FOI release

FOI2026/00379: Net Zero Staff and Consultant Spending

Case reference FOI2026/00379

Received 23 April 2026

Published 22 May 2026

Request

Request received 23 April 2026:

From the last 3 financial year’s budgeted figures (2022/23, 23/24, 24/25): 
 
1. Climate-related posts 
 
a) The number of posts if any (headcount, and FTE where recorded) employed with job titles that include any of the following terms: 
 
Climate; Net Zero; Sustainability; Carbon; Emissions; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Climate Action; Climate Policy; Climate Programme; Climate Project; Climate Data; Climate Reporting; Climate Adaptation; Climate Resilience; Energy and Climate; Sustainable Procurement; Green Finance; Green. 
 
2. Cost of those posts 
 
The total employment cost for the posts (if any) identified in Question 1, including salary and employer on-costs (e.g. pension and National Insurance), as recorded. 
 
3. External consultants 
 
The total amount paid during the same financial year to external consultants, companies, or contractors where the expenditure is recorded under any cost centre, project code, budget line, or purchase description that includes one or more of the following terms: 
 
Climate; Net Zero; Sustainability; Carbon; Emissions; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Climate Action; Climate Policy; Climate Programme; Climate Project; Climate Data; Climate Reporting; Climate Adaptation; Climate Resilience; Energy and Climate; Sustainable Procurement; Green Finance; Green. 
 
This should include, but not be limited to, expenditure coded to professional services, consultancy, advisory services, or specialist support. 
 
If you do not record expenditure in this way, please provide the closest equivalent recorded information held (for example, totals by relevant cost centre or project). 
 
If any information requested is not held, please state this clearly. If figures are held only in aggregated form, please provide the aggregated figures. Estimates derived from recorded financial information are acceptable. 
 
If complying with this request would exceed the cost limit under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act, please disregard point 3. 
 

Please provide the information requested above in the following table format, where held: 
Financial Year 
Job Title 
Staff Costs including on-costs (£) 
Headcount 
Consultant Spend 

Response

Response sent: 22 May 2026

Full details of this response are provided in the attached document.

Documents

This is UK Research and Innovation's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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