Key performance measure 9

‘We will mobilise the diversity, talents and commitment of OfS staff to deliver efficient, effective and impactful regulation, ensuring value for the taxpayers and institutions that fund our work.’ (The OfS strategy 2025 to 2030)

This KPM tracks the ratio between spending on core regulatory activities and spending on enabling services.

Monitoring this ratio over time provides an indication of how OfS funding is directed, and the extent to which resources support activities that deliver direct regulatory impact for students and taxpayers. Any increase in the relative cost of enabling services does not necessarily signal inefficiency, and any changes should be considered in the context of wider organisational pressures and system requirements.

KPM 9 shows a downward trend in enabling spend compared to core regulatory spend. Over the 2023-24 financial year, £0.72 was spent on enabling functions for each £1 spent on core regulatory activities. This fell in each subsequent year to £0.70 in 2024-25 and £0.63 in 2025-26.  This shows the balance of expenditure has shifted towards core regulatory activity.

This KPM shows spending on enabling activity for each £1 spent on core regulatory activity. It is calculated annually and covers the financial year from April to the following March.

Core regulatory activities directly deliver regulatory outcomes, while enabling activity includes corporate and organisational support roles and other spending associated with this work.

Spending on the Strategic Priorities Grant, capital expenditure and internal recharges that would distort functional allocations are excluded.

Download the data for KPM 9