We are starting the new year with a look back to one of Holly Slater’s favourite projects from 2022, including a welcome return to in-person research. Holly says
“Having always found the automotive industry to be fast-paced and interesting, particularly the emerging electric vehicle sector, it was great to have recently undertaken a project on electric vehicles with this rapidly growing audience.
The project included sourcing owners of specific electric vehicle makes/ models, accompanied by various quotas around purchase duration and attitudes towards the purchase journey. Participants were invited along to a face-to-face session where they were asked to feedback on some new emerging electric vehicle concepts, interacting with actual prototypes. The specifics of the sample, teamed with the face-to-face methodology made this a logistically challenging project, although it was a very satisfying recruit when learning the participant feedback directly contributed to optimising a leading manufacturer’s new product launch.
I’m very much looking forward to those new EV briefs landing in 2023!”
As sales of electric vehicles continue to grow, we can expect the market to become more competitive and the need for the insight provided by market research to remain as valuable as ever.
If you want to speak to someone about your 2023 projects and how Acumen can work with you to fulfil your research goals please contact Becki Pickering, and to see some of the services we can offer you can click here.
Richard Lumour, Quantitative Project Manager at Acumen gives an insight into an in-field coffee-tasting project.
Mid-November, 18th and 19th to be precise, I was tasked with being the project lead on a coffee taste test in Newcastle. Quite the logistical challenge, 420 coffees over 2 days, 2 different types of coffees, from 3 different vendors!
Personally, I love a good logic puzzle. This kind of project was my first hall test, but immediately I could mentally see all of the challenges and tasks that needed ironing out. And it all felt like it was going to be fun.
Obtaining cash incentives, organising a recruiter team (and their accommodation), sourcing a venue, getting all the cups, stirrers, and milk, along with tracking quotas, checking the survey, and finally getting all of the items to Newcastle, lots of small tasks to make one big project.
After a half day of driving in torrential rain to get to Newcastle, I met with the team tasked with intercepting passing shoppers to recruit them. After COVID, it’s been nice to get to meet our recruiters in person. There’s only so much you can communicate over the phone, but by speaking in person, and seeing their processes, you can give a steer when needed to achieve the desired goals.
Finally, after the last lattes had been consumed and evaluated, it was done. Having not had the opportunity to work anywhere North of Manchester, it was a pleasure to work alongside the recruiter team. The quotas were full, and the client was happy with the data we sent across. I made sure to pick up a Newcastle favourite food (a stottie cake) at the recommendation of one of the team!
If you want to discuss your next hall test with us, email becki.pickering@acumenfieldwork.com
At Acumen we pride ourselves on being flexible with project timelines and tight recruitment windows. If you need some quick turnaround recruitment, get in touch to discuss your requirements ASAP.
We have immediate and exclusive access to a huge face to face database of participants from across the UK for fast participant recruitment. With new participants joining daily, we can recruit fresh, engaged and high-quality participants even with a short timeline. Our experienced team of fieldwork managers with backgrounds in consumer, business to business, healthcare and social research will set up your projects quickly and efficiently to ensure your meet your goals before Christmas.
We can also utilise either our network of viewing facilities or online hosting to ensure that your quick turnaround market research project is run in an appropriate setting.
Recent feedback “The interviews went ahead yesterday and feedback from the moderator was that they were excellent, so thank you very much. I really appreciate you turning this around so quickly and being so accommodating.”
“Fab – fast turnaround within project timings. Communication was great throughout! Fantastic service from the whole team as always.”
Email costings@acumenfieldwork.com to discuss your project today.
In these uncertain economic times Acumen has been finding out the general public is feeling about the current cost of living and economic situation. In October we ran the first of a number of pulse surveys with our database. We will be running the surveys to track changes over time with consumers.
The first survey saw almost 2800 responses across a breadth of the population aged from 16 to 74 and from across the UK. We found that only 6% of participants felt that their household financial situation had improved in the last 6 months, whereas 73% felt that it had worsened. 94% of respondents were concerned about the cost of living and economic situation, with grocery, electricity, travel costs, and gas being the areas of household spending which had seen price increases.
In order to cope with the change, most reported that they were reducing spending on energy, eating out, takeaways and clothing, and only 1% said that their behaviour had not changed at all.
To see the full results please contact Liz.Diez@acumenfieldwork.com
Our next survey will be looking at the impact of the Cost of Living and the economy on businesses in particular and those with healthcare needs.
You know it’s Christmas when Acumen’s GIF competition begins! Welcome to the Twelve Days of Gifmas!
Starting on the 1st of December, each day one member of staff will have their GIF altered on the website. If you spot who it is, then simply get in touch following the instructions below:
Here’s how to enter:
1. Go to our team page each day – www.acumenfieldwork.com/team
2. Click on the team pictures until you find the one you think has been given a makeover.
3. Email your answer to abi@acumenfieldwork.com
Prizes this year include Hotel Chocolat Large Festive Cookie Wreath, James Bond edition Cluedo, Candi Wireless Headphones, Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Mince Pie Liqueur, Liz Earle Gift Set, Hotel Chocolat Rather Large Cracker and All-new Echo Dot amongst others.
Best of Luck!
To enter you must work in Market research and be based in the UK and Ireland. Prize winners will be drawn at random each day.
Monday 28TH November saw MD Abi Fuller speak on a webinar jointly hosted by the MRS and AQR to celebrate two years of the Recruiter Accreditation Scheme.
The scheme was established to raise the profile and status of recruiters working in market research, by devising a training and accreditation scheme which recognises the knowledge, skills and competence of professional recruiters.
Acumen is accredited under the scheme as an internal and external recruiter, and as a company partner is committed to working with recruiters who are ‘RAS Accredited’. Our associated company Research Opinions is internally accredited.
Ahead of the Webinar, we conducted a survey with recent participants in research. One key question being asked of the scheme is whether participants saw the benefit of being recruited by RAS accredited organisations. We were pleasantly surprised to find that 28% of participants had an awareness of both the MRS Recruiter Accreditation Scheme which after just 2 years of the scheme being live indicates that consumers do indeed look for indicators of trust. Participants found that the professionalism of the recruiter and moderator, invitations clearly stating terms and conditions, prompt, information which is provided to them around privacy (GDPR), the research process, invitations and references to the MRS reassuring which led to greater trust in accredited market research companies. For full information about the survey please email abi@acumenfieldwork.com
Mid-October has seen Acumen have a surveillance audit under ISO 20252:2019 which we are pleased to announce we passed! It’s like having not just your homework, but all of your notes marked by the headteacher and being given a gold star!
ISO 20252:2019 sees all areas of Acumen inspected to ensure that our policies, procedures, and everyday work adheres to the highest standards of the Market Research Industry. We are very proud of all staff whose work was audited as this year the auditor found no discrepancies or areas for observation whatsoever.
Acumen is committed to working to ISO 20252: 2019 standards. We find that the work we do to ensure compliance with the standard aligns with our company values of Positively Delighting, Never Standing Still, and putting People First.
Acumen’s ‘sister company’, Aspect Viewing Facility has won the Best Viewing Facility – Technology and Innovation at the MRS Oppies award for the Hospital Simulation Suite opened in Stockport.
The judges said: “Aspect’s innovative ‘Healthcare Simulation Suite’ is impressive. The suite replicates an operating theatre, outpatient clinic and triage station, complete with a life-sized mannequin! Aspect have thought of everything, demonstrating the importance of healthcare research testing in context.”
Acumen’s dedicated healthcare team, led by Jordan Ashall, and some key healthcare clients provided valuable input into the design and set-up of this suite. If you would like to find out more about how Acumen’s BHBIA accredited healthcare team can help you recruit participants into the suite or elsewhere please email Jordan.ashall@acumenfieldwork.com
Here, Heidi Dewhurst, one of our project managers gives an insight into what our Client Away days are all about.
Last weekend, 26th February I was fortunate enough to be invited down to Twickenham to watch the England-Wales Six Nations game with work as part of a client away day. We were blessed with beautiful weather, great company and of course a win! (Sorry Wales)
What exactly is a client away day? For us, it’s an opportunity to get together with valued clients to enjoy a more informal event where we can get to know each other in person and not just as a business contact on the other side of a screen. These days there’s a lot of conversation around authenticity in the workplace, and personally I am here for it.
After a relatively straightforward train journey down to London, we were welcomed into the hospitality suite at the Cabbage Patch pub in Twickenham, a well-known and beloved rugby pub just a short walk from the stadium. The staff here really put on a great spread and worked so hard to make everyone’s day a blast, and you can tell they love it too. The food was top notch and, thanks to the Fuller family, the drinks flowed all day! Definitely worth popping in for a pint or a glass of pinot if you are ever in the area.
Myself and my colleagues invited three clients along for the day, giving us the opportunity to meet in person and create that human connection; especially after such a long time living under COVID restrictions. An away day is a valuable and refreshing way to network but it is also a great way of extending thanks, in a truly tangible way, for the investment they’ve made in trusting us with their projects.
As a northern girl with very limited experience of visiting London, a trip to the capital is always an exciting experience, and the atmosphere this time with the rugby crowds was magical. Am I a rugby fan? Well, I am now that’s for sure – can I come again next year?
