Why this plan matters
ONS statistics inform some of the UK's most important decisions. They shape government policy, support business investment and help the public understand the economy and society.
The ONS has a clear mission to deliver trustworthy, independent, high-quality statistics for the UK. This plan sets out how we will do that from 2026 to 2029.
Our focus: quality over quantity
The ONS will continue to strengthen the quality, timeliness and resilience of our statistics by focusing on quality over quantity and building sustainable capabilities that allow us to keep improving.
Our Plan sets out a disciplined, transparent approach to delivering and improving the statistics that matter most – and a responsible way of sequencing our complex change so we can sustain progress.
Our new tiering model for ONS outputs based on the level of expected impact on users and the decisions they inform. This helps us regularly review and prioritise work, and ensure quality improvements are directed where needed most.
In addition, we are introducing a "Waiting Room" model to ensure our complex improvements and change activity are delivered when the ONS has the capacity and capability to sustain them. It also means we can be more transparent and realistic in what we can deliver, so we can secure confidence from our users.
Our commitment is straightforward: dependable statistics, communicated clearly; rigorous stewardship of public money, and a modern, high-performing ONS that supports better decision-making across the UK.
What we aim to achieve by 2029
Three outcomes underpin our ambition for what we aim to achieve:
Improved quality and trustworthiness in what we publish.
Statistics and data that are timely and relevant to national priorities.
An organisation that is efficient, resilient and adaptable.
Our priorities
To achieve this, we will focus on three interdependent strategic objectives:
Deliver and continuously improve an agreed portfolio of critical statistics.
Deliver agreed essential services of a National Statistics Office that support the use of our data and statistics.
Build the essential capability improvements required by the ONS today and in the future.
How we are modernising
The ONS is modernising how we work to improve productivity and reduce risks. To do this, we are building essential capability across our people, culture, data and technology.
In particular we are improving how the ONS processes and produces statistics by exploring and embedding new technologies, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence. We are also making greater use of administrative data, which allows us to produce statistics more efficiently and with less burden on the businesses and households we survey.
Keeping you informed
This Business Plan is intentionally outcome-led and transparent so that we are reporting progress openly, including about what we have delivered, what has changed and why, ensuring that resources, risk and benefits remain balanced.
We want to continue to hear from you to inform our priorities and ensure our statistics focus on what matters most. We use a variety of channels to gather feedback, including our website and digital communications, newsletters, advisory groups, consultations and events.
If you have questions or feedback, contact us at External.Affairs@ons.gov.uk.