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Guiding Values and Principles

CSO Corporate Report, 22 January 2026, 11:00 AM

CSO Values

The following CSO values, lived by our people, are central to how we deliver this strategy.

CSO Values
Independence	We are objective, impartial and always act with integrity.
Trustworthiness	We are honest and transparent. We comply with international statistical standards and deliver high quality products and services in an ethical manner.
Excellence in Public Service	We use our expertise to deliver an efficient, value for money, quality public service.
Leading Change	We are ambitious, innovative, adaptive and work in a collaborative manner to improve processes and products. We are engaged with our stakeholders and help others to serve the public.
Confidentiality	We apply the highest standards of confidentiality and respect for data privacy.

Guiding Principles

The CSO’s values underpin the Data Strategy, informing the guiding principles that define our approach to data leadership. These principles operate within an environment of increasing demand for data, Official Statistics and statistical expertise, as outlined in the Environmental Analysis section, and provide the basis for the strategy’s actions and deliverables.

Guiding Principles
Independence and Authority	This strategy reinforces our independence. The CSO remains the authority on official statistics under the Statistics Act 1993. Our leadership in the data ecosystem is about guiding responsible use. We continue to set the standards for statistical quality and data integrity.
Allignment with CSO Values	The CSO stands for trust, rigour, and impartiality. This strategy leverages the evolution of the CSO’s work across the broader CPS strengthening these attributes.
Empowering staff	This strategy is about enabling our teams to work smarter, with better tools, clearer structures, and more support. Thematic-focused divisions and Data Services Coordinators will help reduce duplication, improve collaboration, and allow staff to focus on high-value analysis and innovation to deliver increased insight for all users of Official Statistics.
Collaboration with Respect to Boundaries	We will continue to collaborate with other CPS bodies to support improved data access and use, but always within a framework that protects CSO’s statutory role and the confidentiality of our data. Partnerships will continue to be governed by clear agreements that define roles, responsibilities, and boundaries.
Preparing the CSO for the Future	The volume and complexity of data demands a modern, responsive approach. By building on our strengths, this strategy prepares the CSO for the future, ensuring we remain relevant, resilient, and ready to meet new challenges in the evolving work of Official Statistics and the data that underpins CSO’s outputs and services. The strategy also enhances the value of primary data collection by focussing on topics where it can add the most value and reducing respondent burden through a targeted approach.

Next chapter: CSO Data Strategy Pillars

Guiding Values and Principles