Data, trust and engagement
11 April 2018

Firstly, thank you to all that made last month’s annual conference such a wonderfully inspiring event. We enjoyed record levels of engagement over the course of Impact Week 2018, which included for the very first time six client open houses as well as our two day conference.

I urge those of you that couldn’t attend to take advantage of the extensive video and reportage covering the key notes and various sessions, and the interviews with starry names like Ian Hislop and Julia Hobsbawm and our own industry leaders. Speaking personally, for sheer motivation I would have to pick Maggie Aderin-Pocock as she urged everyone to become a role model, and Dexter Dias who reminded us ‘you only get the justice you are prepared to fight for’.

As well as launching a new MRS Delphi Group report on trust and technology (see opposite) I was also particularly proud to announce a new MRS / Kantar joint initiative. Our vision is called Intelligence Capital™ (in which insight is integral). We expect it will become the third core requirement for successful business, alongside financial and human capital. To reinforce our commitment to this vision we trademarked the phrase and plan to build a compelling model to make the connection with business growth. The MRS Delphi Group will be driving the editorial development of this project with the help of those clients who have been so supportive of Impact Week.

Lastly, it would be remiss if I signed off this issue of Impact without acknowledging the elephant in the room that is GDPR. I wish you all fortitude as you make final preparations to ensure that your organisation complies to the regulation that comes into force on 25 May. MRS is available to support all its members in these preparations, both in the tools and support we have provided online and via our bespoke consultancy services. However painful the process of compliance, the net result will be (as our new Delphi Group report explains) more trusted relationships with our customers and research respondents, which can only be good thing.

Jane Frost CBE, chief executive, MRS
jane.frost@mrs.org.uk