Data should be your organisation’s most valuable asset - but even the UK’s top statistics authority has shown how fragile that value can be without the right strategy behind it.
Recently, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) acknowledged challenges in maintaining the reliability of key labour-market and economic datasets, with participation in flagship surveys reportedly falling into the high teens.
The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has since requested a fully resourced improvement plan to restore confidence in the quality of core statistics. Analysts at Oxford Economics , the Institute for Government and SEC Newgate have each noted growing volatility and revision risk in UK data.
At Bloom Consulting Group, we help organisations avoid exactly these pitfalls. Our specialists in data strategy, governance, and analytics ensure that our clients data remains credible, consistent, and decision ready no matter how complex the landscape becomes.
These developments highlight a universal truth: without a clear, resilient data strategy, even trusted institutions can lose confidence in their own numbers.
1. They Focus on Tools, Not Business Alignment
Technology alone won’t fix poor direction. As the ONS’s experience shows, even advanced systems fail when the purpose behind data collection is unclear.
Bloom starts every engagement with business alignment - connecting data strategy directly to measurable outcomes such as revenue growth, cost reduction, or compliance assurance.
2. They Neglect Data Quality and Integrity
Low response rates and inconsistent inputs are classic symptoms of data strategy failure. The ONS situation illustrates how fragile insights become when quality controls are under-resourced.
At Bloom, we embed data-quality frameworks across collection, validation, and governance - ensuring your information is both accurate and auditable.
3. They Lack Governance and Accountability
When no one owns the data, confidence quickly erodes. The OSR’s requirement for a fully resourced plan demonstrates that governance isn’t optional - it’s essential.
Bloom’s Governance Accelerator defines ownership, accountability, and escalation routes, ensuring every dataset has a responsible steward.
4. They Operate in Silos
Fragmented systems breed inconsistency. The ONS’s ongoing modernisation programme aims to unify disconnected surveys and methods - a reminder that coherence underpins credibility.
5. They Fail to Embed Data in Decision-Making
Data must move from insight to action. When uncertainty and volatility rise - as Oxford Economics has warned - decisions grounded in incomplete data risk costly missteps.
Bloom connects analytics to business operations, enabling decision-makers to respond in real time with confidence.
6. They Ignore Data Culture and Literacy
Even the best system fails if people don’t trust or understand the data. The Institute for Government has pointed to systemic issues around data capability and culture - lessons relevant far beyond government.
Bloom helps build data-literate cultures through tailored training and leadership engagement that make insight everyone’s responsibility.
7. They Don’t Evolve
A data strategy is a living framework, not a static plan. The ONS’s ongoing improvement work shows that adaptability is critical to long-term credibility.
Bloom delivers continuous improvement programmes to help you evolve your data ecosystem as business needs and technologies change.
Lessons from the ONS - and Why Data Strategy Is Leadership
The UK’s data challenges show that strategy, governance, and culture are inseparable. When data is unreliable, it’s not a technology failure - it’s a leadership gap.
At Bloom Consulting Group, we help you close that gap:
- Build business-aligned data roadmaps
- Strengthen governance and accountability
- Improve culture and literacy
- Turn data into confident, actionable decisions
Book a free consultation today
Disclaimer: This article summarises and comments on information that is already publicly available from credible sources including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR), Oxford Economics, the Institute for Government, SEC Newgate, and reputable media outlets such as Reuters and The Guardian (April–December 2024). It reflects Bloom Consulting Group’s professional opinion on data strategy and governance best practices. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as criticism of any organisation or as advice specific to any particular circumstance. Readers should verify details independently and seek professional guidance where appropriate.