Sam Butler

Graduated with Mathematics 2018

Current role

Lead Data Engineer, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government

What was your career path after graduating?

After graduating, I joined an insurance software company as a graduate developer, focusing on user interface design. It wouldn’t have been my first choice, but the role strengthened my coding skills and taught me how to collaborate effectively on complex software projects.

I then joined the Civil Service as a statistician, where I was responsible for publishing data on police-recorded crime in England and Wales. My work included identifying crime hotspots, evaluating policing methods, and during COVID-19 I published a paper on how Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were being issued disproportionately across different demographics.

In 2021, I moved into consultancy, delivering technical solutions for national security, defence, and policing clients. I led a range of projects—from analysing wastewater data during COVID, to using machine learning to geolocate photographs, to generating synthetic data for testing AI models when real data was too sensitive to use. I also led the AI engagement with the National Crime Agency, advising senior leaders on the emerging risks and opportunities of new AI models.

Last year, I returned to the public sector to join MHCLG, where I now focus on improving local government through data and analytics.

I’ve always enjoyed working in and around the public sector— the problems are complex and ever-changing, and the solutions you deliver have a tangible impact on people’s lives.

Please tell us about your current job role.

I work on providing high-quality data and engineering solutions to support analysis that assesses and improves the performance of local government. Local Authorities in England are responsible for a wide range of essential services—from housing and social care to roads, parking, and parks—spending over £60 billion each year delivering them. My team helps ensure that data-driven insights guide how these services are managed and improved.

What one piece of advice would you give our current students regarding employability?

Be open to stepping outside your comfort zone. Some of the best opportunities come from saying yes to roles or projects that don’t seem like an obvious fit at first. A maths degree gives you strong problem-solving skills and the resilience to approach unfamiliar problems methodically—even when you can’t solve them straight away.  That mindset makes you adaptable, and employers really value people who can stay calm and keep learning when things are new or difficult.