New industry report finds growth of research sector despite the pandemic is cause for optimism
14 December 2021

A new report published today has revealed a 0.8% year-on-year growth among the top 100 research agencies, with collective turnover reaching £4.1bn in 2020.

These results were announced as part of MRS’ Research Live Industry Report 2022, along with the latest MRS League Tables.

Growth has slowed compared with recent years, in part due to lockdown-related disruptions during 2020, but has still been reported by almost half of the top 100 research agencies. 

It means that the UK remains the largest European supplier of market and social research, accounting for 40% of European research output, employing at least 64,000 people nationwide and with a total industry value of more than £7 billion. The UK also continues to be the second largest research market globally, second only to the US.

The MRS League Tables include the fastest growing research agencies and businesses, based on 2020 financial data submitted this year and focusing only on UK-based turnover and international work managed and invoiced from the UK.

For the first time, the MRS League Tables highlight the firms which have signed up to the MRS Inclusion Pledge and the MRS Net Zero Pledge to take practical action to improve diversity and sustainability in their organisations. Although it is still early days, it is encouraging to see that a number of the larger firms have joined the 70 or so research companies from across the sector which have signed up to one or both pledges. 

Jane Frost CBE, CEO of MRS, comments: “At an unstable time for many industries, it’s encouraging to see that the research sector is still growing.  Reports on future growth are generally optimistic, but there is work to do to ensure this becomes more even across the sector and to capitalise on the vital role research has played with government and businesses as they have navigated through the pandemic.

“I’m also pleased with the results we’re already seeing of the MRS Inclusion Pledge and the MRS Net Zero Pledge, and I am confident that we will see more of the larger businesses sign up in the coming 12 months. The progress we’ve made over the past two years puts the sector in a good position to continue to demonstrate the strategic importance of research and to effect positive change for communities here in the UK and internationally.”

Download the Research Live Industry Report 2022 here.