Postcode Profiler Uni Connect Consortia allocation update

We would like to make members aware of an update on a reported issue relating to the Postcode Profiler. We have been investigating a small portion of missing postcodes (under 1000) that are allocated to a Uni Connect partnership according to the Office for Students (OfS) postcode lookup file (identified as 1 or 1* in the Uni Connect field) but have not been allocated accordingly in the Postcode Profiler dataset.

Upon investigation, it has been determined that this is due to the CAS Ward Codes assigned to these affected postcodes not appearing in the Uni Connect Populations source data that is used to populate the Uni Connect data fields in the Postcode Profiler. Be assured we have discussed this issue with the OfS, requesting advice on how to proceed and categorise these postcodes as accurately as possible. They have advised the undertaking of a best fit matching exercise, to allocate the affected postcodes into the appropriate partnership, utilising context from the surrounding postcode allocation.

It has been determined that under 1000 postcodes have been impacted by this issue, and through the best fit matching exercise, we have identified the Uni Connect Consortia for these affected postcodes.

Please note: Through the advised best fit matching exercise, these postcodes can only be allocated to a Uni Connect partnership, and no further Uni Connect Ward information can be assigned.

Following this advice from the OfS, we have now built this best fit matching exercise step into our Postcode Profiler refresh process, in order to allocate these postcodes prior to the release of the refreshed dataset each year.

If you have any questions regarding this update, please contact HEAT Support.