MRS Inclusion Pledge updated and extended to independent consultants to drive representation across market and social research
05 July 2023

MRS has updated its Inclusion Pledge for CEOs to improve representation in research, as well as launching a pledge specifically aimed at independent consultants to encourage commitment to inclusive practices across the sector.

The refreshed pledge for businesses now covers the commitment to consider both visible and invisible disabilities in the sector’s places of work and to ensure that communications and systems are developed with the needs of these groups in mind.

Also added to the pledge is the need to actively consider inclusive research designs and methodologies in projects and to ensure transparent communication around samples, particularly for those seeking to be nationally representative.

The new MRS Inclusion Pledge for Independent Consultants aims to ensure that practices and systems among independent consultants – which make up a sizeable proportion of the market research sector – also support an inclusive environment.

The commitments within this pledge include working with research partners who practice pay parity and who have strong representations of women and marginalised communities at all levels of the organisation. As with the company pledge, this will see consultants commit to design and conduct projects with representation in mind, including around designs, methodologies and transparent sampling.

Jane Frost CBE, CEO of MRS, said: ”The response to the MRS Inclusion Pledge since it launched in 2018 has been fantastic. We now have almost 100 companies signed up and we’re increasingly seeing clients expect their agencies to be signatories. However, we still have work to do and it’s important that the pledge keeps up with our ever evolving society. The latest changes to the MRS Inclusion Pledge aim to ensure that all employees in the sector feel welcome and supported to do their best work, regardless of any visible or invisible disability they may have.

“Inclusive practices obviously need to stretch to the research itself too to ensure our work is as effective and fair as possible. We’re pleased to be expanding the remit of the company commitment to encourage better representation in our sector’s work, as well as extending the pledge to consultants. Given independent consultants make up a significant proportion of our sector’s workforce, the new pledge for this group will be crucial to pushing forward inclusion across market and social research as a whole.”

Visit the MRS Inclusion Pledge page to find out more.