In order to achieve our strategic outcomes we have developed a high-level plan outlining the key priorities we will deliver over the next five years.
Scotland’s national archive is future ready
Why are we changing
Our archive services require significant transformation to operate in the digital age and to once again accept paper records from Scotland’s public bodies.
Customer feedback shows a desire for improved in-person experiences in our buildings. We want to make our services more inclusive, increase accessibility to our records, expand our reach, engage with new audiences and maximise opportunities for income generation.
Strategic Objectives
- Meet the future needs of the national archive by investing in digital preservation and securing long-term storage capacity.
- General Register House to become a destination space for customers that connects people to Scotland’s rich past and present through our archives, records and statistics.
- Representing all of Scotland’s people by ensuring our information, services and collections, and those of the wider Scottish record keeping community, are inclusive.
Our change priorities
- Invest in our physical and digital archive services
- Transform the in-person experience delivering a destination space for customers
- Transform how organisations deposit records with us
What will these changes mean
- Public bodies can deposit their paper and digital archives with us in a straightforward and efficient way.
- Customers can access a complete national archive available in-person and, increasingly, online.
- More opportunities to explore Scotland’s story through inclusive events and exhibitions.
- An improved customer experience in General Register House through repurposing our building, making our spaces more accessible, and providing new services.
- Increased opportunities to capture customer feedback to drive continuous improvement of our services.
Our services enrich the lives of people connected to Scotland and inform public debate
Why are we changing
We want to improve how we collect, manage and share our information and records by making better use of digital technology. This will help us work more efficiently, and
enable easier access to our services.
We want to automate time-consuming tasks to focus on higher value work and respond more quickly to what people need.
We want to deliver new statistical insights which inform decision-making and service planning across Scotland. We want to ensure our products and services remain high quality, accessible and trusted.
Strategic Objectives
- Increasing access to and understanding of the records, data and knowledge we hold and produce.
- Producing innovative and high-quality relevant statistics.
- Representing all of Scotland’s people by ensuring our information, services and collections, and those of the wider Scottish record keeping community, are inclusive.
Our change priorities
- Deliver Scotland’s Census 2031
- Advance statistical service capabilities
- Use technology to deliver more efficient record releases
What will these changes mean
- The plans for delivery of Scotland’s Census 2031 will be built on the step change in how statistical services are delivered.
- Deliver new data-driven insights to inform public debate, support evidence-based policymaking, and strengthen democratic engagement.
- Strengthen our statistical services by building digital systems that are adaptable and reliable, so we can deliver more efficient analysis.
- Improve digital access to records and statistics for our people and communities.
- Deliver archive preservation quality digital images.
- A plan developed with customers to deliver the records they want to access online.
Our services uphold democratic rights and enable people to participate in society
Why are we changing
NRS provides vital services that uphold democratic rights.
Some of our technology and service processes no longer fully meet customer expectations and are not efficient to operate.
Old systems are expensive to run and can’t deliver the fast, reliable services people expect.
By moving to newer technology and redesigning processes, we can create services that
are more efficient, flexible, better for the environment, more accessible and inclusive.
Strategic Objectives
- Modernising registration processes for life events, ensuring ease of use whilst maintaining the integrity of the registers.
- Improving record keeping practice in Scotland to uphold transparency, accountability and access to records among democratic institutions.
- Harnessing digital technology to improve services.
Our change priorities
- Redesign civil registration services
- Improving public sector record keeping
- NHS Central Register service transition
- Ensure all our content is accessible and meets user needs, making it easier to access our services
What will these changes mean
- Better services for the public – more inclusive, responsive, efficient, and easier to access.
- User-friendly digital platforms underpinned by a new digital and data strategy.
- A more efficient registration service across Scotland’s Local Authorities, built around customer needs.
- Improved public sector record keeping practices across Scotland.
- Efficiencies in the delivery of the NHSCR service through digital system improvements.
- Online content and website journeys that are accessible and meet the needs of users.
Our people are empowered and equipped with the right skills
Why are we changing
Our people are our biggest asset.
To deliver the changes set out in this strategy, we need to invest in our people, ensuring we have the capability and capacity needed to deliver change for our customers.
Our people need safe environments to come together, work collaboratively and embed effective flexible working.
Our people also need the right tools and skills to deliver their roles well and enable growth and development.
That means improving how we work together, helping staff navigate change and embedding a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
Strategic Objectives
- Equip and inspire our people to lead meaningful change and deliver better public services.
- Invest in our people by building skills, supporting learning, and strengthening capability.
- Shape NRS so we’re ready for the future - by understanding what we do, how we work, and how we can do it better
Our change priorities
- Our ways of working deliver better outcomes
- Empowering our people
- Building our capabilities
- Improving the workplace environment
What will these changes mean
- Our organisational design will improve outcomes for those who use our services.
- A stronger, more confident workforce – with the skills to adapt, improve and change working practices.
- A supportive, inclusive, and productive culture where people feel valued and empowered to perform to the best of their ability, helping to support their wellbeing.
- Improved workplaces to enable teams to come together and work collaboratively.
- Better succession planning and development opportunities for our people.
Our organisation is sustainable for the future
Why are we changing
To keep delivering our services, we need to be financially sustainable and make the best use of public resources. We have a responsibility to look after our historic and archival buildings. With rising costs, we also need to do our part to protect the environment. That means we must work in new and better ways.
We want to make smarter use of our buildings, change how we use them when it makes sense, and help Scotland reach its net zero goals.
We also want to find new ways to raise income, cut waste, and share resources so we can continue providing important services.
Strategic Objectives
- Improving the efficiency of our organisation.
- Delivering national climate change targets.
- Development of our business to increase income aligned with our values.
- Collaborate with partners to deliver better value in public services.
Our change priorities
- Drive financial sustainability
- Deliver efficiencies linked to service transformation
- Estate optimisation & improvements
- Address climate change
What will these changes mean
- Smarter use of public resources, increasing our income, helping us deliver more value and reduce waste.
- Realising the potential value and longer-term sustainability from our estate through internal improvements and efficiencies.
- Supporting Scotland’s journey to net zero, becoming carbon literate and understanding how everyday actions affect carbon emissions and knowing how to reduce them.
- Working more closely with other public organisations to share resources, to reduce duplication and support wider public service reform across Scotland.
