Places for People: Building Data Fluency Across Teams with Targeted Upskilling

These aren’t just statistics, they represent a leapsin data skills and data culture,on a journey to become data drivenat Places for People (PfP), one of the UK’s largest social enterprises. Managing over 240,000 homes,PfP set out to harness the power of data to improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhancedecision-makingandultimately improve the lives of their tenants. However, the truegame-changerwasn’t just the technology—it was ensuring their people had the skills to wield the technology.

“Thanks to the training, I’m now able to deliver insights days faster—with fewer errors, greater confidence, and stronger trust from stakeholders.” - Jamie, Data Insight Analyst at PfP.

The Challenge and Solution

In 2023, Places for People (PfP) embarked on an ambitious data transformation as part of a broader digital transformation effort. The challenge was significant—fragmented data sources, inconsistent reporting, legacy systemsand a lack of analytical confidence among teams. To address this, PfP partnered with The Dot Collective to build a robust, cloud-native data platform* and then deliver training to upskill their workforceto ensure they could fully harness the power of data.

*For a deep dive into the technical build of the data platform, click here.

Before the training analysts at PfP faced slow and inefficient queries, lacked confidence inanalytical and dashboarding tools likeLookML and Lookerand struggled with inconsistent reporting standards. These challenges resulted in higher operational costs and slow decision-making, restricting the value PfP could realise from their investment in their enterprise data platform.

To bridge this gap, The Dot Collective set out to deliver a tailored training programme focused on SQL optimisation, LookML mastery, and self-service analytics. The goal was to transform the way PfP’s teams interacted with data, embedding a culture of data-driven decision-making across the organisation.

Empowering clients through collaboration was a key aspect of the approach. The partnership with PfP extended beyond technical training; an inclusive and supportive learning environment was created to ensure every team member felt equipped to excel. This included customised training materials tailored to the team’s needs, using PfP’s real data, diverse learning formats such as online training sessions, pre-recorded videos, one-on-one support and always-on availability via Teams for real-time problem-solving. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and accessibility, we empowered PfP’s team to embrace their data transformation with confidence.

The results were swift and measurable:

SQL – 71% — 100%. Every analyst is now fully confident. Analysts are more proficient in writing and optimising queries, significantly reducing processing times saving FTE time.

LookML – 38% — 63%. A solid increase in foundational modelling skills. Teams structured LookML more effectively, resulting in scalable, maintainable data models, enhancing collaboration and productivity, saving FTE time and reducing data compliance risk.

Looker Core – 48% — 82%. Most analysts are now fully confident in the essential platform features.

“Seeing the tangible improvements in efficiency, confidence, and overall data literacy reinforces the importance of investing in both technology and people.” - Ned, Trainer/Senior Data Analyst at The Dot Collective

Jamie’s Transformation

Jamie, a Data Insight Analyst at PfP, exemplifies this success. Before the training, he struggled with SQL optimisation, leading to inefficiencies and slow reporting. Now, he writes faster queries, structures reportsbetterand has greater confidence in handling complex data requests. His journey reflects how investing in people fuels long-term success and career growth.

But don’t just take our word for it—hear Jamie share his experience in his own words in the video below.

A Data-Driven Future

PfP’s investment in a modern data platform and workforce upskilling is helping to transform the organisation’s entire data culture. With more confident teams and optimised reporting structures, PfP is now better equipped to drive efficiency, reduce costsand enhance data-driven decision-making across the business.

This success story highlights that data transformation is not just about technology—it’s about people. By empowering their workforce with the right skills, PfP has laid the groundwork for a truly data-driven future, ensuring they can fully capitalise on their investment in a world-class data platform.

Partner with The Dot Collective and transform the way your organisation uses data. Get in touch at hello@thedotcollective.co.uk.