The City HR Benchmarking Survey 2026 has now been launched.
Featuring state-of-the-art technologies with a new technical services provider.The survey is conducted on a biennial basis and since its inception in 2008 has been regarded as the definitive source for understanding HR activities and perspectives within financial institutions and broader City firms. It identifies policies, practices and trends which enable people leaders to instigate employee practices within their own firms based on trusted analytics for evidence-based decision making.
Now in its 10th edition, the survey not only sets out to identify best practice relating to people practices but will also embrace the changes in the world of work in terms of AI and digitalisation
Whilst the survey is still owned, managed and delivered by the Association, we are being supported by PwC as our technical service provider. This is an exciting step for the survey, which was introduced in 2008 for the benefit of its members and market leading firms across all disciplines within financial services.
Key Features of the new City HR Survey Approach
Survey Administration via City HR with a member-led Steering Committee to set the questionnaire. City HR will be responsible for all communications including the distribution of confidential results to participants
Survey Processing through an enhanced platform which will collate data using licensed technology, enabling a more seamless data collection process
Data Hosting and Security Maintenance using secure databases
Data Validation will be verbally undertaken by City HR, quality assured using relevant technologies
Utilising new and emerging technologies such as AI to accelerate report and insight generation the survey will produce the:
- All Participants Report which amalgamates all submissions
- Peer Group Reports with results separated out for identified peer groups
- Executive Summary Report providing an immediate “at-a-glance” overview of all results
- Key Findings Report with the main highlights to discuss with the CEO, CPO and team
A respondent-locked interactive dashboard developed for the City HR Benchmarking Programme, see samples below.
A respondent-locked interactive dashboard developed for the City HR Benchmarking Programme, to be shared with individual participants to access their data and benchmark results
Survey Approach
HR leaders from member firms and past participants are invited to join the enhanced survey and to nominate a representative for the Benchmarking Steering Group.
The Benchmarking Steering Group, comprising past and future data contributors, set the questionnaire and test the technology for ease and robustness.
Organisations select a peer group which best fits the size, business and culture of their organisation.
Participants are provided with Benchmarking Security Factsheet listing technologies and data storage facilities that are being utilised, prior to submitting their data.
To enable data from this survey to be incorporated into wider aggregated datasets, participants will need to agree that their data can be used in an aggregated anonymised format and be legitimately stored on our third-party service provider’s systems for this purpose, as well as the purpose outlined in the City HR Benchmarking Programme. Further details will be provided in our terms and conditions which will be shared prior to confirmation of participation.
Each participant is sent a questionnaire via a secure survey link and given a six-week timeframe in which to enter their data. For most users, the survey can be stopped and saved at any time with the ability to re-enter until making their final submission. However, as with past surveys, a quick test is recommended to ensure there are no internal firewalls or search engines which may restrict this activity. The data is considered highly confidential; the outputs of the benchmarking will be aggregated, no individual data shared with participants, and no organisations will be identified in results, other than in the Participants List. The data is quality assured and rigorously verified both during and after data collection, and following analysis, producing four interactive pdf reports as highlighted in the inset box above.
Core Questions
Every edition carries some core questions which enable City HR to track trends through longitudinal data and also carries added value questions which represent those issues impacting organisations now or in the future. Examples of survey content may include:
HR leaders from member firms and past participants are invited to join the enhanced survey and to nominate a representative for the Benchmarking Steering Group.
The structure of HR: now and future alongside ratio of HR staff to employees
Reward strategy: base, variable and benefits (including pensions) and pay gap reporting
Talent strategies: attraction methods and “hot jobs”; performance management, succession planning and employee development from school leavers and apprentices through to leadership and HR
Family Friendly Policies: maternity/paternity leave/IVF Treatment, Carer’s Leave and approaches to male and female wellbeing
Culture and ESG initiatives including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
AI and the Skills agenda: how firms are preparing for the future of work
Added Value Questions
The changing shape of reward with the evolving UK regulatory background
Approaches to Pay Transparency in the EU and beyond
Non-financial Misconduct: how are firms managing this?
The future of SMCR
The role of HR in making the business “future ready”
Emerging people issues
Topics outlined above are indicative and subject to change following our member-led steering committee.
Timeline
Participation Fees
- Participants sign-up by early June 2026
- Participants survey completion by end August 2026
- Results published by late November 2026*
*subject to all firms submitting on time
The Survey Team
The survey team comprises the following individuals:
Meena Anand, CEO, City HR – Programme Director with overall responsibility for the survey
Jon Kudlick, Membership and Operations Lead, City HR – Operational Support
The previous City HR delivery team will be on hand in this transitional year to provide support to the technical service provider and participating organisations.
The survey will be published in both digital report format and via an interactive dashboard, which is locked for each individual firm to ensure security. This enhanced facility is included for participants at the following prices:
Member Firms:
£3500 plus VAT for firms with under 1000 staff in the UK
£4200 plus VAT for firms with more than 1000 staff in the UK
Non-Member Firms:
£4200 plus VAT for firms with under 1000 staff in the UK
£5000 plus VAT for firms with more than 1000 staff in the UK