The FRC is beginning work on a comprehensive workforce strategy. The FRC told us this will represent a long-term plan including routes into local audit starting with championing public sector audit among people at university and college. When we challenged the FRC on how long it might take for people to emerge as senior auditors the FRC conceded it was a long-term plan.63 The Department is confident that the new audit contracts will offer firms the certainty to start planning their own pipelines to bring these new staff through the system.64 We also received evidence highlighting the importance of workforce planning for local government finance staff. Local authority representative groups described concerns with the recruitment and retention of skilled finance staff.65 Local audit providers also emphasised the need for a pipeline to develop future finance staff.66 The FRC expects to publish its workforce strategy in autumn 2023.67 55 Qq 80–81 56 C&AG’s Report, Paras 3.9, 3.10; Q17 57 Q 17 58 Q 24 59 Q 17 60 Qq 82–83 61 Q 42 62 TAR0014 63 Qq 82, 83 64 Q 27 65 TAR0007, TAR0008, TAR0013 66 TAR0001 67 Q 28 Timeliness of local auditor reporting 15 System leadership