Small area estimation methodologies are widely used across a variety of disciplines and there is growing interest and demand from policy makers in making more effective use of them. Adam Whitworth from the University of Sheffield talks to Chris Garrington about the NCRM-funded network set up to try to improve consensus and increase understanding in this important area. Read a methodological review paper 'Evaluations and improvements in small area estimation methodologies' by Whitworth et al or find out more about the network on the Evaluating and improving small area estimation methods project website.