The OS publication scheme

Information about what we do and how we do it is readily available via our publication scheme

You can find everything you need to know about what we do below.

If you can’t find the information you need in our publication scheme, or elsewhere on the website, then you can make a request for information in line with Freedom of Information Act 2000, or Environmental Information Regulation 2004.

Who we are and what we do

What we spend and how

  • Annual report and accounts - Download our latest annual report and accounts. They include information on budgets, loans, capital programme and our financial statements. 
  • Corporate expenditure - We publish details of expenditure over £25,000, including costs, supplier and transaction information for the current year, by month and the past three years. We are no longer required to publish details of expenditure for items over £500.
  • Allowances and expenses - Expenses for all OS staff for the current year and last three years are available. This covers accommodation, travel and subsistence.
  • Pay and grading structures - We reward employees competitively based on their contributions to the overall success of the organisation. Our pay and performance philosophy is underpinned by the following principles:
    • External market
    • Internal relativity
    • Individual performance
    • Budget
  • More information, including our Directors' pay, the 'pay multiple, and our pay and awards features in our annual reports and accounts.
  • Procurement - Find out details on:
    • Procurement Contracts over £25,000
    • Current opportunities
    • Guide for suppliers
    • Purchase orders Terms
    • Supplier code of conduct
    • Key suppliers.

Our priorities and how we are doing

We report annually to Parliament via our annual reports. These include further information on our priorities and performance, including our annual financial statement.

Download our latest annual report and accounts.

How we make decisions

Our Board of Directors is the main decision-making board for Ordnance Survey.

  • Terms of reference – Find out details of the governance structure of OS.
  • Annual report and accounts – Find a summary of OS Board’s activities and how they operate in the annual report and accounts. Along with the Chief Executive Officer’s statement and the Chairman’s statement.

Our policies and procedures

Lists and registers

  • Disclosure log – View responses to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act and Environment Information Regulation for the current year and the last three years.
  • Gifts and hospitality – Download information showing gifts and hospitality returns. This information is published for the last three years annually.
  • Register of interests – view details of declarations of interest.
  • Place of deposit:

Ordnance Survey works with The National Archives (TNA) to ensure the appropriate deposit of documents and records with the relevant national archives, under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 as amended by the Public Records Act 1967 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We are also accredited by TNA as a designated distributed 'Place of Deposit' for annual digital copies of the National Geographical Database.

We also deposit copies of all of our published paper maps with the Legal Deposit Libraries under the terms of the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 and deposit copies of published digital map data with the Legal Deposit Libraries under the Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013.

Contact information for the Legal Deposit Libraries and information about access to historic mapping can be obtained on our historical map archives page.

  • CCTV

We have CCTV at our Adanac Park site for the prevention and detection of crime.

The services we offer

See who uses our data and find out how we can help our customers with OS products and services. 

Outdoors

Whether you're planning a walk, hike, run or ride; download the OS Maps app to start exploring and help you get more from your time outside. Visit the OS Shop to browse our full map range, and wall displays; as well as books and outdoor gear.

OS Maps subscriptions
Shop

General public

We provide mapping information and guidance for a range of topics such as property boundaries, planning application maps, election maps, and more. 

Information enquiries
Land ownership and property boundaries

Government and public sector

Learn how OS delivers critical infrastructure and services across Britain. From blue lights to streetlights, our location data makes a positive difference to public services and decision-making every day.  

Learn more about government and public sector
Public Sector Geospatial Agreement

Businesses

Transform your business by driving efficiencies with geospatial data insight. Our location expertise and products, through our network of Partners can help you build a scalable, more future-focused business. 

Business solutions
Utilities and telecoms

Education

Browse a broad range of resources to help you teach and meet the national geography curriculum. Get help with map reading and geographical information systems (GIS).

Education resources
Mapzone

OS data 

Discover the OS data products and learn about geographic information systems (GIS), helping us to visualise and analyse map data. 

Our data products
Discover GIS

Geospatial services 

In addition to our range of data and products, our services are in place to help you unlock the power of location data. Learn how geospatial data services can benefit your organisation.

Our services
Consultancy services

Environmental information

In August 2021 Ordnance Survey achieved ISO14001:2015 certification for our Environmental Management System. This was awarded by BSI under certificate number EMS 741488.

In line with the Environmental and Sustainability policy and Greening Government Commitments, Ordnance Survey will disclose its environmental and sustainability performance on this website via the following:

  • Annual reports - Provides sustainability information (see 'Sustainability' within the report). This covers the following:
    • Greenhouse gas emissions
    • Business travel (fleet, air and rail, flights etc)
    • Water and paper consumption
    • Waste
    • Sustainable procurement
    • Sustainability intiatives
    • Anti-slavery policy
    • Future looking
  • Environmental and Sustainability policy
  • You can make a request for specific environmental information, as permissible under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. 

FOI and EIR compliance statistics

Every year we publish statistical information in relation to our performance on handling requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). 

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