DWP Digital provide digital services to deliver state pension, working age, disability and ill health benefits, and child maintenance. To ensure we deliver services that reflect the 20 million citizens we serve, it is important that we have a diverse workforce. We’re proud to collaborate with Women in Data to continue to support, empower and enable women working in all aspects of data to break barriers, build connections and support networks to help reach their full potential.
DWP Digital deliver services for the UK’s largest public service department – the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Our purpose is to build and maintain user-friendly digital services that enable millions of people to access the help, advice, and financial support they need. Whether our users need to claim benefit, get help finding a job, or understand their State Pension, we’re the team designing, developing, and delivering the world-class digital services they need. 38% of our workforce are women, compared to the tech sector in general, which is at 27%.
A bit about me
I started my career in academia, first as a PhD student and then as an associate researcher. As a genuinely curious person, the postgraduate researcher / data scientist career path suited me, it gave me the freedom to travel, to meet and work with incredible people and deliver projects for stakeholders that I only dreamed of as a child, like the European Space Agency and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. My field of study in academia was male dominated and I was fortunate to get support and recognition at every step, but also having in proximity women role models that had prodigious careers. I now realise how important it was for my professional formation to witness their success and professional reputation.
Why did you join DWP Digital?
I joined DWP Digital because I believe in its mission of delivering world class services that benefit citizens today. It is truly a privilege to work with digital experts on innovative projects, in a multi award winning organisation making a real-life difference to millions of citizens and improve the lives of future generations. The thought of being part of it and making even the smallest of contributions compared to the scale of DWP Digital’s ambition still makes me excited, 5 years into my job.
What do you like most about DWP Digital?
The vision, the people I work with and the professional satisfaction of being part of building, maintaining, and supporting services that enable millions of people to access the help, advice, and financial support they need. We deliver large scale projects that have a real impact on lots of people’s lives, and working with data, I find incredibly motivating as it’s not just data, it’s people’s life stories, sometimes of hardship and relief or of trying times and success. Having the privilege to witness that it’s equally humbling, and inspiring to do more and better every day.
A bit about me
I’m currently Head of Data Platforms & Operations, Deputy Director at DWP Digital with over 20 years’ experience leading large-scale digital transformation projects.
I’m focused on leading the acceleration of Data Delivery to offer excellent digital services to citizens through using interactive, real-time data, and, through improved use of customer and performance insight data.
I’m passionate about championing diversity and inclusion, removing the barriers women face in the workplace and developing role models and leaders.
Outside of work, I’m originally from Scotland and I’m now based in Newcastle. I enjoy spending my time walking along the beautiful Northumberland coastline with my dogs.
Why did you join DWP Digital?
I started my career in DWP working in operations over 30 years ago. I developed a passion for technology which led to me joining DWP Digital as I wanted to be able to support citizens using digital and data and work on impactful projects.
We enable millions of people to access the help, advice, and financial support they need during often difficult times, and I wanted to contribute to making a difference to some of the most vulnerable in society.
What do you like most about DWP Digital?
We’re constantly striving to create a workplace that is as diverse and inclusive as the citizens we serve. I feel so fortunate to work for an organisation that not only supports me but pushes me to do more and helps me to be my absolute best.
Every day is genuinely a learning day at DWP Digital. I’m grateful that we’re encouraged to lean into a variety of opportunities for our development and that I’m able to support my colleagues to improve their skills too. This includes mentoring and coaching colleagues particularly from under-represented groups and different social backgrounds.
A bit about me
I joined DWP Digital in 2018 after a career in the private sector specialising in Web Analysis, Conversion Rate Optimisation and Product Ownership. I live in Leeds with my husband and our cocker spaniel Charlie, who is the real boss of the house. When I’m not working, I like walking with Charlie, playing hockey at weekends and eating posh food.
I’m passionate about the importance of data in everything we do, and believe it should be the foundation of the service DWP provides to people.
Why did you join DWP Digital?
I was excited about the challenge of doing analysis across multiple websites and development teams. Encouraging them to use the data they were collecting to inform decision making as part of iterating their digital services. Working at DWP Digital means I use my skills to strive for better outcomes for the people DWP support, and I’m not trying to improve someone profit. Also, my parents worked and met at DWP, so it’s always been a part of my life, and felt like a natural move when the opportunity arose.
What do you like most about DWP Digital?
This is the longest I’ve ever worked anywhere. Everyone here is passionate about improving the lives of people who need to use DWP services. DWP enables me to be my authentic self, whilst still making an impact and having career progression.
The data landscape here is huge and getting more important the longer I stay. It’s exciting to be in the middle of the data modernisation program and being able to implement see the impact of our new data strategy. I’m surrounded by people who are passionate about data and passionate about the mission of DWP.
A bit about me
I’m a Deputy Director in DWP Digital and am part of our Data & Analytics senior leadership team. I have two main areas of responsibility. As Head of Data Insight & Analytics, I am responsible for the Department’s digital reporting capability in Power BI used by thousands of colleagues across DWP, as well as the technology that supports advanced analytics use cases developed by our Data Science community.
I’m also Head of Digital Sustainability, working with colleagues across DWP Digital aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the department’s use of digital technologies; whilst this is my first sustainability role in the workplace, sustainability has long been a personal priority of mine.
Why did you join DWP Digital?
I started my career in the private sector as a consultant data scientist. I worked across a range of sectors, and whilst I loved the variety of data and projects I worked on, I eventually realised I wasn’t excited by the purpose of the work I was delivering. Reflecting on how important purpose is to me was the motivation that I needed to ultimately move into the Civil Service, ending up at DWP Digital.
What do you like most about DWP Digital?
I love that DWP Digital is a people-focussed organisation at its heart. This includes the people who work in every corner of DWP Digital in a wide variety of roles – there are so many opportunities to invest in and support our teams. This also includes the citizens and colleagues that we serve with the digital services we provide, who are considered at the centre of all that we do.
About me
I’ve been a qualified data and information professional in the UK civil service for over twenty years (hard to believe) with experience of improving and embedding a culture of good data governance, building great data governance teams and leading the strategic thinking around how to get the best value from data and information. In my current role, I lead on the development and implementation of the DWP Data Strategy, leading strategic thinking in this space.
Why I joined DWP Digital
I was really excited to join DWP Digital as it’s a team that is very highly thought of across government. In particular, having worked in much smaller departments and arm’s length bodies, it has been fascinating to think about data on such a large scale. DWP holds the data of pretty much every citizen and that is both a brilliant opportunity and an important responsibility.
What do you like most about DWP Digital
I love working in DWP Digital, not only because there is a real understanding of how data and digital are linked, but because there are so many opportunities to learn and grow, from the Women in Digital internal network through to the practices that support development, it’s a really supportive culture.
A bit about me
Data wasn’t really a thing when I was at school, come to think of it neither were mobile phones!
I’ve had many different jobs starting out working in restaurants, then moving around various jobs to find something that suited me; from office work, call centre and management, but I always got a little bored…. then moved on to try something else. I love to travel, enjoy spending time outdoors, walking with my dogs or going for a run.
Why did you join DWP Digital?
I first joined the Civil Service in 2002, working in various operational roles within DWP and the Home Office, then took the plunge into DWP Digital in 2016. To be honest I stumbled upon a job in digital when facing office closure in a previous role, not really knowing much about the job I was applying for, but it sounded interesting.
It was very different and daunting at first but I’m glad I made the jump as the role is so varied, it’s a massive organisation with lots of different roles and opportunities.
What do you like most about DWP Digital?
The breadth of work in this organisation is immense. It’s great to have the opportunity to work alongside passionate and talented colleagues who care about the work they do. Working in data allows me to tap into my strengths, and be my inner geek, solving puzzles/problems and thinking outside the box.
I’m at my best when getting stuck into a piece of code and analysing the results or fixing issues. I also really enjoy coaching others and seeing them flourish. It’s very fast paced at times and the work can be high profile, but it gives me a sense that I’m making a difference.
