Celebrating Our Sector's Finest - Those Who Make Things Happen!
20 November 2024

The 2024 MRS Operations Awards ceremony — fondly known as the Oppies — took place at Drake and Morgan in Kings Cross on 26 September. With over 300 attendees, the evening was a vibrant celebration of the best in operational excellence within the research and insight industry. This year’s event, filled with excitement and anticipation, honoured exceptional talent and dedication that drive quality, innovation, and efficiency across the sector.

Here, we celebrate the winners of each category, share insights from the judges, and highlight the proud words of the winners themselves.

Premier Award – Operational Excellence

Sponsored by: Bilendi & Respondi

Operations are the engine room of effective research. This prestigious award celebrates the operations business or department that best demonstrates their application of modern management techniques that excel in efficiency, quality, and consistency of delivery.

Winner: Cobalt Sky
The judges said: “Cobalt Sky stood out with their holistic approach, including their ‘Right on Time, First Time’ commitment. The metrics for project delivery times, budgets and communication are all very impressive. This is supported by a robust approach to the MRS Code of Conduct, data protection and ISO standards plus strong commitments to EDI and sustainability.”

Rebecca Cole, Managing Director at Cobalt Sky, shared: “The Oppies are always a huge part of our year. For our teams, success at the Oppies boosts morale and reinforces that our hard work and processes really make a difference. It’s also fantastic for our brand and marketing, providing quantifiable proof of the quality of our work.”

Congratulations to Cobalt Sky for lifting their glass trophy with joy!

Highly Commended: Potentia Insight & Sense

Operations Future Leader

Sponsored by: Catalyse Research

A new category this year, this award recognises rising stars in operations and support services, showcasing future leaders who demonstrate commitment and specialist knowledge that keep the wheels of the research sector turning smoothly.

Winner: Samantha Morrisroe, IFF Research
The judges said: “Samantha has made a huge impact, displaying exemplary leadership attributes in fostering a highly inclusive and positive working environment. Using strong collaborative skills, she works tirelessly and with great enthusiasm, always with the wider team in mind, bridging the gap between Research and Operations.”

Samantha expressed: “I’m incredibly proud and grateful to receive the Operational Future Leader 2024 award and honoured to be the first recipient in this new category. I’m passionate about the work I do at IFF Research, and I find that managing a large remote team with such varying roles, skills and experience drives me to continuously strive for operational excellence and improvement. I’m excited to keep collaborating with like-minded people to drive positive change and contribute to our industry.”

Highly Commended: Verity Game (Strat7 Incite) and Cassandra Rankin (Ipsos)

Best Data Collection – Interviewer Administered

Sponsored by: IQCS

This category celebrates teams whose excellence in data collection using interviewers—by phone, face-to-face, or mixed methods—delivers exceptional results.

Winner: Ipsos
The judges said: “Ipsos showcased ingenuity, innovation, and commitment to new techniques on their Early Life Feasibility study of infant development. The results will be invaluable in shaping the methodologies employed in the upcoming large-scale birth cohort study. The fieldwork team demonstrated great agility, creativity and skill and should be proud of this well-deserved win.”

Highly Commended: Prevision Research

Best Online Data Collection – Quantitative

Sponsored by: Prevision Research

This award honours teams that excel in collecting high-quality data online or using mixed-mode approaches.

Winner: Giraffe Insights
The judges said: “Giraffe Insights have excelled in their access and engagement of young audiences. Using an AI tool to adapt language to different age groups informed by academic theory and real-world experiences. Participation increased by 70% and greatly improved the quality of the research.”

Maxine Fox, Managing Director at Giraffe Insights, remarked: “This recognition for ‘Little Voices’, our revolutionary AI platform that is transforming the way we ask survey questions, demonstrates not only our commitment to the voices of younger audiences but also to innovating within the research space. The team at Giraffe Insights and I are extremely proud to be able to put children and young people at the heart of decision making for brands and give them the attention they deserve within research.”

Highly Commended: Cobalt Sky

Best Data Solution

Sponsored by: i-view London

This category celebrates innovative data solutions that meet the research sector’s growing complexity.

Winners: Stravito and Unilever CMI PDC in partnership with Capgemini
The judges said:

“Stravito has developed and launched a generative AI insights solution which helps global enterprises extract and synthesize insights for business decisions at scale – Keeping research findings very much off the shelf and firmly at the heart of decision making.”

“Unilever has designed and launched R-View an efficient data platform that allows them to quickly understand the consumer journey through virtual real-time ratings and reviews. The new platform is having impact and monitors priority brand health across the company.”

Best Online Qual

Sponsored by: Perspective

This award honours virtual qualitative research projects that showcase exceptional value and innovation.

Winner: Brand Jar
The judges said: “The winning entry was a challenging project engaging with the Under 30’s. The online methodology was agile and creative, including platform integrated AI tools. The project design ensured that it was fully GDPR compliant and participant data was secure at all stages of the research. Client testimonials praised them for exceeding their delivery times and for their flexible reporting which produced exceptional results.”

Highly Commended: Discuss

Best Support Services

Sponsored by: Criteria Fieldwork Specialists

This category recognizes indispensable services that support researchers and ensure successful projects.

Winner: Empower Translate
The judges said: “The winners rose to the dual challenges of a demanding technical brief and a tight timeframe in providing a comprehensive range of full-service localisation for specialist IDIs with orthodontists. They tailored their services to seamlessly meet the needs of the client - saving both time and money without ever compromising quality.”

Ruth Partington, CEO of Empower Translate, recounted: “The Oppies are an unmissable part of the year for us. We have not yet found another awards ceremony focused on research operations that carries the same global kudos and professional gravitas. Even a finalist spot is a selling point for our business and, significantly, a fabulous boost for our team in recognition of their hard and often creative work.”

Best Sustainable Operations

Sponsored by: Axiom Translate

This award celebrates initiatives addressing the growing climate emergency within the research sector.

Winner: B2B International
The judges said: “B2B International set precise goals to reduce CO2 by 2030 and use renewable energy everywhere it is available. Their aim also includes a longer term target to achieve net zero by 2040. Strong recognition was given in the supporting statements and is also evidenced by external agencies like the Dow Jones Sustainability indices.”

Best Training and Development

Sponsored by: Hannelius Recruitment

Winner: IFF Research
The judges said: “IFF Research have focused on delivering high quality training and continuous learning and support. The judges were impressed with the inclusive opportunities and the amount of support and motivation offered to the operations team.”

Best Viewing Facility

Sponsored by: Leftfield International

Winner: i-view London
The judges said: “The winner clearly demonstrated business resilience and genuine innovation, while remaining dedicated to diversity, inclusion and accessibility for all employees and participants. They transformed their space with flexibility and versatility and continue to be at the forefront of maintaining excellent standards for all research held on their premises.”

RAS Independent Recruiter of the Year

Sponsored by: iThoughts

Another new award for this year, this award was introduced to recognise the independent RAS Accredited Recruiter who best demonstrated their application of knowledge, skills and competence in the field of qualitative recruitment for a particular project.

Winner: Caitlin Patterson, BEAM Fieldwork
The judges said: “Caitlin implemented ‘Compassionate Care’ communication principles,?providing?a framework for recruitment to establish and maintain human connection and build trust for a challenging shopping experience project. This was particularly important as the project was aimed at gaining an understanding through the lens of people living with physical and sensory disabilities, mental health conditions, neurodiversity, learning disabilities and life-affecting illnesses.” 

Kay Middleton, Director of Operations at BEAM Fieldwork, celebrated Caitlin’s win by stating “Winning this year’s Oppies RAS Recruiter award is a true testament to Caitlin’s talents as a multi-faceted BEAM Project Manager. This award recognises her ability to deliver for the needs of her participants and fulfill her client’s project requirements.  We’re so proud of Caitlin and her achievements at BEAM - her Oppies win is the ‘cherry on the top”

Caitlin expressed “Winning the Independent Ras Recruiter of the year at the Oppies awards has been the highlight of my Career to date! I’m honoured that the hard work I put into my projects and ensuring our clients and participants have all the support they need and more has been recognised at this level. I am really proud to work for BEAM and ecstatic that my work with them has brought us an Oppies award!”

Recruitment Excellence

Sponsored by: InsightX Research Solutions

This award goes to the RAS Accredited Company which best demonstrated their application of knowledge, skills and competence in the field of qualitative recruitment for a particular project.

Winner: Face Facts Research
The judges said: “Face Facts Research clearly demonstrated excellent project management skills and how they delivered outstanding recruitment to their client. They implemented rigorous quality checks, overcame challenging issues by going the extra mile and had exceptional communication and collaboration with their client at every stage of the project. Client testimonials praised their flexible, solution orientated approach which sets them apart from other suppliers.”

Rachel Hoy, Joint Owner of Face Facts stated “This recognition truly reflects our team's dedication and hard work, validating the relentless pursuit of excellence in our recruitment strategies. Additionally, we were delighted to be finalists in the Quantitative Online category, highlighting our commitment to delivering exceptional research operational services to all our fantastic qualitative and quantitative clients.

Our support for the MRS in these awards stems from a deep appreciation of the crucial contributions the operational/fieldwork function has in delivering successful research projects.  

We love that these awards shine a spotlight on the individuals who make things happen behind the scenes. This achievement represents the collective effort of our team and our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional research operational services”

Operational Inspiration

The MRS Operations Awards 2024 showcased the exceptional talent and dedication within the research industry. Congratulations to all the winners—your achievements are an inspiration for the entire sector.

Will you be entering next year?