Our inclusive culture
We recognise that technology teams don’t always reflect the diverse communities we serve, or benefit from different voices and perspectives.
To address this, we are creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture that empowers us to excel, while upholding our core values – we call this our “DDaT DNA”.
Benefits such as hybrid and flexible working make our roles more open to those needing flexibility. You'll also be joining an organisation committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels, supported by our staff networks.
Balancing a full-time job with raising two school-aged children can be challenging. However, the flexibility at the ICO, such as taking a long lunch, finishing early, or starting late, allows me to do the school run, attend sports days, or take my children to appointments. This together with the generous leave entitlements and the option to work from home complements the flexibility offered. It’s also great to have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues at the offices should you wish to.
Natalie Pilling, Senior Business Manager
Why diversity matters
Diversity helps us make better, more informed decisions and helps us represent the communities we serve.
Often the most fulfilling technology careers are ones that move forwards and sideways, accruing experience and building added value that comes when knowledge is combined to create new and unexpected insights.
Information rights are ultimately about people – relationships, trust, equality, democracy and dignity.
Our progress
Between 2023 and 2025, we’ve increased female representation in DDaT from 17% to 30%, and those from ethnic minorities backgrounds from x% to 23%. The ICO is part of the disability confident scheme that offers those with disabilities a guaranteed interview if they meet the minimum standards for a role, and we have begun a pilot scheme to extend that to those from ethnic minority backgrounds.
There’s still more to do, though. In August 2025 we joined Women in Data, a movement and a force for change in the realm of data science and analytics. Around two-thirds of our employees are women, and we’re proud of how we create space for women to have fulfilling careers in lots of different data specialisms.
We're excited to become a member of Women in Data to draw on their expertise in inclusive practices, community engagement, and talent development. We want to attract more women in DDaT, support our existing workforce, foster allyship and strengthen our use of data.
The flexibility offered whilst working at the ICO is such a benefit, particularly helping with supporting and caring for elderly relatives, in my case my mum.
Having the option to use my flexible leave, to take an extended lunch, to grab an hour here and there, starting later or finishing earlier, really is such a great benefit. It levels off the stress just having the peace of mind that if anything should happen to mum during the working day, the option is available allowing me to manage both my working and personal requirements.
This peace of mind is worth its weight in gold!
Jill Hobson, Senior Client Services Manager