The SafePod Network (SPN) is a new service that will provide a network of standardised safe settings (known as SafePods) across the UK to enable approved researchers to access and use sensitive datasets to better understand our society and economy. The SPN is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and run by the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research. Both are part of the ADR UK.

A wealth of government datasets, as well as study and survey datasets will be available for secure access from SafePods. This will include new linked datasets created by Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK) projects, such as the groundbreaking Data First programme at the Ministry of Justice, and most datasets held by the Office for National Statistics’ Secure Research Service, the UK Data Service and SAIL Databank.

SafePods will be primarily based at universities, removing the travel and cost barriers for researchers to attend the handful of existing dedicated safe settings in the UK.

Many researchers across South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) Universities are already working with the types of administrative and/or sensitive datasets that will be made available through SafePods, and interest in these is now further increasing due to the pandemic.

The installation of SafePods have now been completed at the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter and this webinar will provide information about the opportunities SafePods will bring, and the practical steps you will need to follow to use them.

This webinar is being co-ordinated by the SWDTP, with contributions from SafePod technical leads and academics across the partnership. Researchers across all stages are welcome to attend this webinar, including undergraduates, postgraduates and academics, but advanced registration is essential.

Webinar agenda

Brief Welcome SWDTP Deputy Director, Angeline Barrett

Short introduction to SafePods and the SafePod Network: what they enable, and which datasets can be accessed, Chris Playford, University of Exeter

Example research projects enabled by the SafePods

- Helen Simpson, Economics, University of Bristol

- Alexey Bessudnov, Sociology, University of Exeter

Practical guidance on:

- Applying to access datasets, Chris Playford

- Practicalities of using a SafePod, Zosia Beckles/Debra Hiom

Q&A