MRS Awards 2021

In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to remind business, government and society that the research sector is vital to the economy and for giving a voice to citizens and consumers.

The MRS Awards 2021 draw attention to research’s ability to drive innovation, inspire change and deliver results and make a clear statement about our existence and the strength with which we will emerge from a time of crisis.

The winners were announced via a virtual ceremony on Monday 6 December. 

Download the MRS Awards book to read the judges’ citations for all of this year’s winners

MRS President’s Medal

WINNER
Professor Yvonne Jewkes

Highly Commended
Edda Humprecht, Frank Esser & Peter Van Aelst

Finalists
akt
The Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, UCL

Read more about the President’s Medal finalists here

Liz Nelson Grand Prix for Social Impact

WINNER
Macmillan

MRS Award for Applications of Research

Sponsored by

WINNER
Mindlab International & NSPCC

Finalists
Boxclever & Walgreen Boots Alliance

Department of Health and Social Care & BMG Research

Research Strategy Group & Maple Leaf Foods

MRS/ASC Award for Best Technical Innovation

In association with

WINNER
Bilendi

Finalists
Displayr

Kadence

Mindprober

MRS/BIG Award for Business-to-Business Research

In association with

WINNER
IAB UK & MTM

Finalists
B2B International & The Met Office

DHL Express & Northstar Research

DVJ Insights

MRS Award for Financial Services Research

Sponsored by

WINNER
BritainThinks & the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Finalists
Basis & TSB

Discovery & Coventry Building Society

HSBC & Mintel Consulting

MRS Award for Healthcare Research

Sponsored by

WINNER
C Space & Nuffield Health

Finalists
Harris Interactive & Holland and Barrett

Ipsos MORI

Quantum Consumer Solutions & Adrian Hodges Advisory

MRS/ICG Award for Independent Consultants

In association with

WINNER
Feeling Mutual

Highly Commended
Deep Blue Thinking & Doodlebone

Finalists
Bayes Price & Red Centre Software

The Word is Out

MRS Award for Innovation in Data Analytics

WINNER
Sky Media & TV Squared

Finalists
DVJ Insights

Freemavens

Warner Leisure Hotels & Realise Unlimited

MRSpride Award for Inclusive Research

Sponsored by

WINNER
Kantar Public & Institute for Social Policy, Housing and Equalities Research, Heriot-Watt University

Finalists
The FA & Craft

Penguin Random House UK

Versiti & Youth Futures Foundation

MRS/AURA Award for Insight Management

In association with

WINNER
Nationwide Building Society & Lens

Finalists
BT & Customer Closeness Group

Unilever CMI & Quantum Consumer Solutions

Yonder & Network Rail

MRS Award for International Research

Sponsored by

WINNER
Essity, AMV BBDO & The Outsiders

Highly Commended
Opinium, the British Council, the Electoral Psychology Observatory (EPO) & the London School of Economics

Finalists
2CV & ITESO

Yonder

Jeremy Bullmore Award for Creative Development Research

WINNER
Folk Research

Finalists
The Nursery & Direct Line Group

The Nursery, M&C Saatchi & Office for National Statistics

One Minute to Midnight & TikTok

MRS Award for Media Research

WINNER
Dentsu, Lumen & Tvision

Finalists
Boxclever & The Guardian

OMD UK, Google, Dynata & Beatgrid Media

RED C Research

MRS Award for New Consumer Insights

Sponsored by

WINNER
Irrational Agency & The Gamesys Group

Highly Commended
Blue Marble Research & the Consumer Council for Water (CCW)

Finalists
Freemavens & The Absolut Company

Unilever

MRS Award for Public Policy/Social Research

WINNER
Macmillan

Highly Commended
Ipsos MORI

Finalists
The Good Side

Kantar Public

AQR Qualitative Excellence Award

WINNER
Boxclever Consulting & R and B Distillers

Highly Commended
Blue Marble Research & the Consumer Council for Water (CCW)

FInalist
Feeling Mutual

Virginia Valentine Award for Cultural Insights

Sponsored by

WINNER
Versiti & RNIB

Finalists
Freemavens & L’Oreal

The Good Side

Penguin Random House UK

Research Live Award for Agency of the Year

Sponsored by

WINNER
Opinium

Finalists
Basis

Blue Yonder

IFF Research

MTM

Truth Consulting

Verve

Research Live Award for Best Place to Work

Sponsored by

WINNER
EMPOWER Translate

Highly Commended
One Minute to Midnight

Finalists
IFF Research

Lucid

Opinium

PwC Research

Zappi

Research Live Award for In-house Team of the Year

Sponsored by

WINNER
BT

Finalists
The Football Association (FA)

Herbalife Nutrition

Reckitt Hygiene UK I&A Team

Transport Focus

Research Live Award for Innovation of the Year

Sponsored by

WINNER
Big Sofa Technologies

Finalists
Lumen

Measure Protocol

Research Live Award for Best New Venture

WINNER
Basis Social

Finalist
Opinium USA

Research Live Award for Business Impact of the Year – Global

WINNER
Jaguar Land Rover & Northstar Research

Highly Commended
Shell & Kantar

Finalists
Discover.ai & Pepsico

GlaxoSmithKline & Freemavens

Reckitt & Walnut Unlimited

Research Strategy Group & Maple Leaf Foods

Research Live Award for Business Impact of the Year – UK

Sponsored by

WINNER
Emotional Logic & centre:mk

FInalists
BBC

The Co-op

Kantar & Nationwide

ResearchBods & ASDA

Truth & Vodafone

Research Live Award for Young Researcher of the Year – Client

Sponsored by

WINNER
Matt Walker, The Co-op

Finalist

Emily Gribble, BT

Research Live Award for Young Researcher of the Year – Supplier

Sponsored by

WINNER
Matt Hellon, Northstar Research

Ande Milinyte, Opinium

Finalists
Alex Bennett-Clemmow, Humankind Research

Sophie Holland, Opinium

Hannah Kirk, Blue Yonder

Mary Lumley, Kantar

Mary Suffield, Kantar Public

Amelia Wallis, Lumen

Download the MRS Awards book to read the judges’ citations for all of this year’s winners