Classifying UK Local Authorities

This is an aid to classifying UK local authorities. To use it, select a few authorities which fall into your target group (Y), and a number which fall outside (N). We will suggest a list of authorities which we think also fall within your target group.

We use many different parameters to identify the underlying patterns in your selection. You may be surprised by the results.

The classifier is here

Hints:

• Start by classifying a small number of authorities that you feel particularly strongly about. Then add more examples to refine the classification. It is best to pick roughly equal numbers of authorities inside, and outside your target group.
• To begin with we will suggest the most extreme examples which fit the patterns that we detect in your selection. If these suggestions seem ridiculous then classify them yourself, and resubmit the list. This will help us to detect your needs more accurately, and make more appropriate suggestions.
• If you chose to classify in line with our suggestions, the profile will tend to become more extreme. Classifying against our suggestions will tend to make the profile more subtle.
• As you classify more authorities our suggestions should become more valuable to you. If this does not happen, we often find that the target group covers more than one different profile. Try splitting the target list into two separate sub-groups. You can use the same tool, treating one sub-group as "inside" and the other as "outside".
• At present this capability is only available for Local Government in England and Wales. Please get in touch if you are interested in a different target market.