We are the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford. We take huge datasets and turn them into traditional academic research papers; but we also build live, interactive data-driven tools and services for everyone to use. We are a mixed team of software developers, clinicians and academics; we pool skills, knowledge, and best practice from each of these three disciplines. We use modern, open methods, sharing all analysis and platform code online to support reproducibility, trust, and efficient re-use. When we encounter technical, regulatory, or organisational blockers to the better use of data, we don’t give up: we share practical policy insights, to help keep things moving for everyone.