RCUK have recently implemented changes to the Je-S System to enable ORCID IDs to be connected to a user’s account or to create one via Je-S if they don’t already have one. An ORCID ID is a unique string of numbers (a digital identifier) that distinguishes a researcher. ORCID offers a platform for researchers to capture scholarly activities throughout their career even if they change name, publish under different variations of a name, move institutions, or switch fields. This helps get exposure and recognition for work. Increasingly it will also be a tool to link and re-use research information unambiguously across multiple systems whether that’s for funders, publishers or the researcher’s organisation.

Further information can be found at the following links:
http://blogs.rcuk.ac.uk/2016/05/23/researchers-can-now-create-or-connect-their-orcid-identifier-in-the-research-councils-grants-system-je-s/
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/news/160523/

The Research Councils are currently working on development of a replacement system for Je-S and capture/usage of the ORCID ID will also be part of this.