# Future Data Services: Joining up the data service workforce

**Funder:** ESRC
**Budget:** Up to £280,000 (FEC); ESRC funds 80% of FEC
**Duration:** 42 months
**Consortium:** Optional — applicants encouraged to apply as a small group or consortium reflecting a federated data service landscape
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-data-services-joining-up-the-data-service-workforce/
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds UK social science data service practitioner communities of practice to exchange knowledge and improve data service delivery, as part of the ESRC Future Data Services programme; projects must start 1 October 2027 and end by 31 March 2031. Not for creating new infrastructure, datasets, or standard research projects.

## Summary

This ESRC call funds UK social science data service practitioner communities of practice, giving up to £280,000 (FEC, with ESRC covering 80%) to improve knowledge exchange and service delivery across the data service landscape. It is part of the Future Data Services programme and suits applicants who want to join up practitioner work rather than build new infrastructure or run standard research projects. Applicants can apply solo or as a small consortium reflecting the federated nature of UK data services.

## Who should apply

- Practitioners working within UK social science data services
- UK-based organisations or small consortia reflecting a federated data service landscape
- Teams focused on knowledge exchange and service delivery improvement, not new infrastructure
- Applicants able to deliver a project running from October 2027 to March 2031

## Key dates

- Full application details published when the funding opportunity opens
- Projects must start 1 October 2027 and end by 31 March 2031
- 42-month project duration

## Tips for applicants

- Frame the proposal around knowledge exchange and community-building, not infrastructure or dataset creation, the call explicitly excludes these.
- If applying as a consortium, show how the group reflects the federated structure of the UK data service landscape rather than a single centralised service.
- Budget to the FEC model and plan for the 20% non-ESRC contribution when costing the project.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding does this ESRC call provide?

Up to £280,000 at full economic cost, with ESRC covering 80% of FEC.

### Can I apply as part of a consortium?

Yes, consortium applications are optional but encouraged, reflecting the federated nature of UK data services.

### What can this grant be used for?

It funds UK social science data service practitioner communities of practice to exchange knowledge and improve service delivery, not new infrastructure, datasets, or standard research projects.

### When must the project start and end?

Projects must start on 1 October 2027 and end by 31 March 2031, running for 42 months.

### Who is eligible to apply?

UK-based data service practitioner communities are eligible, as the call is restricted to GB applicants.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/esrc-future-data-services-joining-up-the-data-service-w-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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