The Data Lab is delighted to be named a finalist in the British Data Awards for the ‘Data for Good Consulting Initiative of the Year’ award for its Data Skills for Work programme.

The British Data Awards is an annual quest to discover and celebrate the UK’s data success stories. This year’s organisations include FTSE 100 heavyweights, public sector pioneers, technology unicorns, fast-growing scale-ups, essential not-for-profits, and everything in between.

A record 321 entries were submitted for the fourth edition of the British Data Awards, making it a highly competitive event to be named a finalist. The Data Lab is incredibly proud to be announced as a finalist for its entry that celebrates its Data Skills for Work programme, which supports working adults and employers to upskill in data and AI to address the digital skills gap. We’re also pleased to see our sister project in the Data Skills Gateway, Data Education in Schools, shortlisted for the ‘Education Initiative in Schools’ award.

Jason Johnson, Co-Founder of Predatech and British Data Awards judge said:

“With so many excellent entries received this year, being named a finalist in the British Data Awards 2024 really is a great achievement. Our finalists also remind us of the rich vein of innovation that runs throughout the United Kingdom, and I can’t wait to celebrate all our finalists in May.”

Anna Ashton Scott, Programme Manager for Professional Development, said:

“We’re delighted that our Data Skills for Work programme has been shortlisted for a British Data Award. We’re proud of our Data Skills Credits scheme which has upskilled nearly 1000 workers in data in the Edinburgh City and Tay Cities Regions. Delivered by a network of training and education providers, the scheme aims to increase the number of underrepresented groups in data and allow providers to deliver learning in a way that is affordable and flexible to learners. To be included as a finalist amongst so many notable companies for an award that recognises the diversity and vibrancy of the UK’s data community is an honour.”

The British Data Awards 2024 will announce winners across some 24 categories, and several highly commended awards will also be presented. This year the ‘Data Transformation of the Year’ category received the most entries.

Other categories include ‘Data Leader of the Year’ and ‘Technology Company of the Year’, while new categories including ‘Data Team of the Year’ and ‘Data Management Solution of the Year’ were introduced to help showcase and celebrate the achievements of a diverse range of organisations and people.

The British Data Awards 2024 all-star judging panel includes:

• Neil Carden: President, EMEA at Blend

• Dr Sophie Carr: Founder at Bays Consulting

• Caroline Carruthers: CEO at Carruthers and Jackson

• Dr Roxane Heaton: Chief Information Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support

• Rob Holtom: Executive Director, Digital, Data & Tech at the Information Commissioner’s Office

• Dr Johanna Hutchinson: Chief Data Officer at BAE Systems

• Jason Johnson: Co-Founder at Predatech

• Kinnari Ladha: Chief Data Officer at Merlin Entertainments

• Sami Rahman: Director of Data at Hypebeast

• Niresh Rajah: Group Chief Data Officer at Danske Bank

• Adam Ryan: Chief Data Officer at Calligo

• Romit Sen: Head of Data Science at British Airways

• Dr Jo Watts: CEO & Founder at Effini

Finalists will be celebrated, and winners will be announced, at an awards ceremony taking place on the 8th of May at the Great Hall of the Grand Connaught Rooms in London.