Britain to train 500 data scientists by 2021 in pandemic recovery

As Britain plans to drive an economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic through smarter use of data and technology in policy-making, it needs more trained and skilled data scientists. The National Data Strategy project reflects calls from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top adviser Dominic Cummings for an overhaul of the way the government makes decisions, 

They aspire to make more data-driven and efficient decisions to help the economy recover and to organizations digitization. "Our response to coronavirus has shown just how much we can achieve when we can share high-quality data quickly, efficiently and ethically," digital minister Oliver Dowden said. "I don't intend to let that lesson go to waste." Hence, as part of the strategy, the government promises to train up 500 data scientists by 2021, announced new fellowships to work inside the prime minister's office, and proposed new ways of working with data, including sharing information with the private sector.

"The new strategy will put data at the heart of the country's recovery from the pandemic so companies and organisations can use it to drive digital transformation, innovate and boost growth across the economy," said the government in a statement, as per Reuters. 

Speaking on digitization and economic recovery, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden had also recently said, “We are a nation of innovators, entrepreneurs and inventors, and technology will underpin our infrastructure revolution of national renewal to unite and level up the UK. This government is backing people to succeed by investing heavily in cutting-edge research, digital skills and digital infrastructure to support our economic recovery.”

How the investment in training and upskiliing of data scientists helps Britain bounce back in the COVID era and beyond is to look forward to.