New Report Highlights Urgent Skills Needs for Sensitive Data Curation Across UK

HDR UK Midlands is sharing a new report from the Data Curation Skills for Sensitive Data (DCS) project, highlighting important insights into workforce development needs across the UK’s sensitive data landscape.

Led by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) in collaboration with the Software Sustainability Institute and partner organisations, the project explores the skills, training needs and workforce priorities required to support the effective curation and stewardship of sensitive data within Trusted Research Environments (TREs), Secure Data Environments (SDEs), Safe Havens, and related infrastructures.

Addressing Skills and Training Needs

The newly published Sensitive Data Curation Skills Report draws on a national survey and stakeholder engagement activities involving professionals working across areas such as data stewardship, governance, infrastructure, technical services, research support, and training provision.

The report examines current skills gaps, training needs, and barriers affecting those working with sensitive data. It highlights the need for more targeted, structured, and accessible training provision, alongside broader efforts to support workforce development in this area.

The findings reflect a wide range of perspectives gathered through surveys, workshops, discussions, and community feedback.

Supporting Workforce Development

Alongside the main report, the project team has also published a set of Key Recommendations, which outline priority areas for workforce development, competency building, and improved coordination across the sensitive data ecosystem.

Together, the report and recommendations aim to support organisations, networks, and individuals in strengthening data curation capabilities and advancing the stewardship of sensitive data across the UK.

Opportunities to Get Involved

As the project moves into its dissemination and engagement phase, there are opportunities for organisations and individuals to build on this work.

These include:

Participating in a planned Skills Summit in November in Edinburgh, taking place alongside the UK TRE Community Conference (more information coming soon)
Exploring how the report’s recommendations align with existing work and collaborating on implementation
Contributing to future skills development activities and resources

The project team welcomes engagement from those with interests in workforce development, training, data stewardship, governance, or sensitive data infrastructure.