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We are delighted to announce the winners and finalists for the MRS and Research Live Awards 2023. With over 300 entries across all categories the standard of entries was extremely high and the judges had to make some difficult decisions. 

 

The winners were announced at our black-tie dinner which took place on the 4 December in the Grand Hall of Old Billingsgate, London.

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Photos from MRS Awards 2023

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Winners and finalists:

Premier Awards

 

Winners:
Gallup, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition for ‘The Global Diet Quality Project’

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Channel 4 and Clear Channel in partnership with Backlight and The Good Side for ‘Black Owned Businesses: The UK’s Untapped Business Potential’

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The Good Side Logos

C4

Since founding Taylor Nelson Sofrès in 1965, Dr Liz Nelson OBE has been passionate about championing the power of research and insight outside the commercial sphere. The Liz Nelson Grand Prix for Social Impact was created to cement that ethos in the programme.

This year there was such a diversity of winning entries the judges have decided to award two Liz Nelson Grand Prix for social impact to two very different projects.

The judges thought that Gallup, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition demonstrated the power of evidence to make changes across geographies and for diverse projects and were impressed with the decision to make the research openly available and the commitment to its wide dissemination. They thought the project demonstrated immediate impact and had considerable future potential.

The research from Channel 4 and Clear Channel in partnership with Backlight and The Good Side demonstrated how research could have immediate impact by creating practical benefits in the development of programmes to improve participation in business ownership.

Sponsor:

Melbury Wood logo

Winner:
University of Oxford

Oxford Uni logo

The University of Oxford conducted a study to understand the proneness to extreme violence amongst online users. This Research develops a novel method of assessing the risk that online users will engage in acts of violent extremism based on linguistic markers detectable in terrorist manifestos. It involved comparative NLP analysis across 15 manifestos from violent to moderate political stances.

The work confirmed the identification of linguistic markers for groups prone to acts of violent extremism. The assessment framework may prove useful to police and security professionals in helping assess the risk that online users will engage in offline violence.

Finalists:

Colombe Ladreit, Bocconi University

The Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) (Heriot-Watt University) and GISS (Bremen)

University of Essex, iCARP and the National Institute for Health and Care Research

 

Research Live Awards

 

Winner:
MTM

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This award is one of the most prestigious and hotly contested of the night. It seeks to recognise agencies which have produced innovative research, excelled financially and cultivated an inclusive, supportive workplace culture, all while flying the flag for the research sector. This year, the competition was fierce, as was the judges’ debate. Ultimately, the agency which came out on top was MTM, who are crowned Agency of the Year 2023.

The judges said:

“While the standard of submissions in this category was exceptional, MTM stood out for their excellent, clearly-communicated entry. Their impact on the industry has been huge, the level of investment within their organisation is massive, and their financials are exceptional. Their diversity and inclusion focus is also genuine and admirable. To be so strong in each of those areas was unparalleled. It’s a pleasure to award them Agency of the Year.”

Finalists:

Basis Research Group
Beano Brain
Boxclever
Differentology
DJS Research
FlexMR
IFF Research
Kokoro
Opinium
Savanta
VERVE

Sponsor:

Prevision

Winner:
Kokoro

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The best places to work are defined by the professional development they provide to staff, the inclusivity of their workplace culture, and the sense of pride and belonging felt among the team. All-in-all, they put people at the heart of their overall strategy. Based on these criteria, the winner of the 2023 Best Place to Work award is Kokoro.

The judges said:

“We were inspired by Kokoro’s entry. Their graduate scheme is phenomenal, and the time and money that they spend on training is fantastic. They offer a clear path to promotion and rewards for developing skills and responsibilities. Women are well-represented in the company’s leadership and they’ve achieved a zero gender pay gap. The amenities that they offer employees, like their on-site charity shop and chef, are also really unique and attractive.”

Highly  commended: IFF Research

Finalists:

BVA BDRC
DJS Research
Empower Translate
Firefish
Ipsos
Opinium
Zappi

Sponsor:

I-view-london_red

 

 

Winner:
Differentology

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The Best New Venture award champions the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of those who have set up new agencies or transformed an existing business or department. Winners must show the uniqueness of their new venture within the sector, as well as their financial sustainability. This year, the agency that did just that is Differentology, which has gone from strength to strength following its management buyout in 2021.

The judges said:

“Differentology’s entry was really compelling. The creation of a commercial business from an internal department felt new, different and meaningful. Their financials are strong, and the data that they shared on the business was impressive. They are very deserving winners of this category.”

Finalists:

Obsurvant
Opinium Amsterdam
Potentia Insight

Sponsor:

Keen-as-mustard-logo

 

Winner:
Human8 & Philips

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The Business Impact of the Year – Global award celebrates organisations or clients who have delivered outstanding work outside of the UK, using research to shape critical aspects of their businesses on an international scale. This year, Human8 and Philips nailed this brief, and take home the award.

The judges said:

“Human8’s work with Philips on simultaneous continual learning programmes has driven change both to businesses and to underserved communities. Having worked over two years to deliver this insight, their impact has been hugely transformative and commercially successful. Their work is innovative, collaborative and comprehensive – it sounds like an amazing project to be involved with.”

Finalists:

BBC World Service
C Space & Global Hotel Alliance
Deep Blue Thinking & Basis
Formula E & Context
Mars Petcare
McCann Truth Central & General Motors
STRAT7 Incite & Kenvue

Sponsor:

OnePoll

 

Winner:
Deep Blue Thinking & Checkatrade

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Research is pivotal to businesses in countless ways, influencing operational strategies, business practices, company culture and attitudes. The Business Impact of the Year - UK award recognises the UK organisations that have used research to make a lasting impact on their business. Deep Blue Thinking and Checkatrade win this year’s prize.

The judges said:

“Though the contenders in this category were all strong, Deep Blue Thinking and Checkatrade’s emphasis on the results and impact of their work set them apart from the competition. The way their research evolved into a campaign felt unique, and we were struck by their success in bringing stakeholders on board in a tricky sector.”

Finalists:

BBC
Human8 & Nationwide Building Society
Virgin Media O2
Walnut Unlimited & Sainsburys

Sponsor:

Cint-purple

Winner:
Holland & Barrett

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The In-house Team of the Year award spotlights the research and insights team that has made a significant impact on their wider organisation through outstanding work. To award a winner, judges must see evidence of the ways in which a team’s work has led directly to a stronger campaign, programme or way of working. Holland & Barrett takes home this year’s prize.

The judges said:

“We got a genuine feel from their entry of how well Holland & Barrett’s in-house team is working . They’re growing the team quickly and performing well financially, which is particularly impressive given recent economic challenges. It’s also great to see their focus on diversity and inclusion and data integration, which still feels relatively rare in the sector. The considerable impact of their work on the business was clear from their submission.”

Finalists:

BBC
Formula E
Google
HSBC
LADbible Group
Nexus
Reckitt
Sky UK
Youth Sport Trust

Sponsor:

Context Consulting

 

Winner:
Freemavens

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Innovation sits at the heart of our sector and this award recognises the organisation which has introduced a new product, service, methodology or initiative. To win the award, entrants must present to our Dragons’ Den style panel of experts and demonstrate the impact their innovation has had on the business, clients and the industry. Following lively debate, the judges gave the award to Freemavens.

The judges said:

“What Freemavens has achieved in automating data analysis and combining such a range of sources is extremely exciting for our sector. We were impressed with the flexibility of the Tilt platform, the speed with which it can incorporate new data and produce fresh insights, and how accessible it is, particularly for in-house teams facing time and cost pressures. Freemavens’ presentation was clear, well thought out and used compelling examples to bring the team’s work to life.”

Highly commended: Inspirient

Finalists:

Kantar

Sponsor:

Quirks_Media_highres (002)

Winners:
Josh Proctor, jump! innovation and LaShanda Seaman, Opinium
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The winner of this award must show evidence of their outstanding personal achievements, as well as their impact on the profession. They should act as a young ambassador for research while extending their skills and sharing them with their colleagues. The quality of entrants in this category was so strong that the judges couldn’t choose just one winner. This year’s joint winners are Josh Proctor from jump! innovation and LaShanda Seaman from Opinium.

The judges said:

“Josh is a huge talent in the industry, and his passion for his work is evident. His commercial impact on his company has been significant. He is committed to developing his professional skills and expanding his knowledge of new techniques. He has done all this while mentoring and assisting younger researchers, acknowledging the barriers that people can face early in their careers by approaching them first.”

“LaShanda is well-known for her strong contributions to the sector, including her qualitative work to ensure diverse perspectives are heard. She has mentored younger people, contributed to industry podcasts, and appeared as a guest speaker at various conferences. She is also on the MRS board, is involved in the Leadership Team of &More, and is an active member of the D&I Policy Council. How she has time for all this alongside doing fantastic work in her day job, we don’t know!”

Finalists:

Ellie Gould, 2CV
Christina Tarbotton, Boxclever
Daniella Mercado, the7stars
Deana Kotiga, Ipsos
Florian Preusser, Kantar Profiles
Garima Agarwal, Purple Audacity Research & Innovation
Hatty Gittins, Kadence International
Morgan Burgess, MTM
Robert McLaren, the7stars
Tom Richer, Differentology/The Bridge Between
Zoe Rivlin, Opinium

Sponsor:

IFFResearch

Winner:
Jigna Taylor, Acacium Group

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In this category, judges turn their attention to client-side researchers that have worked in the sector for less than five years or were aged under 30 as of 1 July 2023. They look for someone who works well within their team, communicates effectively with clients and whose creativity, ideas and aptitude have made a real impact on the wider business. The researcher that most impressed the judges was Jigna Taylor from Acacium Group, who is named client-side Young Researcher 2023.

The judges said:

“Jigna’s focus on continuous development made her stand out. Her work on AI is exciting and really positive for the sector, and her commercial results are impressive, particularly for someone early in her career. She’s clearly keen to learn and do more, and share that with others.”

Finalists:

Joe Blamey, BBC
William Kipping, The Football Association

Sponsor:

Opinium-logo1

 

 

MRS Awards

 

Winner:
Formula E & Meshh

Formula E

Meshh analysed and interpreted data on footfall, dwell time, traffic flow and behaviour collected through spatial analytics sensors, to deliver insights on the fan and sponsor experience at Formula E (the single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars) races. The actions implemented in response to the findings had major implications for the client, including influencing sponsor partnerships and the locations of fan zones and grandstands to best suit each individual venue. Global attendance shot up by over a third as a result.

The judges said:

"Meshh’s work is a fantastic demonstration of the potential of technology when paired with creative, comprehensive analytics and clear communication and data visualisation."

Finalists:
Freemavens
STRAT7 Bonamy Finch & STRAT7 Advisory

 Sponsor:
Bilendi-Respondi

 

 

Winner:
BBC

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The BBC’s new regional initiative to provide value for everyone, ‘Across the UK,’ needed detailed local data which was not readily available and could not be obtained from traditional sources. In response, the team iteratively developed a new tool using digital data from BBC Sounds, which allows them to provide reliable and timely regional data to a wide variety of stakeholders. The insights gained are helping the BBC to target engagement strategies for specific areas, as well as measure the ongoing impact of their programming.

The judges said:

"The Sounds Regional Dashboard is an exceptional extraction, analysis and application of data which was already being generated through BBC Sounds – a very worthy winner in a competitive field."

Finalists:
BBC World Service
Kantar & Philips
STRAT7 Bonamy Finch & STRAT7 Advisory

 Sponsor:

 

Winner:
Channel 4 & Clear Channel in partnership with Backlight & The Good Side

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C4

Using a collaborative, mixed-method approach, Backlight and The Good Side explored the realities of being a Black business owner in the UK, with the insights feeding into tailored outcomes and influencing committed investment from decision makers.

The insights have been applied to develop and launch initiatives coming from Channel 4 and Clear Channel which will deliver free advertising opportunities for 15 black-owned businesses, valued at £650,000, as well as further mentorship and masterclasses for many more.

The judges said:

“The iterative approach, together with a well thought out sample structure, which allowed greater understanding of the lived experience of black business owners, and the delivery of tangible solutions all worked to make this entry really stand out.”

Finalists:

Google
Sky & MTM
Vodafone UK & Dectech

Sponsor:

TheRichmondMarketInsightForum

 

 

Winner:
The Outsiders, McDonald's, Leo Burnett, Peek Content & house51

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The aim of this research was to inspire a creative approach which would rejuvenate the connection between McDonald’s and its customers. A review of cultural insights was followed by focus groups, film ethnography and in-depth interviews which prioritised representation. The team homed in on the everyday pressures people experience which can be relieved by the occasional ‘sod it’ moment.

Insights delivered around the emotional reactions to an invitation for a McDonald’s allowed the research and creative teams behind this project to create an award winning campaign which has had considerable commercial impact.

The judges said:

“This was the genesis of the ‘Raise your Arches’ campaign, one of McDonald’s most successful ever. Well done to this team who showed that insights and creativity are perfect bedfellows – a clear winner against tough competition.”

Highly Commended: PepsiCo, Zappi & Acacia Avenue

Finalists:

davies+mckerr & John Lewis & Partners
McCann Truth Central & The Electoral Commission

Sponsor:

Q2Q Global

Winner:
VERVE & BBC Studios

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BBC Studios and VERVE set out to understand how the decline in popularity of soap operas might be tackled. Exploring how the world has changed since soap operas first graced our screens, interviewing fans on what drives their love for the genre, and semiotic decoding of the nation’s most loved programmes, the VERVE team brought to life what the British public want to see from TV. Using these insights, characters were re-written and new plots created for some of the BBC Studio’s most successful soaps.

The judges said:

“This was an exemplary project which distinguished itself in every way. It shed new light on British culture and gave the BBC a clear plan of action, as evidenced by the client’s ringing endorsement.”

Finalists:

C Space
Jump! Innovation
Sign Salad & GambleAware

Sponsor:

Truth Logo_Colour

 

 

Winner:
Firefish & Barclays

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In today’s economic environment, Barclays’ brand promise of helping people feel better about money is a challenging task. Firefish’s phased and multi-faceted research prioritised hearing directly from customers, with methods including face-to-face interviews, online focus groups, customer film and digital analysis.

The resulting insight has informed an array of initiatives for Barclays, from its innovation pipeline to its customer experience and marketing campaigns.

The judges said:

“This is an excellent example of research being used to place customers at the heart of decision making. The approach and methodology were well tailored to the category and delivered clear benefits for Barclays through short and longer term initiatives.”

Finalists:

HSBC & Kantar
Ipsos & Visa
Opinium & Direct Line Group

Sponor:

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Winner:
Thinks Insight & Strategy & Worcestershire County Council

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The Public Health Team at Worcestershire County Council commissioned Thinks Insight & Strategy to identify how they could better support their employees following the stress and low morale caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Through creative methods including journey mapping, letters to self and conversations with loved ones, the research team immersed themselves in the lived experience of participants and delivered in-depth insight which drove the introduction of new strategies to boost workers’ wellbeing.

The judges said:

“Innovatively designed, thoughtfully deployed and powerfully delivered, Thinks Insight & Strategy’s work exemplifies how research can drive meaningful change in the field of healthcare.”

Finalists:

Boots & Trinity McQueen
Ipsos & Haleon
the7stars

Sponsor:

Sermo-color

 

 

Winner:
Basis Social

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Basis Social’s work sought to uncover and address the barriers to participation in research among hard-to-reach groups to ensure public policy can be based on truly representative data. The team’s sensitive approach was reflected both in their methodology and in the recommendations made to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These informed the ONS’ first annual review into the UK statistical system’s progress towards inclusivity, published earlier this year.

The judges said:

“Basis Social’s work encapsulates the spirit of this award. Their careful methodology paid dividends in the quality of insights delivered and will continue to influence research practices well into the future.”

Finalists:

Discovery Research, Basis Research Group Ltd & UKHSA
Kantar & Over The Bloody Moon
MTM & Google

Sponsor:

 

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Winners:
Gallup, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

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Harvard-University-Logo

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These teams came together to understand eating habits and pinpoint where action is needed to tackle global malnutrition. The resulting Global Diet Quality Project – the world’s first framework for measuring diet quality – offers data on 56 countries, with plans to expand this to 140, and addresses a critical gap in our knowledge of one of humanity’s most pressing issues. With the findings made freely available, this project provides policy makers around the world with an invaluable tool to support public health.

The judges said:

“This winning entry brilliantly demonstrates the vital impact that our industry is able to deliver on a global scale, not just today but for generations to come. Bravo!”

Highly Commended: AKAS

Finalists:

BBC World Service
Bloomberg Media & DVJ Insights

Sponsor:

EMPOWER_final file_no strap

 

Winner:
JCDecaux & Kantar

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By combining JCDecaux’s daily movement figures with Kantar Worldpanel’s household purchase data, this partnership was able to fill a long-standing gap in the industry’s ability to measure the commercial impact of out-of-home advertising. This pioneering solution has been put to the test with several FMCG clients to resounding success, revealing to one such client that out-of-home was delivering an impressive £1.60 return for every £1 spent – the highest return of any of the business’ advertising channels.

The judges said:

“We were struck by JCDecaux and Kantar’s creativity in the collection and analysis of a variety of data sources. The project has had real commercial impact, helping to shape their clients’ strategies and better target investment.”

Highly Commended: 

Thinkbox, Channel 4, ITV, Sky, PWC, Gain Theory, EssenceMediacom, Wavemaker, Mindshare & Acacia Avenue

Finalists:

BMG Research & Ofcom
Giraffe Insights

Sponsor:

Face Facts

Winner:
The Behavioural Architects & Google

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How do people decide what to buy? This is what The Behavioural Architects and Google set out to answer with their project ‘Making Sense of the Messy Middle. Simulating online shoppers’. It examined the decision making process at each stage in the purchasing journey from search through to different points of sale, and found that behavioural science can be just as powerful as discounting. The burgeoning demand for The Behaviour Architects’ research is testament to the commercial influence of these findings.

The judges said:

“In a closely run field, this was our clear winner. It was an extremely clever and thorough piece of scientific testing – an outstanding contribution to purchasing insight.”

Finalists:

Channel 4 & Craft
Kantar & Cadbury
Trajectory, CACI & Fair4All Finance

Sponsor:

Criteria_Fieldwork

 

Winner:
Ipsos

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The Scottish Jury Research project, led by Ipsos, was the largest mock jury study ever undertaken in the UK, with 64 juries and just shy of 1,000 individual participants recruited. It found that jurors were significantly less likely to favour a guilty ruling if the contentious ‘not proven’ verdict, unique to the Scottish legal system, was available. This groundbreaking conclusion has had a transformative effect – it was instrumental in driving the Scottish Government’s April 2022 announcement that the ‘not proven’ verdict would be scrapped.

The judges said:

“Ipsos’ methodology in staging mock cases and jury deliberations was unique and thought-provoking. They have contributed significantly to the delivery of more effective justice in future cases brought to court in Scotland.”

Finalists:

Madre Brava & Northstar Research/HarrisX
The Football Association, Kick it Out & 2CV
Thinks Insight & Strategy & Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles

 

Winner:
Madre Brava & Northstar Research/HarrisX

Madre-Brava

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Northstar Research/HarrisX helped start-up Madre Brava to raise the profile of their campaign against the climate change countermovement, the “Big Meat” Goliath. Through the deployment of both quantitative and qualitative research, Madre Brava attained an enhanced understanding of their audiences, influenced their media narrative and gained valuable publicity in The New Statesman and Politico. The business’ stated aim is to achieve 100% sustainable, healthy, affordable food for all and the research has helped it to secure further funding, enabling their lean three-person team to continue their important work.

The judges said:

“Through their creativity and ambition, this year’s winners have helped underscore for policymakers and the public the link between the ‘Big Meat’ Goliath and climate change, driving meaningful change which will be crucial for the world to reach net zero by 2050.”

Finalists:

BBC, ITV, C4, Channel 5, Sky, UKTV, Ipsos & CAST
Ipsos & Google
Mars Petcare

 

 

 

Partner Awards

 

Winner
Hush Research & Strategy

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‘Reinventing Ollie’ by Hush Research & Strategy is an excellent example of how multi method qualitative research, including stakeholder interviews, Psychology Ai Analysis, In-home Observation, and Semiotic Analysis, can provide deep insights resulting in great benefits for parents, clients and most importantly, sleeping babies!

The judges said:

"The Reinventing Ollie case study stood out this year as a great example of how insightful Qual can successfully help a brand evolve and reinvent itself.”

Highly Commended:

antedote & Saga

Finalist:

Magenta

Sponsor:

AQR

 

 

Winner:
Nexxt Intelligence for inca SmartProbe API

Next Intelligence's Inca Smarprobe product enables intelligent dynamic follow-up questions based on the responses to open ended quantitative survey questions through the injection of advanced language models. In a short time, they have a proven approach loved by clients that has delivered actionable insight that would never have been found with traditional methods.

The judges said:

'"We were highly impressed with this innovation using AI and latest LLMs to evolve traditional verbatim questions with code can be easily embedded in multiple survey platforms. We appreciated their approach to only release product options involving the use of AI that are tested for efficacy and ethics."

Finalist:

Signoi Ltd for Alethai
Survey Tester, powered by 2x4 for Survey Tester

Sponsor:

ASC logo

Winner:
BookTrust

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From entirely redesigning its approach to targeting families with early-years children and developing a new antenatal pilot programme, to identifying new partner organisations to help reach target audiences, this insight has impacted every operational facet of BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. This has been supported by a concerted effort to embed research within the organisation’s culture, including involving board members and senior leaders in live projects.

The judges said:

“BookTrust has threaded its insight the whole way through the organisation and beyond, to its 6,000 partners across the UK where it will drive further engagement. Impressive!”

Finalists:

Fred Olsen, Trinity McQueen & PLH
Holland & Barrett
ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland)

Sponsor:

AURA

Winners:
McCann Truth Central & Prologis

McCann-Logo

Prologis-Logo

This project sought to tackle preconceptions about the logistics industry by engaging people both inside and outside of the sector. McCann Truth Central adopted a mixed-method approach incorporating proprietary methodology which utilised extensive open text data capture and linguistic analysis.

The outcome was a data rich whitepaper which is allowing Prologis, a leading logistics real estate business, to open more informed conversations with government and wider industry. It is amplifying the voices of logistics workers, shifting public perceptions and showcasing the opportunities offered by a career in the sector

The judges said:

“This is a superb paper, delivering invaluable insight through innovative and flexible methodology, to help Prologis and its industry promote itself and reach its potential. Excellent work!"

Highly commended: Verve & Sky Business

Finalists:

Acxiom & MTM
Northstar Research/Harris X, Amadeus & Fire on the Hill
Opinium & Kraft Heinz

Sponsor:

BIG

 

Winner:
Untapped Innovation & BookTrust

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BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, had an ambitious five-year strategy to further its work with families from low-income or vulnerable backgrounds. To guide this strategy, Untapped Innovation conducted innovative qualitative research with target families, alongside semiotic analysis and social listening, centring on both children’s and parents’ needs. From here, a number of exciting ideas were developed and prototyped, as well as the creation of actionable tools to assess future innovation. The outcomes have transformed the organisational mindset and will guide the charity for years to come.

The judges said:

“This project shows the very best of what can be achieved when bringing together a bespoke team of independents – a fantastic creative range of research methods to drive a programme of innovation and long-lasting impact for the client.”

Highly Commended: PS Research

Finalists:

HUSH Research & Strategy
Moorcroft Market Research
White Rabbit Research, Deep Blue Thinking & AP Research

Sponsor:

ICG

 

 

Thank you to all the sponsors of the MRS and Research Live Awards 2023.

Walr - Principal Sponsor


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Founded in October 2020, Walr creates data to power your success. It unifies smart technology and thoughtful expertise to bring efficiency to online research; leveraging unparalleled audience reach, 24/7 support from a global team, and proprietary, cloud-based technology. Its customer-centric approach and dedication to delivering delight, allows researchers, consultants, and marketeers to spend more time creating value in the areas they excel most.

AQR - AQR Qualitative Excellence Award

 AQR

The Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) was founded in 1980 and represents the interests of our members in the qualitative research industry. AQR has established itself as the internationally recognised Hub of Qualitative Excellence via education and training programs, seminars, networking opportunities and liaising with the wider research industry. We also create forums that facilitate debate and advance qualitative research methodology. AQR promotes qualitative research as a career and promotes the highest professional standards within our industry.

ASC - MRS/ASC Award for Best Technology Innovation

ASC logo

The ASC is the world’s leading society for the advancement of knowledge in software and technology for research surveys and statistics. This is achieved by organising a range of conferences and other events offering an exceptionally high standard of discourse and debate on the subject.

Ask Africa - MRS Award for Applications & Impact of Data

Ask Afrika is a research company built on near three decades of solid expertise, academic clout and industry respect.

We uncover deep insights on human behaviour in emerging markets. Being inherently African with global ability, Ask Afrika asks the right questions, that in turn lead to enabling brands to reach their consumers on a human level, and to become category leaders.

AURA - MRS/AURA Award for Activation of Insight

AURA

AURA is the UK’s biggest events and networking community exclusively for clientside researchers. Volunteer-led, with 700 members from over 170 different businesses and charities, we enhance the impact of research and insight in our organisations via events and resources, including highly rated face-to-face seminars, online webinars, online Forum to share advice and searchable Knowledge Hub of past presentations. You can find out more at www.aura.org.uk.

BIG - MRS/BIG Award for Business-to-Business Research

BIG

BIG is an insight community supporting and advising on research in business and providing the latest thinking and techniques in business-to-business research. BIG offers networking opportunities via the BIG Forum where topical issues are discussed and debated. Plus, BIG gives online access to a knowledge centre and e-newsletter and, for research buyers, access to specialist business research and insight providers. Whether new to, or experienced in, market research, a buyer or a provider, BIG is your business insights community.

Bilendi & respondi - MRS Award for Activation of Analytics

Bilendi-Respondi

Bilendi & respondi combine true panels, innovative solutions and proprietary technology to gather and deliver market research data. We offer various services: qualitative and quantitative recruitment, programming, hosting, sample delivery, ad effectiveness tracking, mobile solutions, community building and more. We provide access to 2.5 million online proprietary panellists across 13 European countries. In addition, we service further countries across the globe using a network of trusted partners.

Cint - Research Live Award for Business Impact of the Year - UK

Cint-purple

Cint is a global software leader in digital insights. Our platform automates the insights-gathering process so companies can access survey data faster, with unparalleled scale. The Cint exchange also hosts one of the world’s largest consumer networks for digital survey-based research, with millions of engaged respondents across more than 130 countries.

Context+ Research Live Award for In-house Team of the Year

Context Consulting

Some people live for research.
Some people live for results.
We live for Context+
welivecontext.com

Criteria Fieldwork - MRS Award for New Consumer Insights

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We absolutely love supporting the MRS Awards and the huge array of talent year-on-year. Criteria continually promotes fieldwork of the highest standards, integrity and skill for each and every project. We deliver recruitment both on and offline using all existing and emerging methodologies without compromising quality or confidentiality. Congratulations to all the nominees
and winners!

Empower - MRS Award for International Research

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 Empower is an award-winning translation and localization agency, exclusively for insight. Our clients span the biggest and most cutting-edge insight enterprises in the world. Most importantly, our passion and commitment to bespoke insight localisation go far beyond ‘just translation’: we’ve started a technological revolution in the world of multimarket research. Could we empower you to transform your global studies? Find out more: www.empowertranslate.com.

Face Facts - MRS Award for Media Research

 

Face Facts

 

Face Facts, an award winning qualitative and quantitative fieldwork agency provides data collection across all research methodologies. Quality is at our core, we take pride in what we do and our RAS accreditation, MRS Fair data and ISO27001 certifications are testimony to this. Our clients see us as an extension to their team, partnering with us for our years of experience, the value we add and our flexible supporting approach.

Howden - MRS Award for Financial Services

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Howden is a group of insurance experts, with the experience to deliver for our clients and the motivation to help them thrive. As an employee-owned company, our clients’ success is our success, too. So, to us it’s more than just a job. We care about every client, large and small, because we're working for the long-term – to build a business to be proud of.

ICG - MRS/ICG Award for Independent Consultants

ICG

The ICG is an international membership organization for independent consultants and micro-businesses working in market research. Members benefit from a fabulous hub of information, advice, support and collaboration with some of the smartest people in our industry – including a thriving online forum, an active webinar and training programme and member discounts. Buyers of research benefit from the depth and breadth of our members’ expertise, experience and flexibility.

IFF Research - Research Live Award for Young Researcher of the Year - Client

IFFResearch

IFF Research is an award-winning social and market research agency, which sits at the summit of UK public policy and social research. We conduct many of the largest and highest profile studies in the sector, tailoring projects to our clients’ specific needs. We’re proud to support MRS in celebrating the huge difference our industry makes. Congratulations to all finalists and winners!

i-view London - Research Live Award for Best Place to Work

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The multi-award winning viewing facility that strives to offer a seamless service for your face-to-face needs. The i-view team will go above and beyond to exceed expectations every time. Estabilished in 2012 as a contemporary hub for researchers and considered the leader in its field. i-view are delighted to sponsor the Best Place to Work and Best Viewing Facility categories for 2023.

Keen as Mustard Marketing - Research Live Award for Best New Venture

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Elevate your insights department with Keen as Mustard, the world's leading insights communication consultants. We specialize in impactful internal communications, award-winning marketing, tailored communications strategy, and design to make your insights famous. Let us help you tell your story, reach and influence stakeholders, define your messaging, and achieve impactful results while bringing out your flavour for lasting success.

Melbury Wood - Liz Nelson Grand Prix Award for Social Impact

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Melbury Wood are headhunting & talent experts, born out of an ambition to make recruitment more transparent and accessible, taking away the showmanship that so many traditional firms live by. We are approachable, down-to-earth and we will tell it to you straight. We are a young and vibrant company, but our seasoned team brings over 20 years of recruitment expertise.
Recruitment for jobs – not panels.

OnePoll - Research Live Award for Business Impact of the Year - Global

OnePoll

OnePoll market research connects the thoughts, experiences and opinions of people from around the world, with organisations seeking to power their actions with inspiring human truths. Located across the UK & US, our proprietary panel, global network and unique route to press ensures best-in class, international quantitative and qualitative online research for global brands, ambitious start-ups, news and media.

Opinium - Research Live Award for Young Researcher of the Year - Supplier

 

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Opinium is a fast-growing consultative insight agency with teams in London, New York, Cape Town and Amsterdam. We help brands harness the power of data, research & insight to build, grow, promote, and make strategic business decisions. We also strive to use research and insights for good. And we’re big fans of the MRS Awards having won multiple awards across many categories. Our favourite however must be our three ‘Best Place to Work Award’ wins, testament to our approach of putting our people at the centre of our world.

Prevision Research - Research Live Award for Agency of the Year

Prevision

Prevision Research is a boutique data collection provider, established in 2009. The business specialises in telephone and online research among difficult-to-reach audiences such as tradespeople, business executives, the elderly, social tenants, restaurant owners, public bodies etc. Prevision also offer respondent recruitment among these audiences for depth interviews, focus groups and communities. In 2023, we launched a trade panel, giving access to multi-skilled tradespeople for both qualitative and quantitative research.

Q2Q Global - Jeremy Bullmore Award for Creative Development Research

Q2Q Global

Q2Q Global, a European and US-based agency, redefines global fieldwork research. With a seasoned team prioritising experience, transparency, and commitment, we specialise in LATAM, Europe, the US, and more. Offering control over fieldwork for quality, our services include qualitative, quantitative in global studies. In-house management ensures unmatched quality at competitive prices. Trust us for transparent processes, continuous communication, and a flexible, client-centric approach that transcends borders, a testament to boutique service excellence.

Quirk's - Research Live Award for Innovation of the Year

 

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For nearly 40 years and without ever charging a membership fee, Quirk's Media has been the place where the best, brightest and boldest in marketing research exchange their most effective ideas. Our articles, events, directories, webinars, and free resources give insights professionals the real-world solutions they need to take their marketing research and insights capabilities to a new level of excellence.

The Richmond Market Insight Forum - MRS Award for Applications of Research

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The Richmond Market Insight Forum, taking place on 6 June 2024 at Savoy Place, London, is the most established and respected B2B networking event for the UK insight community. Now in its seventeenth year, this invitation only event matches senior clients and agencies to generate new business, learn from each other and network. The senior research professionals who qualify to receive an invitation will have the opportunity to attend CPD interactive workshops and discussion groups, whilst meeting with research service providers of their choice. 70% of the research companies attending return each year. 

Sermo - MRS Award for Healthcare Research

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Sermo is the largest global healthcare research powerhouse and the most trusted physician social platform, engaging with more than 1.3 million HCPs across 150 countries. 

For over 20 years, Sermo has been turning physician experience, expertise, and observations into actionable business insights that benefit pharmaceutical companies, healthcare partners and the medical community at large. Sermo offers on-demand access to HCPs via a proprietary health-tech ecosystem to gain targeted HCP insights that inform strategic decisioning in real-time. To learn more, visit www.sermo.com

Truth - Virginia Valentine Award for Cultural Insights

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We are strategists working at the intersection of culture and commerce to create change, specialising in brand, innovation and business strategy. We are a naturally collaborative, global partner with an emphasis on expansive thinking, a reverence for the richness of insight and the creative flair to deliver commercial impact. At the heart of everything we do, is accessing the Truth that sits beneath the surface to influence and create positive change for our clients.

YouGov - MRS Pride Award for Inclusive Research

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YouGov is an international online research data and analytics technology group. Our innovative solutions help the world’s most recognised brands, media owners and government agencies to explore, plan, activate and track their marketing activities better. With over 26 million registered panel members and operations in the UK, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India and Asia Pacific, we have one of the world’s largest research networks.

 

Every year, a select few winners and finalists from our awards show us how they have used research in projects by providing case studies. Click below to see case studies from previous years.

Awards case studies 2022

Awards case studies 2021

Awards case studies 2020

Awards case studies 2019 

Awards case studies 2018

Awards case studies 2017

Awards case studies 2016

Awards case studies 2015

Awards case studies 2014

Awards case studies 2013

Awards case studies 2012

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