This is our first annual report under our new Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2026–2030. It provides an update on our progress and sets out our next steps for delivery.

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Our 2026–2030 strategy builds on good progress in recent years, ensuring that talented people of all backgrounds thrive at the National Audit Office (NAO), maximising their contribution to our vital mission. Where we have more to do, we have set clear improvement targets, and we will report on progress against them each year.

Key numbers

  • 50% of colleagues are women
  • 31% of colleagues are from ethnic minorities
  • 15% of colleagues report a disability
  • 26% of colleagues are from a lower socio-economic background

Highlights of the year

  • Our latest diversity pay gap report showed that all our mean pay gaps had reduced in the year to March 2025, reflecting a long-term and consistent focus on pay governance.
  • We strengthened transparency by publishing our social mobility pay gap for the first time, enabling us to track whether our policies and practices are supporting equitable progression and reward across socio-economic backgrounds.
  • We introduced equality impact assessments for all procurements and internal major change projects.
  • We participated in KPMG’s Cross Company Allyship Programme, supporting professionals from ethnic minority backgrounds through mentoring and strengthening allyship across the NAO.
  • We published our new 2026–2030 Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Strategy, shaped by colleague engagement, staff networks, leadership input, and detailed analysis of workforce data, ensuring that our priorities are evidence-led and focused on long-term, sustainable change.

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