexibility in indicator selection: Tell us which indicators you want to include or we can curate a selection for you based on theme
  • All metadata: Including description, source and time point
  • Data for any geography: Data for any area type you are interested in – whether that is wards, parishes, parliamentary constituencies or something more bespoke
  • One-off, quarterly and annual updates: Options for regular updates to ensure you are always using the most up-to-date information

Prices start at £400 +VAT.

Request a data download

Area profile reports

A standard report covering a range of socio-economic themes.

 

Area profile reports are a quick, easy and cost-effective way to gain insight into a particular area. They are easy to understand and perfect to share with key stakeholders in your project.

Our area profile reports include:

  • Data, charts and commentary: Covering vulnerable groups, population, health, housing, local economy, crime, education, communities and access to services.
  • Data for any geography: Each report contains data for a primary area and two comparator areas of your choice
  • Map image and area definition: You will receive an image of the primary area requested as well as the standard area codes used to create your area.
  • Offers for multiple areas and updates: We can offer discounts for those that would like regular updates or reports for multiple areas.

Prices start at £550 +VAT

Request a profile report

Area needs analysis

A bespoke report that identifies and analyses the key issues and challenges for any area or set of areas.

Our area needs analysis reports include:

  • Agreeing a set of themes and geographic coverage: We work with you to understand and determine your priorities for the report
  • Curating a list of suggested indicators: Based on your objectives, we will provide a list of suggested indicators that are most relevant to you.
  • Producing data for required areas: We can provide data for a range of area types and can suggest interesting breakdowns including; local authority, major towns, rural / urban areas, neighbourhood areas and benchmark areas
  • Analysis of the data: We will provide a high-level story including:
    • the areas facing the most acute challenges
    • which areas fare better or worse in absolute and relative terms
    • areas with multiple challenges
    • hidden pockets of need
  • Producing charts and data visualisations
  • A physical / digital copy of the report and all underlying data

Prices start at £8000 +VAT, with annual updates from £3000 +VAT.

Request a quote

Creating new measures to identify need

Creation of a composite indicator used to identify need on a specific theme or challenge.

When a project focuses on a specific and complex challenge, the data available to measure need is often very disparate. We can work with you to develop a specific needs metric that can be used to prioritise investments and interventions.

Developing a composite indicator includes:

  • Consultation to understand the challenges you would like to measure
  • A review of the open data landscape to identify relevant metrics, including a justification of whether they are robust enough to include in a measure
  • Recommendations for a methodology to standardise, weight and combine the indicators
  • Production of an index for the requested area type (eg, LSOA or Ward)

Request an initial consultation

Community Needs Index analysis for your area

As part of our work with Local Trust, we have developed a Community Needs Index that looks at the social and cultural factors that can impact upon people’s outcomes.

While this is a national measure, we also offer more detailed analysis for local areas. This gives a more granular insight into local community need that may be masked by a national measure.

Community Needs Index analysis includes:

  • A deep dive into the community needs for your areas: What are the drivers, which areas are most impacted and what is the relationship between community need and deprivation
  • Analysis of the underlying component indicators of the Community Needs Index: To determine whether there are particular indicators contributing to high community need
  • The relationship between the different dimensions of Community Need
  • Analysis of any left-behind neighbourhoods within your area: To understand the particular challenges they face

Request a quote

Identifying benchmark areas for programme evaluation

Measure the impact of your programme through comparing data with similar benchmark areas.

Our programme evaluation support includes:

  • Identifying benchmark areas that are statistically similar to the areas of your programme: This includes areas that are similar in terms of socio-economic characteristics, population size, deprivation levels and in a similar geographic area
  • Identifying metrics for programme evaluation: This takes into consideration indicators that are consistently available over time at a suitable geographic level
  • Trend analysis: We look at the overall performance of the programme’s areas and identify specific areas that performed better or worse than their benchmark areas

Request a quote

Data analysis

Left-behind neighbourhoods in Essex – A case study

This case study looks at a consultancy review project commissioned by Essex…
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Research Projects

Hounslow Equality Impact

Aims: Hounslow Council asked us to provide a quantitative community profile of…
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Research Projects

Data Dive – The early impact of COVID-19 in ‘left-behind’ neighbourhoods

Aims: Local Trust commissioned OCSI to carry out a ‘data dive’ into…
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Research Projects

Hertfordshire Matters

Aims: Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF) commissioned OCSI to develop a needs analysis…
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