The NHS Benchmarking Network, in partnership with the NHS England Workforce, Training and Education Directorate (NHSE WT&E), delivers the national Workforce Benchmarking Programme. This initiative supports health and care organisations to understand that their workforce is the right size, in the right place, and has the right skills, crucial elements in delivering safe, high-quality care and meeting the ambitions set out in national policy.

Evidence-based workforce planning relies on high-quality, detailed, and comprehensive data. Therefore, the NHS Benchmarking Network and the NHS England Workforce, Training & Education Directorate (NHSE WT&E) encourage eligible organisations to participate in the censuses.

Key Principles for 2025/26 Programme

• Data collection is seamless and straightforward, reducing the chances of data entry errors

• Data burden on participants is reduced wherever possible

• Combine programme data to produce unique solutions

• High-quality and timely outputs

• Not for performance monitoring purposes

• NHSBN Workforce Census is recognised as the trusted source of workforce benchmarking data

• The significant role Non-NHS Participants across health and social care play in the delivery of services is recognised

• Effective collaboration between NHSBN and NHSE

• Participant engagement is put into focus