Holly, one of the Recruitment Specialists in our B2B and Social Research Team, discusses some of the exciting projects to have kicked off 2023 with a bang.
“In the first project, I completed this year, the client wanted to conduct market research with a face-to-face component, of 40 participants. The research was focused on Food and Hospitality businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Contacting smaller and newer businesses through standard processes, particularly for food vans, market stalls and businesses with low hygiene ratings was expected to provide a challenge. To address this issue upfront, we spent time building contacts with street food vendors and market stalls in Wales and Northern Ireland. Additionally, we took the opportunity to make direct f2f contact with businesses where possible, this proved fruitful.
Using these multiple methods of sourcing participants provided a diverse selection of the target group, which proved invaluable for our client.
Hot off the heels of this B2B project, I was involved with a project where we were commissioned by a UK Water Company to work on a study which aims to engage with 35 participants who are part of their more vulnerable customer base, ie who are likely to fall within at least two of these groups (unemployed, low household income, in debt, digitally challenged, low reading/writing skills, physical disabilities, mental health issues, and older people 75+). The client was also looking for Eastern European participants who have lived in the UK for less than two years.
The target groups have low representation online, and we had the additional complexity that they had to live in specific geographic locations, so we had to use additional tools to build contacts and also engage with community groups where appropriate.
When screening these participants, the topics needed to be addressed carefully and sensitively in order to put people at ease and allow our clients to gain meaningful insights.
It was really enjoyable working on these two projects and I am looking forward to my next challenge.”
If you want to discuss your next project, please contact us on costings@acumenfieldwork.com
With the news of the Energy Bills Support Scheme being given to households, our Project Manager Clare Deer has recently undertaken an exciting project that is very much topical to this current conversation.
Although not limited to, the project involved 6 workshops in locations such as Coryton, Thornhill, Hardwicke, Dumfries, Anfield and Toxteth, with a focus on discussing the future of domestic heating and energy networks. Teamed with the implications these changes may have for consumers across the UK, this project was particularly interesting as it enabled us to hear individual circumstances regarding the energy crisis.
As an added layer there was also a focus on hearing the voices of those currently living in areas not connected to The National Gas Network. Albeit a challenge, we employed various untraditional methods of recruitment such as on-street, local advertising and social media to target individuals who weren’t as easily accessible via database methods.
The project was a success and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of this study feed into future discussions around this.
If you wish to work with our team on your next project please contact costings@acumenfieldwork.com
Database recruitment is a key method in finding fantastic participants but it clearly comes with some caveats. How big? How is it managed? What information does it hold? How is it different from a panel? These are all important questions and not all databases are created equal!
Here at Acumen we have the UK’s largest database with participants who have actively signed up and are warm to take part. It is managed in-house and participation is closely monitored, meaning we can focus our attention on recruiting new, fresh participants. Last year alone over 55,000 unique participants applied to take part in our research projects.
“What if the people I need aren’t just sitting on your database waiting for your call?” We don’t feel that giving a project back because participants aren’t on our database is acceptable, especially in a world where it is so easy to find and contact people. So in-house recruiting from scratch through a variety of sources is very much part of what we do. Where possible, our in-house recruiters will join your briefing call together with the project manager so nothing gets lost in translation. We deliver real-time updates so there are no last-minute surprises before fieldwork. We pride ourselves in thinking outside the box when it comes to recruitment, so we can recruit to even the most complex of quotas including hard-to-reach participants. We will work together with you to design the approach, agreeing who to contact and how we will reach them.
Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords here at Acumen, but are lived through our members of staff and are always top of mind when recruiting participants – something we think should be standard on all projects.
Quality standards are also assured and Acumen are committed to maintaining the high standards for which we are known. In 2007 we developed our own fraud and repeat participant prevention system – Acumonitor. Available only to Acumen’s clients, ensuring that we offer only the freshest participants who match the exact criteria that our clients need for their research. We were also pioneers of the MRS / AQR Recruiter Accreditation Scheme and helped establish the framework for it.
We pride ourselves on being flexible on project timings and tight recruitment windows. So, if your client is in a hurry to get work conducted then give Acumen a call to discuss the requirements.
Computer says, ABSOLUTELY!
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
