Expressions of interest must be submitted by Friday 27 March at 23:55pm
The UK Statistics Authority is pleased to open expressions of interest for membership of the new Social Survey Strategic Forum, launching in April 2026.
The Forum has been established to bring together senior strategic leaders from across government, the social research sector, and wider survey organisations. Its purpose is to create a shared space for open dialogue, collective problem solving, and strategic alignment across the UK’s social survey landscape.
The date of the first meeting is 22 April 2026.
Attendance will be in person at a London venue, full address to be confirmed via formal invitation once membership has been confirmed.
Commenting on the Forum, Penny Young, Interim Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, said:
“The Social Survey Strategic Forum provides an important opportunity for senior leaders across the sector to work together on the shared challenges facing social surveys. I strongly encourage organisations with significant expertise and a stake in the future of social surveys to engage with this Forum and help shape a sustainable, trusted social survey system for the UK.”
About the Forum
The Social Survey Strategic Forum provides a platform for senior leaders to explore the major challenges and opportunities facing the survey sector. Organisations across the UK are navigating similar pressures, from declining response rates and rising operational costs, to challenges in public trust and increasing demand for high-quality, inclusive data. At the same time, emerging opportunities such as technological innovation and the use of administrative and digital data offer new ways to strengthen survey quality and efficiency.
Through this Forum, members will work together to:
- Share insights, evidence and experience on shared challenges across the Survey Sector.
- Promote best practice and innovation in survey design, delivery and respondent engagement.
- Strengthen collaboration to improve the quality, robustness and sustainability of UK social survey data.
The Forum will be chaired by the National Statistician (Interim Chair: Alex Lambert, Director of Social Surveys), with secretariat support provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Who the Forum is for
This is an invitation to senior strategic leaders across the survey sector, including:
- Government departments and devolved administrations
- National statistical institutes
- Independent research organisations
- Academic centres specialising in survey methods or social research
- Industry bodies and leading survey providers
To ensure balance and meaningful participation, organisations are asked to nominate one senior strategic representative.
Membership and selection criteria
While the Forum is open for expressions of interest, membership will be confirmed based on clear and transparent criteria. These include:
- Holding a senior strategic leadership role within your organisation
- Demonstrable expertise and experience in the survey sector
- Evidence of strategic influence—such as leading survey transformation, shaping organisational strategy, or contributing to sector wide initiatives
- Professional recognition or relevant accreditation (e.g., MRS, RSS) may also be considered
- Ensuring broad and equitable representation across organisations
Membership will be reviewed annually, with the membership list published on the Authority website.
Transparency and openness
The Forum will operate transparently.
Agendas, papers, and minutes will be published on the Authority website shortly after each meeting.
The full Terms of Reference for the Social Survey Strategic Forum provide further detail on governance, scope and ways of working.
Please direct any queries to the ONS Social Survey Strategy Team at survey.strategy.qhub@ons.gov.uk.
Registering your interest
If you would like to be considered for membership of the Social Survey Strategic Forum, please submit an expression of interest via email to survey.strategy.qhub@ons.gov.uk.
You should include:
- Full name
- Organisation details
- Job title
- Evidence of expertise in the survey sector (For example, length of service or any professional qualifications held)
- A short 250-word statement of interest detailing why you would like to be considered as a member
To be considered for attendance at the 22 April meeting, expressions of interest must be submitted by Friday 27 March.
Any applications received after this date will be considered for ongoing membership beyond April.
All expressions of interest will be reviewed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Applicants will be notified in early April once membership decisions have been confirmed, and a formal invitation to the 22 April meeting will be issued.
Once membership has been approved, all members will be required to submit a conflict-of-interest form provided by the ONS. This form must be completed and returned before attending the 22 April meeting.