A new, free resource to help people find the most up-to-date local data, statistics, and trends has been unveiled by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Known as the Nottinghamshire Observatory, it offers insight and analysis of the latest local trends to help with research, funding bids, and ultimately attract more investment to the county.

Functions include:

A search facility for data on a wide range of themes or topic areas from economic trends to insights in health.

Accessing countywide stats or specific district, ward and neighbourhood data.

Generating high-quality charts, graphs, and maps.

Commenting on the benefits of the new site, Coun Keith Girling, cabinet member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said: “As an ambitious county, we deserve to have a comprehensive resource like this that is available to all.

“It will be a vital tool for many of us, including businesses, students, researchers, and potential investors looking for data or trends.

“Having access to such detailed local insights will, of course, be a big help to councils, universities, and other organisations when bidding for funding and grants.

This is why this is more than a website. It has the potential to help generate investment.

“While this new site covers the county area of Nottinghamshire, it has been designed so that it can integrate with resources under the new Combined County Authority (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire).

“We think it’s important that everyone has access to this type of quality data and this site certainly brings everything in one place, using consistent stats from a reliable source, which are updated regularly “

Plans for the observatory includes introducing even more local data for areas such as parishes and county electoral divisions.

One of the many organisations already benefitting from the new resource is NBV Enterprise Solutions Ltd, a business support organisation. Regional director

Andrea Huscroft said the observatory is a valuable tool for NBV when developing new services, adding: “It offers a seamless blend of comprehensive demographic data, unparalleled ease of use, and accurate information searchable by postcode.”

The Nottinghamshire Observatory can be accessed at https://observatory.nottinghamshire.gov.uk