In 2018 the National Audit Office (NAO) launched a new Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategy for the three years to 2021 and refreshed our D&I governance to provide a stronger framework of accountability. These developments are designed to accelerate our rate of progress in areas where we have made less tangible impact, help support our aspiration to build a diverse talent pipeline, and create a culture of fairness and inclusion.
Jump to downloadsThe D&I Annual Report 2019-20 focuses on our achievements in the second year of our new strategy. In 2019, we launched our first diversity mentoring scheme which is giving NAO leaders a much richer insight into the experience of colleagues from diverse backgrounds. We have demonstrated our own ability to work flexibly and supportively through the Covid-19 lockdown, with our staff reporting feeling well supported in working virtually and appreciative of the effort we have made to focus on the health and well-being of our people.
We continue to publish studies that highlight inequalities in the way public services are delivered. In the coming year, we will further develop our value for money approach to better address the experience of diverse groups in society, including the impacts of Covid-19, to build a compelling body of work around these issues, and to share our learning and insights.
As we head into the final year of our current three-year D&I strategy, we will be consulting widely to understand what matters most to those who work at the NAO and where we are falling short of expectation. Our next three-year D&I strategy, which will cover the period 2021–24, will set out new systematic improvements, supported by ambitious targets and well thought through actions, to support our commitment to faster progress in our key areas.
Being a respectful and inclusive organisation is not a destination or an accomplishment in itself, but is at the heart of all that we do, allowing us to understand, respect and value the views and experiences of all our people. The NAO is committed to becoming an exemplar employer in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion, embracing the unique qualities that our people offer, and together creating a fantastic place to work and an organisation that values being a diverse,inclusive and healthy workplace.