The ONS is the UK’s Largest Independent Producer of Official Statistics.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS) is a Trusted Research Environment (TRE) and gives accredited or approved researchers secure access to a wealth of de-identified, unpublished data in order to work on research projects for the public good.
About the dataset
The Secure Research Service provides access to a metadata catalogue containing a range of datasets from public surveys to census data. Full information about the dataset can be found here.
Accessing the data
Accessing the data requires completion of an application form for the Research Accreditation Service. You will be taken to the page to sign up/login to this when you try to access a specific dataset.
Most datasets are available to access through remote access to the Secure Research Service (SRS). In some instances, the data can only be accessed from an approved safe setting. Full information about accessing the data can be found here.
For safe use of secure data, the Secure Research Service (SRS) uses the Five Safes Framework. This is a set of principles adopted by a range of secure labs. These protocols provide complete assurance for data owners
Using the data
The metadata catalogue can be accessed here and currently contains 130 datasets including UK Census data, official UK opinion survey data, wellbeing data, and more.
Use the filters and/or keyword search provided to refine your search results.
Searching the metadata catalogue returns a list of available datasets. Types of data range from survey data to census data/statistics.
Each dataset includes a brief description about what it includes, coverage (i.e. spatial, temporal), information about the type of data (e.g. survey), as well as usage, access and governance.
How to cite this data source
See detail for individual datasets in the catalogue for information which can be used to cite the data source.