Research and data

We aim to make decisions on everything from corporate plans to community funding allocations based on the best possible evidence. We want to enable others to do the same.

Using official statistics and evidence to support policy

Government organisations provide many free resources and officials statistics to help us make better decisions about our area. We use these official government resources ourselves in our policy research, covering a wide range of topics, as outlined in our People themes and our Place themes. Although official statistics are usually free to use to the public, they sometimes need a little know-how and knowledge of mapping software, spreadsheets and interpretation to get the best out of them, or you may need access to a laptop in order to download them.

Our research and information team helps our Community Planning partners and the public to use the official statistics and any other resources, including their own data, as management information to evidence policy and help make better decisions.

Strategic Assessment

All corporate policies, from the Council Plan to our locality plans and service-specific strategies, begin with extensive research and analysis of the latest official statistics. To help us do this, we have occasionally produced the Scottish Borders Strategic Assessment. This is an evidence base which gives a snapshot of the current demographic and socio-economic situation of Scottish Borders, using the latest official statistics and some internally-produced data. It is used as a library of information which helps to inform the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership (CPP), Local Outcome Improvement Plans (LOIPs) and Locality Plans. The 2023 Strategic Assessment is structured in five parts around the current CPP priorities and these are available to download, along with the previous (2020) Strategic Assessment summary. Most of the statistics used in these publications are available to the public so if you would like to know more about anything used in the Strategic Assessment, contact us.

Working with our partners

The Director of Public Health released the Scottish Borders Director of Public Health (DPH) Report, in co-operation with NHS Borders and ourselves. This sets out the public health priorities that have been selected in a multi-agency agreement to improve the health of the Scottish Borders public.

Why we use evidence

The  Legislation Local Government In Scotland Act 2003 states that we should provide our services in a way that is transparent, robust, informed and accountable. This includes making use of information and guidance, wherever available. In addition, many of the policies and plans that we support are governed by statute. All Statutory functions we provide should be informed by a relevant evidence base. This requirement is reinforced by the Christie Commission on the Future delivery of Public Services available on the Scottish Gov website, which provides a mandate for good practice in research and information for local government.

We also use research and data so that Scottish Borders can play its part in the Scottish Government National Performance Framework, which has 11 national outcomes:

• children and young people should grow up loved, safe and respected so they can realise their full potential
• economy should be globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable
• fair work and business with quality jobs and thriving, innovative businesses
• international reputation, we are open for business to the world and make a positive contribution
• communities should be inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe
• education should be effective in producing a well-educated and skilled adult population that is able to play their part
• health, wellbeing and physical activity are a priority
• tackling poverty by sharing opportunities, wealth and power more equally
• culture should be vibrant, creative and diverse, through activities that express who we are and are widely enjoyable 
• environment is valued, enjoyed, protected and enhanced
• human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled, and free from discrimination

Community profiling of Scottish Borders areas

Official statistics can be used to provide a demographic and socio-economic profile for any area in Scottish Borders and for any topic area, or a range of key indicators for a range of topic areas.

Scottish Borders areas can be any of the following:

• Scottish Borders region or Borders Health Board area (which share the same boundary)
• five area partnerships, also known as Localities.  A selection of Locality Profiles from 2017 is available.
• six learning communities
• 11 Electoral Wards. See the Multi-member Ward Overviews that were compiled to assist incoming Elected Members following the May 2022 Council Elections.
• 26 towns and villages with a population of more than 500 people. 
• 30 Intermediate Zones.  A selection of Intermediate Zone Profiles for 2022 is available.
• 70 Community Councils
• 143 Scottish Data Zones
•  Around 3876 Postcodes . These are too small for area profiling but can be used to identify neighbourhoods

A wide range of information about any settlement of more than 50 people is available from the 2022 Census - there are hundreds of these in the Scottish Borders.

A Community profile can contain information on the following topics, although not all information is available at all geographical levels:

• population information
• business and economic development
• economic activity, business, jobs, employment and unemployment
• children and early years
• school education, attendance and attainment
• health and wellbeing in children, adults and older people
• support for  vulnerable children, adults and older people
• neighbourhood and communities
• inequalities, poverty and deprivation
• housing
• environment, energy and waste
• democracy and public services
• transport and traffic

If you would like help finding official statistics information about any of the above topics for your area in the Scottish Borders, contact our research and information team.