Statistics
The Science Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network publishes statistics on the work of the national laboratories: samples analysed, instruments calibrated, reference materials issued, written advices given, and the environmental measurements recorded across the Network. This first release covers the transition period from 10 August to 5 September 2026, during which member organisations transferred their laboratory functions to the Department, and records the position at establishment on 6 September 2026.
The figures are drawn from the laboratories' working records, kept under the interim arrangements during the transition, and from the Department's register of instruments and standards. Figures for the transition period are provisional and will be revised in later releases where late records are received.
The position at establishment. The figures below record the Department at the point of establishment.
- 214
- Scientists, engineers and technical staff at establishment
- 6
- National laboratories opening at the principal sites between 7 and 11 September 2026
- 12
- Reference standards of measurement held in the Department's custody
- 5
- Standing advisory committees appointed to advise the Network
Of the 214 staff at establishment, 168 are scientists and analysts, 31 are engineers and technicians responsible for the maintenance of instruments and standards, and 15 form the Department's secretariat. The twelve reference standards in the Department's custody are listed on the Reference Standards and Calibration page; the five committees appointed on the day of establishment are described on the Scientific Advice page.
Activity during the transition. Before the Department's laboratories opened as a single network, work continued under interim arrangements at the principal sites. The activity recorded under those arrangements is shown below.
| Service | 10 to 23 August | 24 August to 5 September | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 3,410 | 3,930 | 7,340 |
| Instruments calibrated | 1,120 | 1,294 | 2,414 |
| Reference materials issued | 286 | 342 | 628 |
| Written advices issued to member organisations | 19 | 22 | 41 |
| Environmental measurements recorded | 84,600 | 91,200 | 175,800 |
The rise in analyses between the two halves of the period reflects the completion of the transfer of laboratory records and the resumption of routine submissions. The rise in recorded environmental measurements reflects monitoring stations brought into service at Westbrook and Southbank; the counts include every reading recorded, and not every reading distinct from its neighbours.
Capacity from September 2026. The figures below record the capacity the Department has established for its first months of operation.
- 1,260
- Sample analyses the network can complete each month from September 2026
- 480
- Instrument calibrations completed each month by the Calibration Laboratory
- 12,600
- Environmental readings recorded each month by the monitoring network
- 97%
- Instruments calibrated within the stated turnaround during the transition
| Laboratory | Capacity each month | Usual turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 640 | 15 working days |
| Materials and Structures Laboratory | 380 | 20 working days |
| Biological Reference Laboratory | 240 | 20 working days |
| Calibration Laboratory | 480 calibrations | 5 to 10 working days by service |
| Environmental Measurement Laboratory | 12,600 recorded readings | Continuous |
| National Measurement Laboratory | Standard comparisons | By programme |
Capacity is stated for the opening months and will be reviewed in the light of demand and of the first proficiency round, to be held in November 2026. The Department will publish statistics quarterly. The next release, covering the quarter ending 30 September 2026, will be published in October 2026 and announced in the Newsroom. For the register of the laboratories themselves, see National Laboratories; for the milestones of the reporting cycle, see History. Questions about these figures may be sent to contact@science.gov.vin.