Postcode Profiler data update: Postcode Profiler refresh

Following our previous Data Update concerning the refresh of the Postcode Profiler, we are pleased to announce that the updated version of the Postcode Profiler is now available in the Reports section of the database (members only).

Further information regarding the source datasets and the data fields in the Postcode Profiler can be found within the Key tab of the Postcode Profiler Report, when generating a Current version of the output.

This refresh updates not only the Postcode Profiler source data, but also brings additional changes to enhance its usability, with each improvement listed in this Data Update. One key addition to this release is the update to the most recent version of the Output Area Classification (OAC) and the update of the HESA SEISA measure to the 2021 edition, both of which are based on the 2021 Census.

The Output Area Classification 2021 Update

With this refresh of the underlying Postcode Profiler dataset, the updated OAC dataset will be incorporated into the Postcode Profiler dataset and report.

Following the update to the underlying dataset, this will also update all other locations on the database where the Postcode Profiler data feeds through to, such as the following:

• ‘Super Group’ on the Student record Geography Tab
• ‘Group’ on the Student record Geography Tab
• ‘Sub Group’ on the Student record Geography Tab
• ‘Super Group’ on the Ambassador record Geography Tab
• ‘Group’ on the Ambassador record Geography Tab
• ‘Sub Group’ on the Ambassador record Geography Tab

For further information concerning the OAC data fields, please see the Office for National Statistics 2021 residential-based area classifications, or the Consumer Data Research Centre webpage providing further detail, and outlining the research behind the data: Output Area Classification (2021).

Additional Postcode Profiler updates

Other additions to this Postcode Profiler update are as follows:

• Each postcode is populated with information from the Office for Students (OfS) postcode file. Where it does not exist within this file, mapping to the OfS aggregated datasets, either at LSOA or MSOA level, is applied
• All Postcode Profiler language has been updated to reflect current Uni Connect terminology and where requested, Uni Connect Partnership names have been updated
• Following guidance from the OfS, postcodes which are flagged as Uni Connect in the OfS postcode lookup file, but which could not be mapped using their OfS or ONSPD casward codes, have been mapped to a Uni Connect Consortia using a best fit matching exercise, based on their LSOA11 Code
• The report meets accessibility standards

Alongside the above, the updated Postcode Profiler underlying text file will be available for you to download from the File Store (members only). This update reflects all postcode data held throughout the system including geographic indicators on the Student record and Event Programme applications.

Postcode Profiler Uni Connect Consortia allocation update

As per our announcement concerning the Postcode Profiler Uni Connect Consortia allocation update, we have integrated the advised best fit matching exercise to allocate as many Uni Connect Partnership assigned postcodes as possible (those identified as 1 or 1* in the Uni Connect field according to the OfS postcode lookup file).

Following this exercise, this means that there are Uni Connect assigned postcodes in the Postcode Profiler dataset that have been allocated to a Uni Connect Partnership, but which do not have further Uni Connect Ward information assigned.

If there are any queries regarding this update, please contact HEAT Support.

ACORN update

As per our previous Data Update concerning the implementation of the new Acorn methodology in the Postcode Profiler, to support members with the transition to the new version of Acorn, we will provide a version of the updated Postcode Profiler underlying text file matched to the old Acorn as a text file on the File Store. This will be available to all Acorn license members to download should they require the data. This version of the Postcode Profiler underlying text file includes both old and new Acorn, and can be accessed via the File Store (members with an Acorn license only).

Upon our next annual receipt of the updated Acorn data in November 2025, we will no longer be providing access to both the old version of Acorn in the File Store, but access to new Acorn data will continue to be provided via the Postcode Profiler Report and underlying dataset.

Future Updates

As a part of the upcoming Summer 2025 Update, we will be archiving the POLAR 3 related fields across the database, further details for which can be found in the following Data Update: Upcoming Development: Archival of the POLAR3 related fields across the database.

Additionally, the upcoming Summer Technical Update will also see the archival of the version of the Postcode Profiler Report labelled ‘Archived’ so that it will no longer be an option to use when generating a Postcode Profiler Report. As noted in the previous Summer Update 2024 wherein the new report was released, the old ‘Archived’ version of the template was planned to remain available to use up to a year following the 2024 update to support with transition to the new Postcode Profiler Report format.