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Compare your areas across different datasets using the Local Insight dashboard

Local Insight’s dashboard gives you an at-a-glance view of the latest data for any of the Custom Areas you create and shows how they compare across a range of indicators, allowing you to identify patterns and priorities and the latest update to the dashboard makes it more consistent and accessible for everyone.

 

What’s new within the dashboard?

Until now, the map module and the dashboard used slightly different logic when colouring indicators. The map already reversed colours for indicators where a higher value is better (for example, employment or educational attainment). The dashboard now follows the same principle.

This means that for a dataset where the higher figure is “better” – such as the Index of Multiple Deprivation, the colour scale reverses to reflect this. 

You’ll see this change in the dashboard’s indicator tiles and tables, making it clearer at a glance where there are numbers that are worth paying attention to.

The legend has also been simplified. Following user feedback, we’ve replaced high, medium and low labels with colour cues – offering a comprehensive explanation of how the colouring works:

Please note, there are many “neutral” indicators in Local Insight (e.g. demographic indicators) where a higher number is not necessarily better or worse. In these cases, the colour cues simply denote the higher number.

 

Making comparisons with the dashboard

Support internal reporting and presentations

When presenting regular summaries or briefings, you can use screenshots or exports from the dashboard to bring Local Insight’s comparisons into your work. 

Monitor local performance more confidently

Analysts and policy teams can use the updated dashboard to quickly identify where outcomes are improving or lagging. With the colour logic now consistent across the map and dashboard, it’s easier to present findings to stakeholders without needing to explain what  high, medium and low means – and just point to the areas that stand out.

 

Start using the updated dashboard

Head to Local Insight, open the Dashboard from the sidebar, and explore your indicators with the improved colour logic and clearer visual design.

For guidance on using and interpreting dashboard data, visit the Help Centre.

If you don’t have a Local Insight subscription, book a demo today to see the latest features in action and receive a free two-week trial.

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