National Records of Scotland has published its Corporate Plan for 2026–2031, setting out how the organisation will deliver its strategic priorities over the next five years.
The plan translates NRS's long-term strategy into clear, funded commitments. It outlines what will be delivered, how success will be measured, and how the organisation will deliver value for our customers and stakeholders.
The Corporate Plan covers seven areas of delivery:
- Modernising civil registration services, including developing a prototype digital death registration service to improve accessibility and efficiency for people registering life events.
- Collecting, preserving and enhancing access to Scotland's National Archive, including transforming General Register House into a destination space for visitors and researchers.
Delivering Scotland's Census 2031, with a census test in 2027 and a full rehearsal in 2029.
- Enhancing critical data infrastructure that underpins healthcare, local government and public services across Scotland.
- Modernising IT and data capabilities, improving resilience, cybersecurity and digital services.
- Building the capability and capacity of NRS people to support new skills and agile ways of working.
- Sustaining and future-proofing the estate, including essential repairs to historic buildings and progress towards Scotland's Net Zero 2045 commitments.
Alison Byrne OBE, Chief Executive, said:
"I'm delighted to publish the Corporate Plan today. NRS plays a vital role in Scottish public life, holding and protecting Scotland's national records, delivering trusted population statistics, and providing the civil registration services that underpin everyday life, from births and deaths to marriages and civil partnerships.
"The Corporate Plan ensures our strategic ambition to reform and modernise our services can be delivered over the coming years.”
