A big THANK YOU to everyone who joined us a couple of weeks ago for our Data Event at WRK digital!

At WRK, building the Data @ WRK community is something we’re really passionate about, bringing together people who are solving similar challenges, sharing ideas, and learning from each other in a genuinely open way.

So it was fantastic to see a full room of data leaders and specialists from organisations including Evri, TPT, Morrisons and the DWP

The energy in the room was brilliant from the start, lots of honest conversations, shared experiences, and different perspectives on a topic that touches every organisation right now.

We had a really engaging session focused on a question that always sparks debate:
“How should Data Governance support the modern organisation?”

 

Setting the Scene

We kicked things off with a simple but telling question:

What’s your honest reaction when you hear ‘Data Governance’?

And as expected… the room quickly landed on themes like:

• Bureaucracy
• Slow delivery
• Central teams disconnected from the business 

This set the tone for a really open discussion because clearly, there’s a gap between what Data Governance should be and how it’s often experienced.

 

Why This Conversation Matters Right Now

One of the biggest themes from the session was why Data Governance is suddenly back in focus.

A lot of it comes down to the reality organisations are facing with AI and data:

• Can we trust the outputs?
• Do we understand the data behind decisions?
• Who is accountable?
• How quickly can we fix issues? 

AI is exposing the cracks in data foundations that have been there for years.

 

Insights, Advice & Takeaways

The session was exactly what these events are all about, honest conversations, shared challenges, and practical thinking.

A few key takeaways that really stood out:

Data Governance isn’t a tech problem

It’s a people, process, and behaviour challenge — which is why so many initiatives struggle. 

Start with real business problems

The most successful approaches don’t begin with frameworks — they start with what actually matters to the business. 

Top-down + bottom-up is key

You need leadership for direction, but real traction comes from working with teams on the ground. 

Solve problems people care about

Adoption happens when governance genuinely makes people’s jobs easier and builds trust in data. 

Start small and move fast

Forget boiling the ocean — focus on priority areas, prove value, and scale from there. 

 

What Actually Works

One of the most interesting discussions was around what hasn’t worked historically vs what does.

The shift is clear:

Moving away from centralised, policy-led approaches
Towards practical, embedded governance that evolves with the business

It’s less about control and more about enabling better decisions.

 

What This Means for the Market

From my perspective as a data recruiter, this shift is already shaping hiring conversations.

The demand isn’t just for technical capability anymore, it’s for people who can:

• Work closely with business stakeholders
• Translate data into meaningful insight
• Embed governance into day-to-day delivery
• Drive adoption, not just design frameworks

 

Couldn’t Make It?

If you missed the session but would like a copy of the slides or want to chat through some of the themes we discussed, feel free to drop me a message, always happy to share.

 

Until Next Time…

Massive thanks again to everyone who joined and contributed, these sessions are all about bringing the data community together to share, challenge, and learn from each other.

Looking forward to the next one already