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Government Digital Service (GDS) guidance defers to the Government Statistical Service (GSS) who are experts in this area.
In June 2021 GSS published new guidance. This is a brief summary of key points:
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Spreadsheets are solely for data. A spreadsheet must not contain large amounts of prose information. Prose information must be published as an HTML web page.
Title page
The title of every worksheet must be positioned in cell A1 and this includes the title of the spreadsheet itself.
Avoid colour or formatting.
Full accessibility avoids logos or images. If a PHE logo is required make sure it has alt text, namely: .Public Health England logo'.
Worksheets
Each worksheet or tab must have a unique and meaningful title.
In cell A1 write the title of the page and make it heading 1. On the Home tab go to Cell Styles and select Heading 1. The GSS guidance explains how to modify heading 1 away from Microsoft's default blue underlined to black and not underlined.
Remove empty rows or columns. If you want to create space between rows use the cursor to drag rows wider and alignment buttons to position the text.
In cell A2 write an explanation of what is on the worksheet, for example: 'This worksheet contains one table and one graph.'
Notes
Marking up tables
GDS style
GOV.UK style applies; for example, no italics, bold etcIn