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Strategic Insight Agency

Business, Consumer & Social Market Research Consultants

Big Decisions Made Easy UK London Research Companies

Vision One is a specialist market research agency and three-time winner of The Drum’s Best Market Research Agency . 

We make your decision-making simple and easy! Our qualitative and quantitative research expertise has helped over 600 UK and international organisations make better decisions. So, if you are looking to launch new products , grow your brand , measure customer satisfaction, and track marketing performance then you have come to the right place.

Rated 9.4 out of 10 by UK research buyers, our research expertise is backed up by a proven track record and a team who will support you every step of the way.

We are committed to the highest quality standards and proud to be one of the select market research companies worldwide to be ISO 20252:2012 internationally accredited.

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Three-time Winners of the Drum’s

Best Market Research Agency

Our areas of expertise.

Offering both qualitative focus groups and depth interviews and quantitative survey research for smaller clients right up to largest international market research studies, we understand that you want quick, cost-effective and precisely tailored solutions.

Human Understanding

We help you to understand your customers better – whether to segment and profile, or to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and decision-making processes.

Brand & Communications

We help you  improve your business, branding and marketing communications. Our expertise, tools & services include brand development, brand tracking, advertising & messaging. 

NPD, Product & Pricing

We help ensure  your new products are a success. Our extensive toolkit and expertise covers idea generation, concept and product testing and pricing. 

Are you looking for B2B or Consumer or Social Research?

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Business (b2b) research      Consumer Research      Social Research

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“I’d really recommend this agency. From enquiring about our market research project, they sought to really understand our questions and needs. Results were delivered really quickly without compromising the quality of research and delivery of result.” (The Perfume Shop)

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Best Market Research Companies London (UK)

With 20 years experience, Vision One is a strategic insight agency working with leading UK and International brands. Our specialist marketing and business expertise can help you build and track brand awareness, improve customer satisfaction and develop your products and services. We are also one of the UK’s top London research companies.

Our team and network of international market research consultants are dedicated to helping you improve your marketing communications, increase sales and improve your overall business performance. Gathering and interpreting business information is highly specialised, requiring innovative skills and ground-breaking methods that reveal deeper insights.

Vision One is the perfect choice if you are looking for a leading, top  market research agency  in Europe and EMEA. All our projects are led, from start to finish, by our experienced Directors. As a member of the UK Market Research Society  (MRS), you will find us in their market research agency directory, alongside other specialist strategic insight agencies and brand research experts. Alternative market research agency lists include The Research Buyers Guide ,  AQR, IQCS and  ESOMAR . We are also part of key supplier groups such as Greenbook and The Drum.

Market Research London

Unlike many other global market research companies and consultancies, we are unique in that we have offices in Central London (Camden), Birmingham and in the North West (Liverpool) and a network of international research partners across the globe offering local support wherever you are.

Our qualitative and quantitative research and insight expertise stretches across various business sectors and industries. In particular, our industry expertise is extensive. It includes advertising and PR agencies, financial services, food and drink, packaging research, FMCG, housing, local government, manufacturing and brands, retail and shopping, service providers and associations.

Vision One’s business-to-business market research (B2B) experience is extensive. We work with small businesses (SMEs), social and health (NHS), local and central government, housing and charities.

Award-winning Vision One is among the leading market research agencies in London (United Kingdom) and winners of The Drum’s Best Market Research Agency   2020 and 2021,  so it is no exaggeration to say that we are one of the best. Over the last four years, our satisfaction level has been 99%.

Strategic Research Insights

During economic downturns, many businesses make the mistake of cutting back on their marketing and product development budgets. But this is the ideal time for grabbing market share from your competitors.

Many firms also tend to place too much emphasis on understanding their existing and most loyal customers. However, time and time again, our experience has shown that some of the best and most actionable insights are often gleaned by engaging with less loyal and committed customers.

As one of the UK’s leading qualitative research companies, our methods are innovative, pioneering, rigorous and creative – providing deeper understanding and game-changing, detailed insights. Along with other top survey market research agencies, we also use the most advanced analytical and statistical techniques available, enabling us to get to the heart of your business problem.

Research Company Services

As one of the best focus group companies and qualitative research agencies, we offer UK-wide  and London focus groups, moderators and depth interviews. Our quantitative surveying methods provide statistically robust findings, including telephone and online market research survey services using the latest survey technology. To us, it’s about delivering something unique and meaningful with unparalleled levels of insight. That’s why every project is bespoke and tailored to our client’s needs.

Global Research Specialising in multi-country and international market research , we cover all major territories and countries globally with both Global B2B and International B2C markets.

Our specialist consumer and business insight consultancy services also include advertising and awareness tracking, business and B2B research, brand health, Brand Love and brand tracking research and customer satisfaction research (cSat). We also help marketing agencies and brand owners develop and improve their packaging design through our  packaging research  services.

Other insight services also include concept testing, product testing and new product development. In addition, we also work with companies of all sizes, from start-ups and SMEs to large international brands.

Research Coverage

Finally, in addition to our nearby research offices in London, which are in Camden in Central London, we also have local branches in Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds, ensuring we can provide national and international market research locally across the UK. So why not drop us a line if you are looking for the best quantitative or qualitative market research consultants in London? Our consumer and business market research company services also cover the whole of Great Britain. In addition, our market research company office also covers South East England and Home counties. This also includes businesses in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex.

Most of all, thank you for exploring our Vision One market research company website, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards, Tony Lewis CEO & Founder Vision One Market Research London (UK)

Market Research – UK Directory

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12 leading market research companies in the UK for in-depth consumer insights

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If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve some idea of what market research companies in the UK do, and how research is the rocket fuel that powers your most effective campaigns, product developments, and marketing strategies. 

But for the avoidance of doubt and to make sure we’re all on the same page, market research is about gathering and analyzing data on customers, competitors, distributors, and other actors and forces in the marketplace.

That’s important because market research companies take the guesswork out of getting through to audiences. By studying consumers and gathering information on their likes, dislikes and so on, a brand can make evidence-based decisions rather than relying on instinct or experience.

If a business wants to know – really know – what sort of products or services consumers want to buy, through to where, when, and how those products and services should be marketed, then it makes total sense to ask the prospective audience. 

Without the certainty that market research companies provides, a business is basically hoping for the best, and while we salute their optimism, that’s not exactly a reliable strategy for success. The point is, research matters . To help you take advantage of this, here’s what this blog covers:

How to choose the right market research company for you

• Meet the major players: market research companies in the UK

Market research FAQs

Different market research companies are not created equal. Behind the snazzy websites and persuasive pitching, individual research companies can vary pretty dramatically in terms of what they do and how they do it – all of which can radically alter the benefit their service provides. How do you pick the right research partner for you? Some key things to consider are:

• Does the market research company you’re considering work with or know about your audience?
• Does the company have expertise in your industry and category?
• Do they have a history of success with businesses like yours?
• What’s their capacity? Can they actually do the job you need doing?
• Does the company conduct the right sort of research to answer your questions? 
• Are they transparent about where their data comes from and how they ensure quality?
• Does the company have a track record of providing actionable insights?
• What’s their process for collecting and analyzing data?
• How do they communicate with their clients?
• Will the market research company provide results in a timely manner?
• Will their work add value for your business? 

While there are hundreds of market research companies in London out there, these questions should help you narrow the field to a handful of promising candidates. On that topic, let’s meet 12 of the UK’s major players, starting – unashamedly – with us, GWI, but otherwise in no particular order.

What makes GWI different

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Meet the major players 

The world’s largest ongoing study of online audiences, with a powerful, intuitive platform that instantly puts high impact insights at your fingertips.

Locations: London, UK (with additional offices in the US, Greece, Czech Republic, and Singapore)

Specialisms: Every business has questions about its audiences; GWI has the answers. Powered by consistent, global research, our market research platform is an on-demand window into their world, giving GWI customers on-demand insights into the lives of billions of digital consumers in 53 world markets. As well as our flagship Core data set we’ve equally compelling additional data sets and add-ons that zero in on the USA, kids, gaming, sport, alcohol, B2B buying and work, consumer tech, and travel. Need even deeper insights into your target audiences? We’ve got you covered. Ask any question you like with our custom surveys , analytics and solutions, all tailored to your exact needs. Whatever the topic, whatever the question, GWI has the answer.

Clients: Publicis, Google, Spotify, Microsoft, WPP, Amazon, LinkedIn, and The Guardian.

Use cases: These fall into three intuitive buckets: marketing strategy, including media planning , content marketing, brand health, and ads targeting; product development, including product expansion and improvements, and partnership and collaboration opportunities, and competitive advantage, which includes market differentiation, winning pitches and retaining clients, sponsorship opps and market sizing/expansion.

If you’re looking for a market research company in the UK and you’d like to find out how GWI can help you uncover and maximize opportunities, book a discovery call .

Kantar TGI Consumer Data

Relevant and robust data about global and local audiences in an increasingly connected world.

Locations: London, UK ( with additional global as part of Kantar Group)

Specialisms: TGI Consumer Data specializes in media consumption (across print, TV, radio and online), as well as product and brand usage, attitudes, motivations, and beliefs, all under the banner of “connected consumer intelligence”. TGI uses Kantar’s data – they’re a subsidiary after all – based on a representative sample of over 700,000 consumers in 50 markets. Data is collected online, while offline panels of consumers provide detail on what each consumer does and how those activities are connected to each other. 

Use cases: TGI enables marketing and research teams to enhance strategic planning by segmenting customers and identifying gaps in the market. They help media agencies optimize media planning by identifying the most relevant target audiences against the right advertising activation choices. TGI works with media owners’ sales teams to understand their audience in lifestyle, attitudinal or consumer terms, and uses this to create competitive value.

A global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, Nielsen empowers clients with trusted intelligence.

Locations: London, UK (with additional global offices)

Specialisms: For Nielsen, “audience is everything”. They describe themselves as “Connecting clients to audiences, growth and new opportunities”, while “shaping the future of media” so their clients can “stay ahead of media’s evolution with our timely insight” by measuring behavior across different channels and platforms. They’re perhaps best known for their Nielsen ratings, an audience measurement system of television viewership that for many years has been the deciding factor in canceling or renewing television shows.

Use cases: Specific services include audience measurement (including cross media, digital, streaming and TV), media planning (including audience segmentation, competitor intelligence and scenario planning), market optimization (including marketing outcomes and sports/games), and content metadata (covering audio, sports, and video).

YouGov 

A global online community of 24 million people sharing their views daily. Clients can explore public opinion “about anything and everything”.

Specialisms: YouGov’s mission is to supply a continuous stream of accurate data and insight into what the world thinks, so that companies, governments, and institutions can make informed decisions. Describing what they do as “Living Consumer Intelligence”, YouGov enables some of the world’s most recognised brands, media owners, and agencies to understand their customers using consumer data on 24 million+ registered panel members in 55+ markets.

Use cases: These fall into four buckets: Tracking, by continuously monitoring what an audience thinks about brands, campaigns, and the competition creates a powerful feedback loop for clients. Planning, with over a million data points to help users unlock the most complete profile of their audience and use it to plan marketing campaigns. Exploring, by allowing clients to get answers from their chosen audience using syndicated data products or customized surveys. Activating, enabling advertisers to optimize their ad spend by using research-based audiences to activate ad campaigns.

Attest pairs the expertise of a research agency with the speed (and price) of a self-serve tool for the best of both worlds.

Locations: London, UK

Specialisms: Attest is a consumer research platform that puts trustworthy insights in more people’s hands to minimize risk, increase decision-making confidence, and grow without guesswork. Based on the views of 125 million people across 58 countries, and combining the best bits of research technology and human expertise, Attest makes it simple for anyone to uncover opportunities with consumer data, continuously, at a global scale. They call it “growth without guesswork”. 

Use cases: Brand tracking (including brand health and performance), consumer profiling (for example finding audiences and building personas), creative testing (in terms of validating creative impact and qualifying campaign uplift), market analysis (like identifying new markets and de-risking expansion), and product development (including innovation and uplift).

Empowering bold sustainable action, GfK earns the trust of clients around the world by solving critical questions in their decision-making process.

Specializms: As GfK puts it, “We specializes in solving critical questions in our clients’ decision-making process. We fuel their growth by providing a complete understanding of their consumers’ buying behavior, and the dynamics impacting their markets, brands and media trends.” With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights – delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms – GfK drives “growth from knowledge”.

Use cases: GfK divides these into 5 areas: Brand and marketing performance (including improving brand strength, optimizing marketing, and driving ROI), Sales and marketing growth, Consumer and shopper intelligence (in terms of consumer and shopper intelligence, and how customers think, act and buy), Media measurement (covering an audience’s media consumption and behavior, and understanding who’s consuming which media, when, how often, and on which platforms and devices).

Fieldwork Hub

Participant recruitment and project management experts, FieldworkHub delivers market research services in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Specializms: FieldworkHub specialize in both qualitative and quantitative research fieldwork. Their qualitative expertise covers focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnographies, online bulletin boards, market research online communities, and user experience testing. FieldworkHub’s quantitative specialisms cover online surveys, telephone interviews, and face-to-face interviews. As their name implies, their ultimate specialism is providing high-quality focus group recruitment as part of the full range of qualitative and quantitative fieldwork services.

Use cases: Recruiting audiences for consumer understanding (to highlight opinions, behaviors, and preferences in relation to a market, product, or service), B2B market research (using a combination of their own panel, specialist databases, social networking, and recruiters), tech professionals and users (focussing on consumers who use particular apps or hardware, and B2B technology decision makers), and healthcare professionals and patients (to provide insights on everything from branding to new product testing).

Statista is a leading provider of market and consumer data, constantly developing successful new products and business models.

Specializms: Statista divides its offer into four specialisms: Content & Design focuses on research and information design, eCommerce Insights provides market analyses, benchmarking and lead generation, Consumer Insights analyzes consumer behavior and media usage on- and offline, based on the data of 1,700,000 consumers from 56 countries, while Market Insights covers market sizing and forecasts.

Use cases: Market Insights (covering a broad range of topics, from consumer goods to technology to automobiles), Consumer insights (highlighting consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide), Company insights (providing business information on 70m+ public and private companies), and eCommerce insights (offering detailed information for 39,000+ online stores and marketplaces).

Gartner  

Delivering actionable, objective insights to executives and their teams to help them make faster, smarter decisions.

Specializms: From benchmarks to frameworks to rankings, Gartner provides the practical solutions that transform mission-critical priorities into measurable business results. Benchmarking leverages their best-in-class diagnostics to excel where it matters most, budget smarter, and make function more effective. Cost Optimisation identifies where to reduce, protect and invest to drive growth and efficiency, while Strategic Planning creates a clear and streamlined road map to meet business goals.

Use cases: Audit and risk, customer service and support, finance, human resources, information technology, legal and compliance, marketing and communications, product management, sales, strategy, and supply chain.

Dynata  

The world’s largest first-party data company, covering 70 million consumers and professionals, fully permissioned with billions of verified data points.

Specializms: Dynata divides its specialisms into two broad categories: data and insight solutions, uncovering accurate and actionable insights to drive smarter decision-making, and advertising solutions designed to measure & optimize your cross-channel campaigns to improve your marketing ROI. Use cases: Dynata’s use cases cover a broad sweep of market research tasks, including finding and selecting your ideal audience, building surveys to get you closer to your consumers, connecting data across silos, audience and campaign activation to drive better campaign results, creative testing to produce memorable adverts that maximize ROI, and sharing reports and analytics.

A pioneering audience measurement company, accurately measuring audiences in an increasingly cross-platform world.

Specializms: Automotive, FMCG, retail and travel (planning, transacting, and evaluating advertising across platforms to increase engagement and ROI), digital (accurate measurement across all platforms), financial (comprehensive reporting of competitive performance across acquisition and retention KPIs), pharma (privacy-focused, holistic measurement of campaign outcomes), and tech (understanding emerging consumer trends, device usage, and platforms). 

Use cases: Advertising (measuring and evaluating effectiveness across platforms), marketing impact (maximizing effectiveness), programmatic targeting (for cross platform audiences), TV audiences (measuring size and makeup), digital audiences (measuring all content types), movies (measuring global box office performance), social (understanding value of social audiences).

The world’s first “human intelligence platform”, Streetbees captures real life moments, at scale, and in people’s own words.

Locations: London and Lisbon

Specializms: Streetbees currently has two flagship solutions that reflect their area of specialization. Streetbees GO captures and communicates the context and emotion of 4.5m lives so brands can make the right growth decisions in terms of demand spaces, category development, market trends and brand growth. Its Cost of Living Monitor helps brands create winning strategies to combat inflation by observing how consumers’ spending is changing in their category.

Use cases: Observing the moment of truth, by capturing real life behavior at the moment a consumer makes a decision. Never rely on claims again. Getting closer to consumers at scale, by accessing rich data with photos and videos from millions of consumers around the world. Growth through AI also allows you to spot hidden growth opportunities by applying AI to millions of real life observations from real consumers.

Twelve different market research companies, with twelve different ways to help brands by taking the gut feel out of decision-making. 

The cost of accessing a market research company’s platform – assuming they offer one – varies considerably between providers. LinkedIn suggests some ballpark figures for custom research projects, although obviously this can vary dramatically.

Using market research, a process that starts with collecting data on your customers, followed by qualitative and quantitative methods like focus groups, surveys and customer behavior data. The aim is to analyze the data to look for trends and patterns.

Market research provides critical information about your market and your business landscape. It can tell you how your company is perceived by the target customers and clients you want to reach. It can also give you the consumer insights you need to refine your product, ace your marketing plans, and size up new markets.

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Top 10 Market Research Agencies in London

Definition of Market Research

Market research is a process of gathering and analysing data about a target market, competition, and industry trends. It is used to gain insights into customers’ needs, preferences, and behaviors, as well as to identify opportunities for businesses to capitalise on. Market research is conducted through a variety of methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation.

Benefits of Market Research

Market research is an essential tool for businesses of all sizes. It helps them to gain a better understanding of their target market, identify potential opportunities, and develop effective strategies. Market research can also be used to assess the success of a product or service, as well as to identify areas for improvement. In addition, market research can help businesses to develop stronger relationships with their customers, as it allows them to gain a better understanding of their needs and preferences.

We have compiled our list of the top 10 market research agencies based in London .  

1. Critical Research

Critical Research is a London-based independent market research agency that provides the full spectrum of market research services. They work with clients to analyse their market, identify target audiences, develop surveys and questionnaires, analyse data, and present the findings. Their independence allows them to provide unbiased and objective research results.

They provide a range of services such as qualitative research, quantitative research, focus groups, surveys, and interviews.

A team composed of members who are supportive, encouraging, and collaborative, and work together to create a positive atmosphere, open to feedback and constructive criticism, and strive to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone. 

They are always open to new ideas and opportunities, willing to take risks and try new things, and focused on making progress and achieving success.

Kantar is an international marketing data and analytics company.  By combining the deep expertise of their people, their data resources and benchmarks, and their innovative analytics and technology, they help their clients understand people and inspire growth.

Ipsos is one of the largest market research companies operating in 90 markets with more than 18,000 professionals.

GfK NOP is the UK flagship outpost for German-based GfK Group, one of the largest market research companies in the world.  They are the AI-powered intelligence platform and consulting service for the consumer products industry, globally.

Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data, and analytics, shaping the future of media in the United Kingdom.

6. ResearchBods

ResearchBods blends data, technology, and sharp thinking to bring customers and brands closer — putting the voice of consumers at the client’s fingertips for faster, smarter, and better-informed decisions.

System1 Group is a global marketing research and effectiveness company. They predict marketing outcomes to help brands grow.

8. Hall & Partners

Hall & Partners is an insight agency in London, specialising in quantitative and qualitative market research, communications, branding, and strategy.

9. MESH Experience

MESH Experience is an innovative data, analytics, and insight company that can make clients’ marketing, media, customer experience, and shopper investments work harder.

10. Vision One

Vision One is an innovative, award-winning customer insight and market research company offering UK and International qualitative and quantitative market research. 

Criteria for Selecting a Market Research Agency

A. Expertise

When selecting a market research agency, it is important to consider their expertise and experience. It is important to ensure that the agency has the necessary knowledge and skills to provide accurate and reliable insights.

Cost is another important factor to consider when selecting a market research agency. It is important to ensure that the agency offers competitive rates and that its services are within your budget.

C. Location

Location is another important factor to consider when selecting a market research agency. It is important to ensure that the agency is located close to your target market, as this will allow them to gain a better understanding of the local market and consumer needs.

D. Specialists

It is important to consider the specialism of the market research agency when selecting one. It is important to ensure that the agency is specialised in the type of research you require, as this will ensure that they are able to provide accurate and reliable insights.

E. Client Reviews

It is important to consider the client reviews of the market research agency when selecting one. Client reviews can provide valuable insights into the quality of the agency’s services and the level of satisfaction of their clients.

A. Summary of our Top 10 Market Research Agencies in London

Our top 10 market research agencies in London are Critical Research, Kantar, IPSOS, GfK, Nielsen, ResearchBods, System1, Hall & Partners, Lightspeed, MESH Experience, and Vision One. Each of these agencies specialises in providing insights into consumer behavior, trends, and preferences.

B. Benefits of Utilising Market Research

Market research is an essential tool for businesses of all sizes. It helps them to gain a better understanding of their target market, identify potential opportunities, and develop effective marketing strategies. Market research can also be used to assess the success of a product or service, as well as to identify areas for improvement. In addition, market research can help businesses to develop stronger relationships with their customers, as it allows them to gain a better understanding of their needs and preferences.

C. Importance of Choosing the Right Market Research Agency

It is important to choose the right market research agency in order to ensure that the insights provided are accurate and reliable. It is important to consider the agency’s expertise, cost, location, specialism, and client reviews when selecting one.

A. Market Research Society

The Market Research Society is a professional organisation that provides resources, education, and networking opportunities for market research professionals.

B. Market Research Hubspot

Market Research Hub is an online resource that provides information and resources on market research topics.

C. Market Research Blogs

Market research blogs are a great way to stay up to date on the latest trends and developments in the market research industry.

To find out more about Critical Research and how we might be able to help you, please contact us here .

• Published 19/01/2023

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Market Research Agency

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Brand Research

Brand tracking.

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B2B Market Research

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Quantitative Market Research

Gain competitive advantage by understanding your market like never before

Plan your brand’s future with accurate research that provides significant long-term benefit

Research any topic, any company, any country, anywhere, at affordable prices

Work with a responsive, highly qualified and transparent team to guide you through the entire process

Fill in the Gaps in your Knowledge

Since 2004, Brandspeak as a Leading UK Market Research Agency has been enabling  UK and global brands, marketing agencies, start-ups, public sector organisations and charities to fill in the gaps in their market knowledge, through expert  qualitative , quantitative , ethnographic and neuromarketing research. 

You will be in good Company

Our Market Research Services

Brandspeak is one of the fastest growing market research agencies in the UK, due the depth of our research expertise, the breadth of our research offer, our cost-competitiveness and because of the emphasis we place on first-rate account management.

Customer Segmentation

Advertising research, communication services, customer experience research, customer satisfaction research, new product development research, market research services, food and drink market research, retail market research, experiential marketing research, brand strategy consulting, competitor analysis services.

Qualitative Research

A broad range of face-to-face and online research approaches to explore the rational and emotional thoughts, needs and expectations of B2C and B2B customers in real detail.

Quantitative Research

Online, mobile and face-to-face methodologies for quantifying the needs, preferences and behaviours of B2B and B2C audiences.

Ethnography

In-the-moment observation of consumers undertaking brand-related tasks at home or on the move. Provides highly contextualised understanding of how and why consumers behave as they do.

Neuromarketing

Eye-tracking, facial coding and EEG tools for capturing, analysing and measuring the System 1, non-conscious, emotional responses of consumers to marketing stimuli.

Our Market Research Toolkit

We have an extensive range of market research tools, each of which falls in to one of the four categories shown here. 

• I have worked with Brandspeak for some time now as a supplier, writing content such as blogs and articles. You can tell a lot about a company by how it treats suppliers - especially freelancers. Jeremy is unfailingly thoughtful and responsive, gives detailed, clear and easy to follow briefs, always gives feedback and - the holy grail for freelancers - pays super fast. Overall, a pleasure to work for.
• Judith Staig

• Brandspeak are a highly professional research agency. As a supplier they are welcoming, easy to work with and always appreciative of the services I supply. I look forward to continuing our enjoyable, working relationship in the future.
• Sarah Taylor
• Brandspeak is an absolute pleasure to work with! I’ve collaborated with them on a few projects for online research for their clients. The experience they bring to each and every project is very thorough, and their survey design work is very well put together. Looking forward to many more projects with the folks at Brandspeak!
• Ann Spelman
• Professional & friendly with a great team to support your research needs!
• Lauren Williams
• We worked with Brandspeak on a brand awareness project and we were extremely pleased the quality of service and the process. They understood the complexity of the briefs and ask plenty of questions to make sure they fully understand the objectives. They interacted with all levels of people in our business and understood the differences within the market and suggested ways to tie the research together so it was still comparable. The results were delivered with easy to digest summaries that could be used across the business. We would highly recommend using them
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Sago London

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10 Best market research companies in the UK for reliable data and analysis

2. vision one, 3. schlesinger group uk, 5. qualtrics, 6. mesh experience, 7. surveymonkey, 8. sis international research, 9. brandwatch, are uk market research companies effective.

The UK market remains a key choice for businesses looking to expand their customer base and unlock growth opportunities. But you can’t do it without first gathering actionable intelligence about buyers, their needs and their preferences. Market research companies in the UK can help you make strategic business decisions with consumer insights.

These market research agencies use quantitative and qualitative research methods to help you assess the competition, buyers’ pain points, and motivations. This data gives you the actionable insights you need to make your brand stand out in the crowd. For example, you can develop better products that meet customers’ needs or use competitive intelligence to create better marketing strategies. You can also use consumer insights to spot untapped product segments and drive business growth, and to spot potentially devastating fluctuations in your market, allowing you to act before the going gets tough.

Market research platforms do almost the same job as a market research agency but much more efficiently and at a lower cost. For example, consumer research tools like Attest let you tap into a global audience of consumers and get the insights without having to wait for weeks or paying a hefty amount. With in-built analytical capabilities, these tools get you quality data analysis much faster for efficient decision-making. Another great thing is that you have control over your insights, and can reuse them as you wish—something that’s trickier to do with a market research agency.

Market research agencies and tools offer endless opportunities for you to explore new ideas and build on existing product, marketing and sales strategies. But finding a market research company or platform that’s right for you can be challenging. Whether you’re looking for market research agencies in London , Birmingham, Glasgow, or beyond, we’ve got you covered.

Here we explore the top 10 UK market research companies and platforms that make it effortless for you to gather and analyze data and get your insights.

Attest is a leading consumer intelligence platform that offers you quality-checked data and consumer insights from global audience panels.

Sign up for a demo today to see how Attest can uncover the insights that can help you truly understand your target audience.

Research agency expertise or DIY software? Get the best of both!

Get fast, reliable insights and advice from our research experts—to make sure you get the insights you need, when you need them.

Attest is a London-based consumer research platform that lets you gather data from global audiences and make confident business decisions based on quality insights. With Attest’s research technology platform, you can reach your target customers in 59 and survey them for in-depth data collection.

Attest’s mixed-panel approach gives you reliable data verified by a blend machine learning algorithms and human research analysts. This makes sure that your research with Attest is super reliable, and using multiple panels means you get your insights fast!

The interactive dashboard visualizes the data and gives you quick takeaways for smarter (and faster!) business decision-making. You can also survey target audiences multiple times or compare differences in the response of two groups.

With Attest, you get reliable consumer insights in hours or days, instead of weeks or months. Plus, you get expert support every step of the way, whether you need help sending out the first survey or a second pair of eyes on your insighs project. Attest remains the first choice for companies exploring market research tools for tracking brand health, analyzing competitors, and developing new products. See our market analysis templates to send your first survey.

Don’t just take our word for it. See what our customers are accomplishing with Attest.

The UK-based fintech company GoCardless was looking for an efficient way to quantify customers’ pain points and address payment challenges. Check out how they used Attest to better position the brand’s value proposition.

Attest’s simple platform has enabled the GoCardless team to find out a really wide range of crucial information about our market quickly and reliably. The platform gives us the confidence to run market research that we know will reveal or compound actionable knowledge about our market. Siamac Rezaiezadeh, Director of Product Marketing at GoCardless

With Attest, GoCardless spotted eight key pain points in customer experience and could articulate their value proposition 20 percent more clearly.

Be like GoCardless. Book a demo with Attest and get the consumer data that matters for your business.

Location: London, England

Pricing: See more about Attest pricing

• Brand tracking
• Consumer profiling
• Creative testing

Market analysis

• New product development

Looking for a market research agency? One that makes market research hassle-free, gives you quality data, and removes the stress of having to do it all yourself?

Give Attest a shot today! Sign up for a demo to see how it can help you.

Choose the #1 UK market research company

Get reliable market insights fast with Attest’s survey software. And designated advice from our Customer Research Team will help you make the most of your insights.

Vision One is a UK-based market research company that specializes in delivering bespoke B2B and consumer research insights. They use a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methods to offer consulting services in branding, product development, and international market research. Currently, they serve industries ranging from finance to leisure to social research. Their B2B research insights services are ideal for companies looking to conduct advertising research, customer satisfaction surveys and employee surveys.

Vision One’s B2B brand tracking tool BrandVision helps organizations be aware of brand health and performance. This award-winning agency can also efficiently conduct different surveys, including face-to-face surveys, omnibus surveys and central location tests. This global market research company also offers advanced research services such as neuro-marketing, implicit reaction time testing and eye tracking.

Location: Camden Town, London

Pricing: Available on request

• Focus groups
• In-depth interviews
• International research
• Brand tracking and development
• Customer satisfaction research
• Neuromarketing

Schlesinger Group UK is a leading market research company offering qualitative and quantitative research services along with clinical research and special solutions. These special services include transcription, product and sensory testing, and trial and jury consulting. The market research agency also offers technology products that combine automation, data science, and artificial intelligence to streamline how you engage with respondents.

Their quantitative research offerings include fieldwork, recruitment-as-a-service, and do-it-for-me solutions. Qualitative research services range from facility video services to focus groups to product tests. The company also owns hospital simulation centers where you can create real-life medical scenarios for training videos or hands-on learning.

Location: London, United Kingdom

• Quantitative and qualitative market research services
• Online surveys
• Focus Group facilities
• Global market research studies
• Data collection
• Online qualitative solutions
• Usability testing
• Eye tracking studies
• Biometric labs
• Product testing
• Clinical research

Toluna is a market research technology company specializing in data insights delivery with its global panel of 40+ million consumers across 68 markets. They provide self-service and full consultancy services to businesses across retail, automotive, education, and other industries. 

Toluna is known for its end-to-end consumer intelligence platform that uses trusted research methods and analytic capabilities to deliver real-time data visualization and insights. The team excels at offering solutions for market sizing research, new product development, and brand health research, to name a few.

Location: London, UK (Headquarters in Norwalk, CT) Pricing: Available on request Best for:

• Concept testing
• Online research panel
• Online communities
• DIY and Online surveys
• Quantitative and qualitative research

Qualtrics is another leading market research platform that helps corporate and academic researchers alike in tackling challenging research problems. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can easily roll out advanced-flow surveys, dive deep into complex customer segments, or even conduct product testing. 

This market research tool can also help you with purchase behavior analysis, market trend research and competitive benchmarking, among other things. Qualtrics’ flexible service model is ideal for companies looking to run strategic market research in-house or partner with agencies.

Location: London, UK (Headquarters in Provo, UT and Seattle, WA)

• Online survey
• Consumer feedback research
• NPS and VOC
• Customer experience research
• Enteprise feedback management

MESH Experience is a leading market intelligence company that helps you measure customer experience and marketing effectiveness. They help you capture, measure, and analyze customer experience and path to purchase data from more than 100 touch points. Their unique Real-time Experience Tracking (RET) solution lets you dive deep into what customers experience across owned, paid, and earned touchpoints.

This market research consultancy helps FMCG, finance and telecoms companies with customer experience, data analytics, and attitude research. They can also help you with creative development research, mobile surveys, and syndicated surveys. MESH Experience is also a company partner member of the Market Research Society.

• Advanced statistical research
• Creative development studies
• Diary studies
• Mobile surveys
• Syndicated surveys

SurveyMonkey (recently acquired by Momentive) is a global survey software leader helping businesses get insights from employees, customers, and target markets. The platform offers 250+ survey templates, helping you create expert surveys in minutes. 

You can also use SurveyMonkey’s global audience of 175M+ respondents in 130+ countries to get the market research insights you need. Besides using pre-profiled attributes, the platform offers you the flexibility to create custom screening questions. Surveymonkey also makes it effortless for you to analyze survey responses with built-in reports and advanced dashboards.

Location: London & Dublin, UK (Headquarters in San Mateo, California)

• Customer research
• Employee research
• Market research
• Brand research
• Product innovation research services

SIS International Research is a global insights agency offering strategy consulting services to companies in different business sectors ranging from agritech to beverage to IT. Their full-service market research services include consumer research. B2B market research, industrial research, and more. They also provide focus group facilities, strategy research, and international market research services.

While this market research consultancy is headquartered in New York, they have offices worldwide, including in the UK, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Whether you need to analyze buyer behavior or need data visualization, they have the know-how and expertise to help you.

• Competitive intelligence
• IT market research
• Healthcare market research
• Management consulting
• Fintech strategy
• Brand consulting
• Automotive research
• Market entry strategy
• Portfolio expansion
• UX research

Brandwatch is one of the leading companies in the social listening space. Their suite of social products is best for organizations looking to understand consumers and manage social media channels. Their consumer intelligence platform analyzes social posts, comments, and conversations for feedback analysis and brand monitoring.

Their social media management solution is suitable for companies looking to boost customer loyalty on social, listen to consumers, and get competitive intel. You can also use their social media suite to manage social content calendars and digital asset libraries. Brandwatch helps you make smart decisions with deep qualitative insights from online customer discussion pools.

Location: Brighton, East Sussex

• Brand management
• Crisis management
• Stakeholder management
• Social media management
• Content marketing
• Influencer marketing

Zappi is a trusted insights partner in the United Kingdom. They offer you a world-class platform where you can validate product ideas, ads or shopping experiences with consumer insights. The platform lets you collect predictive consumer feedback using proven methodologies. Plus, you can choose your target audiences and get results in under six hours. Zappi’s platform offers not only historical data, but also industry benchmarks, so you can compare the data against competitors.

Besides letting you receive creative feedback for ads, the platform lets you run surveys for validating product ideas and optimizing shopper experience as well. They also offer project consulting services for companies looking to gain actionable consumer insights with flexible support.

Location: London, UK (Headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts)

• Automated market research,
• Social listening
• Innovation testing

Yes, market research companies help you test uncharted territories before you enter a new market, test ideas, or validate product concepts. They use market analysis tools to help you gain actionable competitive intelligence and decide the next steps you need to take.

So, how else can market research companies UK help you? Check out the benefits below.

• Understand customers better: Whether you’re expanding your business to the UK or launching new products, market research companies help you analyze customers’ interests so you can get a bigger bang for your buck every time.
• Stay ahead of the competition: You don’t want to make the same mistakes your competitors make. With market research insights, you can learn what can go wrong and decide accordingly.
• Test products before launch: Testing prototypes with like-minded consumers helps you find improvement opportunities and cater to customers’ needs better.

With the right market research partner, you can take your business to new heights. Attest remains the go-to choice for businesses looking to survey global audiences and get quality data with expert support every step of the way.

Book a demo today to see how Attest can unlock new opportunities for your business.

Make better decisions with the best market research partner

Make smarter decisions based on reliable data, with Attest’s triple-checked consumer insights.

Customer Research Lead 

Nick joined Attest in 2021, with more than 10 years' experience in market research and consumer insights on both agency and brand sides. As part of the Customer Research Team team, Nick takes a hands-on role supporting customers uncover insights and opportunities for growth.

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Home • Our offices • Market research in the United Kingdom – our capabilities

Market research in the United Kingdom – our capabilities .

From London to Edinburgh, Manchester to Cardiff, we are the go-to partner for market research in the UK

At Kadence we conduct market research for UK brands in all different sectors so they can set themselves apart from their competition.

From full-service research and fieldwork projects to granular communication strategies, we help our clients in the United Kingdom get to the bottom of what their customers want and need. No matter what market.

With over 30 years experience working closely with businesses in the B2B space, Kadence is amongst the top market research firms in the UK. From our United Kingdom headquarters in London, we help clients gain a clear understanding of how they can accelerate growth in their target markets — be that in the region or overseas.

Down the years we’ve helped some of the world’s biggest global brands tap into their audiences to deliver successful marketing campaigns, product launches and communication strategies. For example we helped Mitsubishi get more of an insight into how its vehicles were being used in the UK and we worked with Unilever Food Solutions to launch a range of multi-market products.

As one of Kadence International’s global offices, our UK team reflects our international outlook and can speak 15 different languages. So whatever market research challenges you’re facing, we’ll be able to design the best approach to help you hit your goals.

We are consistently recognised as one of the top market research agencies in London

Innovation of the Year Finalist — The AURAs, 2021

Market Research Agency of the Year Winner – Gold — Agency of the Year Awards, 2021

Consultant of the Year Winner – Gold — Agency of the Year Awards, 2021

Consultant of the Year Winner — Agency of the Year Awards, 2020

Market Research Agency of the Year Finalist — Agency of the Year Awards, 2020

Market Research Supplier of the Year Winner — Marketing Research & Insight Excellence Awards – 2019

Market Research Agency of the Year Winner — Agency of the Year Awards, 2019

Global Agency of the Year Highly Commended — Market Research Society Awards, 2019

Best Data Collection (face-to-face) Finalist — Market Research Society's Operations Awards – 2019

Best Data Collection (telephone) Finalist — Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Best Training and Development Highly Commended — Market Research Society's Operations Awards, 2019

Market research services

We work with the world’s leading brands, harnessing research to unlock new ideas, develop future strategies and power business growth.

Customer and market understanding

We bring businesses closer to their customers and help them navigate the broader market, so they can future proof their strategy.

Brand and advertising research

We help brands create comms that cut through by understanding the messages which truly resonate with your target audience.

Online and offline fieldwork services

We're a trusted fieldwork partner to top-tier organizations, providing them with the data they need to drive decision-making.

Insight activation

Our work doesn't stop at the debrief. We go further, workshopping findings and creating standout creative outputs to raise the impact of research and turn insight into action.

What methodologies do you offer in the United Kingdom?

We offer both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. This includes everything from focus groups, in depth interviews and quantitative surveys, to cutting-edge methodologies such as passive tracking and neuroscience.

Where can Kadence conduct research?

Thanks to our global footprint, virtually anywhere in the world! From our central hub in London, we cover the entire United Kingdom. And for brands looking to conduct multi-market projects or grow their presence overseas, we collaborate with our offices in Europe, Asia and the US to meet your goals.

What is it like working with Kadence?

Unlike other market research agencies, we take a customised and flexible approach to answering your business questions. Whether we’re working on project design or delivering actionable insights, our team will provide customised solutions that are tailored to your exact needs — there’s no off the shelf solutions with us! We deliver findings in an extremely visual way to ensure stakeholders are engaged and ready to act on the insights gathered.

Our customers

Developing a future-focused digital product strategy for Wall Street Journal

A mixed methodology approach helped Wall Street Journal understand how to position the brand for success in a rapidly changing world.

Creating an education and career exploration tool to wow teens with American Student Assistance

Kadence partnered with American Student Assistance (ASA) to create a research program to inform the development of their exploration tool, Futurescape.

Harnessing blockchain technology in market research with Unilever Food Solutions

We took part in a first of its kind pilot to test the technology and assess what it could bring to market research.

Meet Our Senior Team

Cindi Collett

Cindi is a seasoned market research professional with extensive experience in multiple market research disciplines. She has worked with clients from all over the globe in multiple sectors, including Food and Beverage, CPG, manufacturing, technology, and finance.

Rupert Sinclair

Bianca Abulafia

Bianca helps businesses understand how to get the most out of qualitative research, working across our offices globally to design approaches that get to the heart of what’s driving behaviour. Bianca is a frequent conference speaker on all things qual – both in the US and the UK.

Harriet Jowett

As Insights Director and Head of People and Culture, Harriet leads the agency’s client-side efforts to support client initiatives and promote Kadence International’s value proposition and service offerings. Internally, she also promotes the company’s core values, focusing on strengthening the company culture.

Our location

Kadence International – UK

2 Valentine Place London SE1 8QH

+44 20 7620 8360

Sectors we serve

With over 30 years in the business of market research, we have extensive experience and a depth of knowledge across a range of sectors.

We bring this to bear to design the very best approach to meet your objectives.

Other regions we operate in

Market research in the USA – our capabilities

Market research in Europe – our capabilities

Market research in China – our capabilities

Market research in India – our capabilities.

Market research in Japan – our capabilities

Market research in Asia – our capabilities

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We’ve been working with Kadence on a couple of strategic projects, which influenced our product roadmap roll-out within the region. Their work has been exceptional in providing me the insights that I need. Senior Marketing Executive Arla Foods

Kadence’s reports give us the insight, conclusion and recommended execution needed to give us a different perspective, which provided us with an opportunity to relook at our go to market strategy in a different direction which we are now reaping the benefits from. Sales & Marketing Bridgestone

Kadence helped us not only conduct a thorough and insightful piece of research, its interpretation of the data provided many useful and unexpected good-news stories that we were able to use in our communications and interactions with government bodies. General Manager PR -Internal Communications & Government Affairs Mitsubishi

Kadence team is more like a partner to us. We have run a number of projects together and … the pro-activeness, out of the box thinking and delivering in spite of tight deadlines are some of the key reasons we always reach out to them. Vital Strategies

Kadence were an excellent partner on this project; they took time to really understand our business challenges, and developed a research approach that would tackle the exam question from all directions.  The impact of the work is still being felt now, several years later. Customer Intelligence Director Wall Street Journal

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Startup News // Ecosystem Reports // Guides for Founders

Top Successful Market Research Companies for Startups in London in 2023

Market research is gathering inputs, opinions, and feedback from potential consumers. This information helps companies identify target market, products, and services. It involves two types of research, namely primary and secondary. The blog talks about what market research companies do , how much do companies pay for market research , and why companies carry out market research . Additionally, the blog talks about a few market research companies start-up entrepreneurs can contact to up their business.

Market Research helps determine the value of a product through research and surveys conducted with potential customers. The data collected through such research provides critical insights for companies to make well-informed decisions. It involves collecting information about the consumers for a business to perform effectively and succeed in the market. Market research is imperative for any business, be it big or small. It aids startups in making critical decisions during the initial setup.

Startups must perform research ahead of commencing the venture. They can either do it by using existing information about the industry or conduct their research by engaging a market research firm directly. There are five fundamental reasons for startups to conduct market research : market need, business location, competition, customer need, and marketing practices.

There are several types of Market Research . It can be primary market research, secondary market research, qualitative, quantitative, branding, customer (loyalty, satisfaction, segmentation, etc.), competitor and product research, etc. Combining data across primary, secondary, qualitative, quantitative, and the critical area of product/reason for the research in an effective marketing strategy is essential. Primary research is when self collects information, and Secondary research is data collected by a third party like surveys, websites, etc. 

Research provides excellent insights into your business and the broader marketplace and helps enhance your customer base, improve your business and reduce customer churn.

Are you wondering about what market research companies do?

Market research helped startups collect and analyze customer data, competitors’ performance and strategies, distributor information, and other factors to promote a successful business.

Let us see how much companies pay for market research.

The cost of research could vary based on the method or type. For example, online surveys in the UK could cost around £1,000 depending upon the number of participants. Likewise, focus groups of ten persons could cost about £500 for a 60-minute session. Telephone interviews cost around £35 each.

The UK is the largest startup nation in the region, attracting massive funding through venture capital. Several market research agencies have supported such businesses with exponential growth in startup firms. Let us look at some of the popular market research companies in the UK.

Here are top successful market research companies for startups in London:

Market Research Companies

Research now ssi.

Research Now SSI company offers a comprehensive suite of online research services, including online surveys, sample solutions, and data collection. With over 6 million panelists in more than 40 countries, Research Now SSI provides startups with access to a large and diverse pool of potential customers.

Toluna is a global online market research company that helps startups gather insights from consumers around the world. Its platform allows you to create and distribute surveys, analyze data, and collaborate with other members of your team in real-time.

Nielsen is a global leader in market research, offering a range of services including online surveys, in-person research, and data analysis. With a presence in over 100 countries, Nielsen can help startups gain a global perspective on their target market.

YouGov is a leading market research company that specializes in public opinion research. With a panel of over 9 million people in the UK and millions more globally, YouGov can help startups understand what consumers think about their products, services, and brand.

Ipsos MORI is a leading market research company that has been helping startups and established businesses make informed decisions for over 75 years. With a wide range of research services, including online surveys, focus groups, and data analysis, Ipsos MORI can provide valuable insights into your target market.

GfK is a market research company that specializes in providing data and insights to help businesses make better decisions. With a wide range of research services, including online surveys, in-person research, and data analysis, GfK can help startups understand their target market and make informed business decisions.

Kantar Millward Brown is a leading market research company that specializes in brand research and advertising effectiveness. With a range of research services, including online surveys, focus groups, and data analysis, Kantar Millward Brown can help startups understand how their brand is perceived by consumers and make informed decisions about their advertising strategy.

Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is a market research company that offers a range of online research services, including online surveys, sample solutions, and data collection. With a global network of panelists, Harris Interactive can help startups understand their target market and make informed business decisions.

Survation is a market research company that specializes in public opinion research. With a focus on online surveys, Survation can help startups understand what consumers think about their products, services, and brand.

Opinium Research is a market research company that specializes in online research, including online surveys and data analysis. With a panel of over 200,000 people in the UK and a focus on fast, accurate results, Opinium Research can help startups understand their target market and make informed business decisions.

C Space covers automotive, electrical goods, fashion, FMCG, retail, telecom, travel, tourism, etc. They use face-to-face, focus groups, group discussions, online communities, workshops, etc., to gather information.

Skopos supports in-home entertainment, business, personal finance, online gambling, interactive entertainment, media, technology, telecom, etc. In addition, they use mobile surveys, online communities, online focus groups and surveys, user experience, etc.

2CV Research

2CV focuses on government, charities, alcoholic drinks, entertainment, fashion, FMCG, media, etc. They perform in-depth, executive, face-to-face interviews, focus groups, mobile surveys, qualitative, quantitative research, etc.

Watermelon Research

Watermelon is a customer experience, insight, and fieldwork specialist. They adopt multiple techniques like in-depth, face-to-face interviews, focus groups, in-store/exit interviews, user experience, workshops, etc., to study consumer behaviour, experience and loyalty.

The Firefish Group is a contemporary strategic insight consultancy. They use Adhoc, ethnography, semiotics, tracking, user experience, etc., and support industries like FMCG, energy/utilities, fashion/clothing, in-home entertainment, food, healthcare, online retail, toys/games, telecom/mobile/internet, etc.

There are many successful market research companies in London that can help startups gather valuable insights into their target market. Whether you’re looking for online surveys, focus groups, or data analysis, these companies can provide the tools and expertise you need to make informed

If you are interested to learn more about current developments in the environment of London Startups, we have the ultimate London Startups ecosystem report ready for you.

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SIS International Research

Address: SE1 1LB London, United Kingdom (GB)

SIS International Research is a global market research and market intelligence company. We provide Qualitative Fieldwork, Quantitative Data Collection, and Strategy Research in the UK, Europe, the US, the Americas and Asia. Our Europe, Middle East and Africa unit is based in our London Office. ...

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Ipsos MORI UK Ltd.

Address: E1W 1YW London, United Kingdom (GB)

Ipsos MORI, part of the Ipsos Group, is a leading full service UK research company with global reach. We specialise in brand communication, advertising and media research (Ipsos MORI Connect),… ...

Foreign Tongues

Address: EC4A 1LL London, United Kingdom (GB)

Open an Account with Foreign Tongues Market Research Translation and you’ll receive a wealth of benefits. Our tried and tested methodologies, and bespoke approach to each project, will make the most efficient use of your allocated budgets. ...

Acacia Avenue

Address: EC1V 1LR London, United Kingdom (GB)

We are a strategic research consultancy offering both qualitative and quantitative research. We help our clients make better business decisions than they would make without us. ...

Address: EC1Y 8RT London, United Kingdom (GB)

YouGov is an international market research and data analytics group. ...

Jigsaw Research

Address: W1T 3LA London, United Kingdom (GB)

Jigsaw Research is an International Strategic Insight Agency based in the UK and USA. We are a full-service agency with an exclusively senior team, offering integrated qualitative and quantitative services and respondent communities. ...

Incite Marketing Planning

Address: W1D 3QF London, United Kingdom (GB)

Incite: To urge to action. Founded in 2000 with its headquarters in London, Incite has grown rapidly and has an enviable blue-chip client list that spans a wide variety of sectors. Incite is an… ...

Circle Research

Address: SE1 9LR London, United Kingdom (GB)

Circle is the B2B research expert. Winner of Best Agency at the 2016 MRS Awards. ...

London Economics Ltd

Address: WC2R 1LA London, United Kingdom (GB)

London Economics are specialists in the provision of behavioural research and behavioural experiments. Our clients include private and public sector organisations across Europe and internationally.… ...

DVL Smith Ltd

Address: SW8 1RP London, United Kingdom (GB)

DVL Smith is an award winning agency that offers insight consultancy and capability building programmes around the world. ...

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• Envisioning Proteins: John Jumper, BS’07, uses AI to work on the “protein folding problem”

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May 17, 2024, 5:00 PM

It’s one thing to know what a protein looks like on paper—it’s another to know how it looks in real life.

The “protein folding problem” has been one of the most vexing in biology. Even if a scientist knows the DNA sequence for a protein, it’s virtually impossible to predict how the long chains of amino acids will interact and fold in upon themselves to create a three-dimensional model.

“The genome gives us the wrong view of proteins—it gives us a linear view,” John Jumper, BS’07, said at the Apex Lecture, a series sponsored by the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences this past August. You might see several mutations associated with cancer spread out along the chain “and then you look at the structure, and they are all right next to each other,” he said. Such particularities are essential in understanding how a protein functions and how it might be targeted. “It gives us a great tool for making hypotheses about how the cell works that we can ultimately test.”

Jumper is a senior staff research scientist for DeepMind, a London-based company that made a huge leap forward in solving the protein folding problem using artificial intelligence. It first released its prediction software, AlphaFold, in 2018, following it up with the even more accurate AlphaFold 2 in late 2020. The method has produced extremely accurate 3D models of all 200 million or so proteins known to science—all freely available on the cloud. In a competition, it outperformed all other methods of protein structure prediction, including those that are much more labor intensive and time-consuming. The work is so significant that Jumper was awarded the 2023 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, which is often considered a precursor prize to the Nobel.

The implications of AlphaFold’s work are vast, allowing for quick, cost-effective predictions that let scientists custom-design drugs to target certain proteins involved in disease, design synthetic enzymes for chemical reactions, speed production of new vaccines and even personalize medical treatments. “AlphaFold represents a revolutionary advance in structural biology, one that has brought the holy grail of predictive protein folding into the toolkit of biochemistry and molecular biology,” said John Kuriyan, dean of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, in announcing Jumper’s selection for the Apex Lecture, which focuses on breakthroughs in biomedical science. “The impact of these advances on drug discovery and, ultimately, on human health will be enormous.”

At the lecture, Jumper took a deep dive into how he and his fellow scientists trained a neural network on the Protein Database (PDB) to create the model that became AlphaFold. There was no magic bullet, he said. Rather, researchers painstakingly trained the model on pairs and sequences of amino acids using various techniques, knocked out particular genes to observe effects, and even asked the model to critique itself on the road to ever more accurate predictions. “We had many small effects that we were able to put together and many, many ways in which we got a little bit better,” Jumper said. “We found that everything mattered a bit, and nothing mattered a lot.”

— MICHAEL BLANDING

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Combining unique methods, kuriyan lab discovers new protein functions; explores physical space of proteins.

Vanderbilt chemist Ben Brown awarded $2.375M to develop nonaddictive painkillers with AI

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LSE ranked top university in London

It is the great work our community does that maintains the School’s reputation and makes it the exciting and intellectually challenging place it is.

LSE has once again been ranked as the top London university in the Complete University Guide 2025 , retaining this ranking for the thirteenth consecutive year.  

The School also held its status as the third best overall university out of the 130 universities assessed in the UK.  

Universities are evaluated on ten key measures: entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, research intensity, academic services spend, spending on student facilities, continuation, student-staff ratio, and graduate prospects 

LSE President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Larry Kramer, said of the news ,  “LSE continues to attract top talent from around the world—a testament to our dedicated community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. It is the great work they all do that maintains the School’s reputation and makes it the exciting and intellectually challenging place it is.”   

The Complete University Guide ranking comes soon after LSE was ranked the top university in London and sixth in the world for Social Science and Management subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 .  

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May 13, 2024

‘Not being subject to the EU’s regulatory fervour is massively working in our favour’ - AI thrives in Brexit Britain self.__wrap_b(":Raiplm:",0.7)

The uk's ai sector had one of its most successful weeks thanks to hard work, cutting-edge research — and an influential liverpool fan self.__wrap_b(":reiplm:",1).

The sun is rising on a new week in UK AI with many in the sector feeling more optimistic than they did last Monday. 

The country has always been a hub for the technology, with Amazon Alexa , AI research lab Google DeepMind and some of the world’s leading self-driving car innovation all starting life here.

But recents events have seen Paris steal some of the European spotlight. French foundation model company Mistral has landed hundreds of millions of dollars from investors like Microsoft (and is reportedly raising hundreds of millions more) while former Github , Nvidia and Tesla staff have also raised chunky rounds to launch much-hyped startups in the city.

But, in the space of a working week, two leading US companies — training data platform Scale AI and cloud computing provider CoreWeave — announced plans to open their European HQs in London, with the latter committing £1bn to invest in UK operations. Separately, self-driving car company Wayve announced a $1.05bn investment from Softbank, Nvidia and Microsoft — a record round for a European AI company.

Founders and investors say deals like these are the result of years of hard work and cutting edge research, and also a sign of the UK finding its feet in a post Brexit world. And, surprisingly, one influential Liverpool Football Club fan has had a big impact too.

CoreWeave’s chief business officer Mike Mattacola tells Sifted that the company chose the UK as its European HQ due to “a great talent pool” and “access to a world-leading financial services sector,” adding that Brexit “did not affect” its decision process.

And while there have been concerns about an R&D brain drain in the UK since the country left the EU, some AI founders believe that the decision is now starting to pay off, as the country sets its own regulatory agenda.

Roeland Decorte is the founder of AI healthtech company Decorte Future Industries and the president of the AI Founders Association in the UK. Originally from Belgium, he says that Britain's less strict regulatory stance on AI compared to the EU has made a big difference to founders launching startups.

“At the time I was not a supporter of Brexit, but if Brexit hadn’t happened I probably would have already moved my startup to the US,” he says. “This is obviously a very clear instance where the UK not being subject to the EU’s regulatory fervour is massively working in our favour.”

The EU is currently finalising what is likely to become the most comprehensive AI regulation in the world, which — unsurprisingly — has been criticised by some entrepreneurs for being too heavy handed. It could include companies having to adhere to strict and potentially expensive compliance checks if they are deemed “high risk” . The UK, meanwhile, is taking a slower approach to putting the legislative brakes on development.

“I think the UK’s approach is the right one. The combination of avoiding premature regulation but building state capacity — in the form of the AI Safety Institute to monitor progress — encourages innovation while keeping on top of potential risks,” Decorte tells Sifted. “I think we’ll look back and say the UK got the balance right here.”

Language and business culture helps too, says Nathan Benaich, founder and general partner at London AI investor Air Street Capital. 

“The UK is probably the easiest place to do business in Europe if you’re a US tech firm. Not only do you avoid burdensome EU regulations, the government is unusual in being prepared to champion the work of overseas companies publicly,” he says. “We also shouldn’t underestimate the importance of shared language — it removes a significant degree of potential friction.”

Anfield till I die

Like CoreWeave, Scale AI cited the UK’s “hotbed” of talent as one of its reasons for choosing the country as its European base. Apart from strong research universities, many agree that a big reason for the concentration of bright AI minds is Google DeepMind’s London HQ.

“DeepMind has become the heart of all Google’s AI efforts — I still think that’s an underrated fact, that arguably the number one AI company in the world has its base here in London,” says Matt Clifford, chair of ARIA, the UK R&D agency, and cofounder of company builder Entrepreneur First. “Think how easy it would have been for the company to move post-acquisition or for [DeepMind cofounder] Demis Hassabis to move to Mountain View [San Francisco] once he took charge of all Google’s AI efforts.”

Siddhant Jayakumar, founder of AI investment platform Finster and former DeepMind research engineer, tells Sifted there’s a surprising reason that’s kept the Google-owned AI lab on UK shores.

“We should all be grateful that Demis is a Liverpool fan and didn't want to move any further away from Anfield,” he says.

It’s not all roses

While last week was a good one for the UK’s AI sector, there’s still work to do.

“The UK public markets are dead, and as long as that is the case, companies will move westward,” says Jayakumar. “The other thing we need is UK based early-stage employees founding companies themselves. This only happens when we get more liberal with equity grants and people pay it forward.”

Benaich adds that “resolving the high cost of living, energy prices, and creaking infrastructure” are crucial to keep the UK’s tech economy moving forward, and that the country needs to whet its appetite for risk if it wants to compete with US AI companies.

There’s also the fact that well-capitalised US companies opening up shop in London will pour gasoline on an already burning-hot talent market, where startups have to pay eye-watering salaries to get the best people.

“It can create challenges because you’re competing for talent,” says Amelia Armour, partner at early stage UK deeptech investor Amadeus Capital Partners.

But she believes that some potential initial pain will be outweighed by more senior deeptech company builders coming to the country.

“One of the things that we really, really lack is this senior level talent. We've got great research, great universities, we just haven't gotten enough companies that have scaled,” she says. “For the whole ecosystem, it's really positive.”

Tim Smith is news editor at Sifted. He covers deeptech and AI, and produces Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow him on X and LinkedIn

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Patrick Royston, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, has been named in the 2024 Research.com Ranking of Best Scientists in the field of Mathematics.   Patrick is ranked #89 in the world and #4 in the UK. He was also recognised with the Mathematics Leader Award for 2024.   Patrick spent most of his working life researching statistical methods in medicine and allied disciplines. His main interests centred on statistical modelling and its applications in medicine, with a special interest in cancer clinical trials. He joined the MRC CTU at UCL in 2000 and worked on a number of cancer trials and methodology projects before retiring in 2023.   Now in an emeritus professor role, Patrick continues to contribute to the MRC CTU at UCL’s work on trial design and analysis, including a project on flexible parametric models in survival analysis.   Learn more about Patrick Royston on the MRC CTU at UCL website and find the full  UK rankings on Research.com.  

Related News

Money blog: Tourist taxes being imposed across Europe (and in UK) - here's how much they all are

An increasing number of cities are either imposing or increasing the cost of tourist taxes on visitors. Read this and our other Weekend Money content below, and let us know your thoughts. We'll be back with live updates on Monday.

Saturday 18 May 2024 17:03, UK

Weekend Money

• How to sell your home without an estate agent
• Tourist taxes to watch out for in popular holiday destinations
• Childcare vouchers, hard work and new skyscrapers: What readers have said this week
• Three things you need to know from Money this week

Best of the week

• The rise of Michelin starred 'fast food'
• How much do buskers make?
• Basically... What is PIP - and what could government changes mean?
• How to make sure your car passes its MOT
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• Best of the Money blog - an archive

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As we've been reporting in the Money blog over the last few months, an increasing number of cities are either imposing or increasing the cost of tourist taxes on visitors. 

Many say they are preventing damages from overtourism, as well as funding local infrastructure and businesses. 

Here are the latest tourist fees for the most popular spots in Europe...

Tourists visiting Venice for the day will have to pay a €5 entry fee to enter the city between the hours of 8.30am and 4pm.

Meanwhile, those staying overnight in Venice are charged a fee between €1 to €5 within the accommodation price for the first five consecutive nights.

People visiting the Spanish city now have to pay €3.25 if they're staying in official accommodation, up from €2.75.

Manchester 

Visitors must pay £1 per room, per night across 73 hotels. 

The scheme, which has raised more than £2m within a year, is for improvements to attract more tourists.

Tourists must pay €2 per person for every night they stay, although this is only applied for a maximum of seven nights.

The Greek government has introduced a Climate Crisis Resilience Fee to charge tourists anywhere from €0.50 to €10 per room, per night.

The amount depends on the hotel category and the time of year.

Visitors to the Croatian city must pay €2.65 per person, per night throughout April to September. 

However, the fee has been temporarily reduced to €1.86 for the rest of this year.

Different amounts are charged depending on the type of accommodation.

The most expensive charge is €14.95 for a stay in palaces, and €0.65 at one or two-star campsites, per person, per night. 

Those staying in a typical four-star hotel are charged around €8.

Those staying in the Hungarian capital are charged an additional 4% each night, which is calculated based on the price of the room.

Tourists in Berlin must pay 5% of the room price, excluding VAT and service fees.

The tourist tax here has increased from €0.82 to €1.97 per day. 

Prices researched by travel insurance site Quotezone.co.uk

By Ollie Cooper , Money team

Estate agent fees are one of the big expenses in selling a house - but rule changes and the rise of private sale websites have made it more common for people to go it alone.

But how easy is it - and what do you need to know? We spoke to industry experts to find out.

Firstly, what do estate agents do for their money?

An estate agent will typically charge in the range of 1%-3.5% of the sale price. 

That means for the average house price (£284,691 from December) you could pay anywhere from £2,846 to £9,964 in commission fees.

"When you use an estate agent, their fee includes taking professional photographs, advertising your home, conducting property viewings, and negotiating a price on your behalf," says Jack Smithson  from the home ownership site  Better.co.uk .

In addition, an estate agent will compile comprehensive details of your house, including room sizes and descriptions of fixtures and fittings. 

"They will also provide a concise write-up about the local area, highlighting amenities, schools, and transportation links," Jack adds. 

And they'll conduct checks on buyers for you (more on this later).

It sounds like a lot, but...

"Selling your home yourself can be a manageable process with a few key steps," Jack says.

Preparation 

You should begin by thoroughly researching house prices in your area, using websites like Rightmove and Zoopla - but seek free valuations from local estate agents to ensure you have a realistic asking price in mind.

Next, you want to take high-quality photos of your house.

Jack advises using tutorials on YouTube to learn new shooting and editing techniques that can take you to the next level.

You then want to write down what makes your home unique.

"While browsing other listings for inspiration, take it a step further by emphasising what you love about living in your home and the surrounding area," Jack suggests.

"Whether it's the refreshing scent of the coastline or the tranquil sounds of village life, incorporating these details can help potential buyers visualise living there," he advises. 

Like using YouTube for photography tips, you can use free tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly if you need help with your writing, Jack says. 

Advertising

This is probably the biggest perk of going through an established estate agent - your home is much more likely to be viewed because they will have an established audience and a market. But it's very possible to do it alone. 

"When it comes to advertising your home, explore a variety of avenues including local newspapers and social media," Jack says.

"Consider using websites like Strike, which allow individuals to list their properties for free on platforms like Rightmove," he suggests.

Viewings 

Once you've secured some viewings, you've got the opportunity to make it a bit more personal than estate agents ever could - a real advantage. 

"Explain the reasons behind your decision to purchase the property, highlight its unique features, and share the aspects of your neighbourhood that make it a desirable place to live," Jack says. 

The small things matter when showing people round - so try to take an objective look around before you bring anyone in.

Do the things you'd do normally - make sure it smells nice and it's clean and tidy.

"Lastly, it's worth knowing that you must legally provide potential buyers with a free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)."

The sale itself

Perhaps the most daunting aspect is the physical exchange of contracts and money. 

An estate agent would typically oversee the process of the initial offer acceptance to the transfer of keys to the new owner.

However, if you go it alone, you'll need to become the central point of contact - bridging the gap between your solicitor or conveyancer and the buyer and their legal representative.

"Once you've accepted an offer on your property, your first task is to draft what's called a memorandum of sale," Jack says.  

This document is a written confirmation of your acceptance of the offer and details the agreed price along with any specific conditions you've both agreed to.

"It's then recommended to engage the services of a solicitor or conveyancer to ensure all legal obligations are met," Jack says (of course, you'll need to do this even if you have an estate agent).

The cost of hiring one typically ranges from a few hundred to over £1,000, depending on factors such as fixed fees, hourly rates, the complexity of the sale and additional costs like property searches or land registry fees.

"In the absence of an estate agent, you'll be responsible for keeping your buyer informed about the progress of the sale. This involves regular updates on the status of legal procedures and any relevant developments," Jack says, before adding that this can actually be a good thing.

"By taking on these responsibilities independently, you'll have greater control over the sale process. However, it will require you to be exceptionally organised, and you'll need to be very good at communicating too."  

Any risks to be aware of?

Rita Patel, legal director at law firm  Browne Jacobson , tells us the biggest risk for people selling their properties without an estate agent is the lack of a vetting and verification process of the potential buyer.

Estate agents will verify the buyer's identity and check the buyer's proof and source of funds - without this, there's no way to assess the buyer is legitimate and can afford to buy.

"Whilst this process is something lawyers can help with, this is often at an additional cost, and you'll need to start from square one if there is an issue with a potential buyer's identification and/or financial eligibility," Rita says. 

More generally, selling without an agent can extend the time it takes to sell. 

"Zoopla suggests this timeframe is normally around 17-34 weeks, but with no one on hand to consistently promote and drive the property sale at all stages, going solo drags this process out," Rita says. 

"Agents can also help mediate any potential breakdowns in communication between the buyer and seller - reducing the likelihood of having to go back to market and start again."

The advantages

Laura Owen-Brown, a PR manager from Gloucestershire, tells us she is set to sell her house without an estate agent in the near future.

"My disappointment with estate agents stems from their lack of familiarity with the properties they attempted to sell me when I was buying my current house," she says. 

"They couldn't tell me about the details that truly matter, like the optimal times for sunlight in the garden, how much council tax I'd pay, what the roof was made of, the places I could walk my dog off lead or the impact of post-football match traffic on Sundays.

"These types of details can shape the experience of living in a house for years and are just as important as the square footage, EPC rating or how many bedrooms a property has," she adds. 

She says the current "transactional" approach to selling houses feels "impersonal and outdated" to her. 

"Yes, I'll have to handle more admin, but the savings in both money and time will make it worthwhile. Liaising with buyers and solicitors directly without a third party slowing everything down will mean I can be in control and have transparency throughout the process, especially during negotiations," she says.

All in all...

As Laura says, it's very much a case of whether you can stomach the admin and are happy to take the risks on background financial checks. 

If you are aware of all the above and willing to take on the organisational burden, you could save yourself a serious chunk of cash. 

The main topics from the Money blog that got you commenting this week were...

Government-funded childcare

• Michel Roux Jr's comments about the future of the restaurant industry 

Nearly 600 new skyscrapers for London

From last Sunday, eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old in England have been able to register for access to up to 15 free hours of government-funded childcare per week.

Those hours can be claimed from September. 

Some readers pointed out the T&Cs... 

This 15 hrs a week is for term time ONLY. So full-time working parents will have to either tell their employer they can't work in school holidays or pro-rata it across the year which is 10 hours a week. Yvonne grandma

Others said it spoke to issues in the wider childcare sector...

Is the government going to give pay rises to nursery staff? They are very low paid staff, and can't get enough staff as it is!! Nurseries may have to close if they don't get staff, so parents won't be able to take up the offer!! What is the government going to do about it? Carol

Chefs or delivery drivers?

Celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr has suggested that restaurants may only open three days per week because young people prefer other jobs - like delivering parcels. 

"Just because I worked 80 hours a week or more doesn't mean the next generation should," he said. 

"Quite the contrary. That is something that we have to address in our industry."

Readers said...

That's because one [job] is on the verge of slave labour and one definitely is slave labour. And the latter I'm referring to is working in a kitchen for a chef.  Realist2024

Spent 35 years working as a chef. Young people nowadays are not willing to do the extra hours (usually unpaid) and work every weekend. Godsends like my generation of chefs did and do.  Bucks

There's been considerable backlash in our comments section after a thinktank said a total of 583 skyscrapers are "queuing up in the pipeline" to be built across central London.

That is more than double the 270 built in the past decade...

"600 new skyscrapers on way for London" while the majority are struggling. When will something serious be done about growing wealth inequality in the UK? A growing economy is useless while the gap between the ultra rich and everyone else increases. Qwerty1

How many unnecessary skyscrapers for London? It's fine, as long as they are not made using steel, glass, concrete or bricks - don't people know there's a climate emergency? Shanghaiwan

Who's paying for it? What about the North? treelectrical

The energy price cap is set to fall by about 7% in July, a respected energy markets researcher has said.

Ahead of next Friday's announcement by Ofgem for the July-September period, Cornwall Insights said: "For a typical dual fuel household, we predict the July price cap to be £1,574 per annum" - a drop from £1,690.

Looking further ahead, it forecasted the cap will rise again slightly in October, before falling in January next year. 

"A predicted 7% drop in energy prices in July is clearly good news, with the price cap looking likely to hit its lowest level in over two years," a spokesperson for Uswitch said. 

Around 100 more prosecutions of sub-postmasters unrelated to the Horizon scandal could be "tainted" , a Sky News investigation has found, as officials worked with now discredited Post Office investigators to secure convictions.

The prosecutions of Post Office staff were led by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 2001 and 2006.

It is understood these usually involved the cashing in of stolen order books.

The Post Office itself wrongly prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters between 1999 and 2015 - based on evidence from the faulty Horizon accounting system.

Read more from our business correspondent Adele Robinson  by clicking  here ...

The UK's mega rich are dwindling in a sign Britain's "billionaire boom has come to an end" , according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List.

The list reveals the largest fall in billionaires in the guide's history - from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 this year.

While the combined wealth of the list's 350 wealthiest individuals amounts to more than £795bn - larger than the GDP of Poland - the guide's compiler says time will tell what impact a drop in billionaires could have.

"This year's Sunday Times Rich List suggests Britain's billionaire boom has come to an end," Robert Watts said.

Read on here ...

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

The Body Shop’s administrators are to launch an auction of the chain after concluding that an alternative restructuring of one of Britain’s best-known high street retailers was not viable.

Sky News has learnt that FRP Advisory, which has been overseeing the collapsed business since January, is to begin formally sounding out potential buyers in the coming weeks.

The move raises the prospect of new owners taking control of The Body Shop, which was founded nearly half a century ago.

Read more here ...

The UK's mega rich are dwindling - in a sign Britain's "billionaire boom has come to an end", according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List.

Published today, the list reveals the largest fall in billionaires in the guide's history - from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 this year.

"Many of our home-grown entrepreneurs have seen their fortunes fall and some of the global super rich who came here are moving away."

Top of the list is British-Indian businessman Gopi Hinduja and his family, whose wealth of £37.2bn is the largest fortune in the ranking's history.

But other familiar names in the list saw their riches fall, with Sir Richard Branson's total dropping by £2.4bn, which is back to his 2000 level.

Last year's top climber Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who bought a stake in Manchester United this year, fell two positions with a decline of £6.1bn.

Euan Blair, Tony Blair's eldest son, made the list for the first time, as did Sir Lewis Hamilton.

It comes as the UK continues to deal with a cost-of-living crisis, with new figures this week revealing a record 3.1 million food bank parcels were distributed over the course of a year.

The top 10:

• Gopi Hinduja - £37.2bn
• Sir Leonard Blavtanik - £29.2bn
• David and Simon Reuben and family - £24.9bn
• Sir Jim Ratcliffe - £23.5bn
• Sir James Dyson and family - £20.8bn
• Barnaby and Merlin Swire and family - £17.2bn
• Idan Ofer - £14.9bn
• Lakshmi Mittal and family - £14.9bn
• Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family - £14.4bn
• John Fredriksen and family - £12.8bn

A group of social media influencers have been charged in relation to promoting an unauthorised investment scheme.

The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) original cast member Lauren Goodger, 37, former Love Island star Biggs Chris, 32, and Celebrity Big Brother winner Scott Timlin, 36, also known as Scotty T, are among seven TV personalities alleged to have been paid to promote the scheme to their combined 4.5 million Instagram followers.

The others charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) include former Love Islanders Rebecca Gormley, 26, Jamie Clayton, 32, and Eva Zapico, 25 and TOWIE member Yazmin Oukhellou, 30.

The UK's financial watchdog brought the charges in a crackdown on "finfluencers" who use their online platforms to offer advice and information on various financial topics.

It alleges that between 19 May 2018 and 13 April 2021 Emmanuel Nwanze, 30, and Holly Thompson, 33, used an Instagram account to provide advice on buying and selling investments known as contracts for difference (CFDs) when they were not authorised to do so.

The watchdog said CFDs were high-risk investments used to bet on the price of an asset, in this case the price of foreign currencies.

It previously warned that 80% of customers lost money when investing in CDFs.

Mr Nwanze has been charged with running the scheme. He faces one count of breaching the general prohibition of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and one count of unauthorised communications of financial promotions.

Ms Thompson, Mr Chris, Mr Clayton, Ms Goodger, Ms Gormley, Ms Oukhellou, Mr Timlin and Ms Zapico each face one count of unauthorised communications of financial promotions.

All nine will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 13 June.

The FCA asked anyone who believed they had sustained a loss due to the scheme to contact its consumer contact centre.

A hotel part-owned by Gary Neville and other ex-Manchester United legends has been named one of the best places to work in hospitality. 

Each year, The Caterer releases its top 30 best places for employees in the sector, with the top six featuring some familiar names.

The list is compiled via anonymous employee survey - with no input from managers or owners. 

Hotel Football, the only hotel with a rooftop five-a-side pitch, was among the top six venues selected by employees across the UK. 

The hotel's benefits package was particularly well-praised by those who work there - given that it "prioritises the financial wellbeing of employees during the cost of living challenge".

Management at the hotel, which is situated next to Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium, was also praised for enhanced maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave policies and a strong belief in diversity and inclusion. 

The other five to make up the top six are The Biltmore in Mayfair, Cycas Hospitality (which has 18 locations across the UK), Dalata (which boasts some 1,000 employees), Gleneagles Hotel in Edinburgh and Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch, London. 

The energy price cap is set to fall by about 7% in July, a leading thinktank has said. 

Cornwall Insights said: "For a typical dual fuel household, we predict the July price cap to be £1,574 per annum" - a drop from £1,690.

Looking further ahead, it forecasted the cap to rise again slightly in October, before falling again in January next year. 

Reacting to the news, Uswitch said the predicted drop was "clearly good news". 

"The future still remains uncertain, and with the price cap changing every three months – currently expected to rise in October before falling slightly in January –  it's crucial not to be complacent," Richard Neudegg, director of regulation, said. 

However, "a predicted 7% drop in energy prices in July is clearly good news, with the price cap looking likely to hit its lowest level in over two years", he said. 

He also urged  households who want to lock in rates for price certainty to run a comparison to see what energy tariffs are available to them.

"There are many 12-month fixed tariffs available at rates cheaper than the current price cap, and even some that are 2% below these new predicted July rates," he said. 

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Top 100 Market Research Companies in the United Kingdom

• Market Research
• United Kingdom

The Best of May 2024

Looking for a top market research company in the united kingdom.

Before you proceed with developing and marketing a new product or service, you need to make sure there is a viable market for success. The right market research company can help you with this process.  Read more +

To assist you in your search for a partner, we’ve compiled this list of the top market research agencies in United Kingdom. Browse descriptions, feedback, and awards to find which can best suit your company’s needs.

List of the Best United Kingdom Market Research Agencies

Featured provider

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Would Recommend

• Min. Project Size "> $25,000+
• Company Size "> 10 - 49 employees
• Location "> San Francisco, CA

Antedote is a strategic innovation and insight consultancy in San Francisco and London, United Kingdom. Founded in 2014, they have about 8 employees that serve enterprise and midmarket clients in a wide variety of industries. Services include business consulting and market research.

• Consumer products & services " >
• Financial services " >
• Medical " >
• Information technology " >

Arlington Research

• Min. Project Size "> $5,000+
• Company Size "> 2 - 9 employees
• Location "> Reading, United Kingdom

Arlington Research is a full-service agency based in 2 Kingdom Street, England, and run by fewer than 10 people. Founded in 2105, they offer branding, market research, and PR services for clients that work in the industries of IT services, consumer products, and advertising.

• Advertising & marketing " >
• eCommerce " >

Get connected with a company for free

Tell us about your project, and we'll match you with vetted companies that meet your requirements.

• Location "> London, United Kingdom

Vision One is a market research company. They are based in London, United Kingdom; Liverpool, United Kingdom and Willenhall, United Kingdom and have a small team. The firm specializes in market research.

• Arts, entertainment & music " >
• Business services " >
• Education " >
• Non-profit " >
• Supply Chain, Logistics, and Transport " >

Adience is a marketing firm founded in Brooklyn in 2020. With no more than 10 members, they specialize in market research and marketing strategy services for clients ranging from small companies to large businesses in the fields of business services and advertising.

• Manufacturing " >
• Telecommunications " >

UX Connections

• Min. Project Size "> $1,000+

UX Connections is a design agency founded in London in 2013 with fewer than 50 experts. They specialize in UX/UI design, market research, and digital strategy solutions for clients ranging from small firms to large companies.

• Immediate Media
• Automotive " >
• Hospitality & leisure " >

The Yard Creative

The Yard Creative is a design innovation house located in south London. It was founded in 2007 and now has a team of 19 that provides branding, market research, graphic design, and more.

• Real estate " >

Danebury Research

• Location "> Stockbridge, United Kingdom

Danebury is a market research and HR firm. They are headquartered in and have a small team. Their services include market research and HR services.

• Energy & natural resources " >

Visiongain Limited

• Company Size "> 50 - 249 employees

Visiongain Limited is a market research company. Their midsize team is in London, United Kingdom and New York, New York. Their services include market research, marketing strategy, contract manufacturing, fulfillment, and more. The firm was launched in 1998.

• Gambling " >
• Government " >
• GPS, Navigation & GIS " >

VocalViews®

• Min. Project Size "> $10,000+
• Location "> Derby, United Kingdom

Market research company Vocal Views is in London, United Kingdom. The small team focuses on market research, translation, and transcription. The firm was founded in 2011.

Don't Cry Wolf

Don't Cry Wolf is a branding and PR agency in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 2018, they have about 15 employees that serve mostly midmarket and small-business clients in the consumer products, IT, and business industries. Services include branding, PR, and content marketing.

• Wall StreetJournal

Primary Access & Research

• Min. Project Size "> Undisclosed

Primary Access & Research, a market research and business consulting company, was launched in 2019. Based in London, United Kingdom, their small team provides market research and business consulting.

• Politics " >

Metheus Consultancy Ltd

Business consulting company Metheus Consultancy Ltd is based in London, United Kingdom. The small agency was established in 2021. Their team focuses on business consulting, market research, marketing strategy, digital strategy, and more.

BEHIND LOGIN

• Location "> Bristol, United Kingdom

ScaleLabTech

SalesTech is a business consulting company. Launched in 2017, the small company is located in Kyiv, Ukraine. Their team focuses on business consulting, digital strategy, marketing strategy, and market research.

Full Fat is a communications agency located in London that specializes in web design, advertising, and SEO services. They were founded in 2011. They have a team of more than 20 employees who support clients in various industries including arts, entertainment, and arts as well as media, and hospitality and leisure.

• Suzuki presents @TheDriveIn

The Brand Strategy

• Location "> Nottingham, United Kingdom

Founded in 2016, The Brand Strategy is a digital agency. Their team of around 5 employees is based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with an additional office in Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom. They focus on branding, market strategy, and market research.

YJCollective

Levene consulting.

Levene Consulting is a boutique market entry consultancy firm based in London with a team of 2 experts. Founded in 2016, they offer their assistance in market research, marketing strategy, and business consulting to their clients, with a focus on strategy development and due diligence for their business consulting services.

StreetPR UK Limited

Not yet reviewed.

• Company Size "> 1,000 - 9,999 employees

StreetPR UK Limited is an advertising company founded in 2006. Their large team is headquartered in London, United Kingdom and offers advertising, event marketing & planning, market research, and direct marketing.

Ecommerce Revolt

• Location "> Luton, United Kingdom

Founded in 2019, USP House is a commercial financing, funding, & investment company. The small Noida, India-based team focuses on commercial financing, funding, & investment, business consulting, market research, marketing strategy, and more.

AIM Internet

• Location "> Birmingham, United Kingdom

Established in 1996, AIM Internet is a market research company. The firm offers market research, pay per click, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and more and has a small team.

QUAS Intelligence

Jump Data is a small London, United Kingdom-based business intelligence company and other application development company. The team provides BI & big data consulting & SI and other application development.

FieldworkHub Ltd

• Location "> Keele, United Kingdom
• Location "> london, United Kingdom

Launched in 2020, BUMP is a market research company. The small london, United Kingdom-based team specializes in market research, marketing strategy, social media marketing, digital strategy, and more.

• Location "> Leeds, United Kingdom

Root K is a marketing company based in Mirfield, England, and founded in 2019. With more than two employees, they specialize in content marketing, marketing strategy, and SEO solutions for small firms.

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There is a debate about the ethical implications of using human embryos in stem cell research, which can be influenced by cultural, moral, and social values. This paper argues for an adaptable framework to accommodate diverse cultural and religious perspectives. By using an adaptive ethics model, research protections can reflect various populations and foster growth in stem cell research possibilities.

INTRODUCTION

Stem cell research combines biology, medicine, and technology, promising to alter health care and the understanding of human development. Yet, ethical contention exists because of individuals’ perceptions of using human embryos based on their various cultural, moral, and social values. While these disagreements concerning policy, use, and general acceptance have prompted the development of an international ethics policy, such a uniform approach can overlook the nuanced ethical landscapes between cultures. With diverse viewpoints in public health, a single global policy, especially one reflecting Western ethics or the ethics prevalent in high-income countries, is impractical. This paper argues for a culturally sensitive, adaptable framework for the use of embryonic stem cells. Stem cell policy should accommodate varying ethical viewpoints and promote an effective global dialogue. With an extension of an ethics model that can adapt to various cultures, we recommend localized guidelines that reflect the moral views of the people those guidelines serve.

Stem cells, characterized by their unique ability to differentiate into various cell types, enable the repair or replacement of damaged tissues. Two primary types of stem cells are somatic stem cells (adult stem cells) and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells exist in developed tissues and maintain the body’s repair processes. [1] Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are remarkably pluripotent or versatile, making them valuable in research. [2] However, the use of ESCs has sparked ethics debates. Considering the potential of embryonic stem cells, research guidelines are essential. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) provides international stem cell research guidelines. They call for “public conversations touching on the scientific significance as well as the societal and ethical issues raised by ESC research.” [3] The ISSCR also publishes updates about culturing human embryos 14 days post fertilization, suggesting local policies and regulations should continue to evolve as ESC research develops. [4]  Like the ISSCR, which calls for local law and policy to adapt to developing stem cell research given cultural acceptance, this paper highlights the importance of local social factors such as religion and culture.

I.     Global Cultural Perspective of Embryonic Stem Cells

Views on ESCs vary throughout the world. Some countries readily embrace stem cell research and therapies, while others have stricter regulations due to ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells and when an embryo becomes entitled to moral consideration. The philosophical issue of when the “someone” begins to be a human after fertilization, in the morally relevant sense, [5] impacts when an embryo becomes not just worthy of protection but morally entitled to it. The process of creating embryonic stem cell lines involves the destruction of the embryos for research. [6] Consequently, global engagement in ESC research depends on social-cultural acceptability.

a.     US and Rights-Based Cultures

In the United States, attitudes toward stem cell therapies are diverse. The ethics and social approaches, which value individualism, [7] trigger debates regarding the destruction of human embryos, creating a complex regulatory environment. For example, the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibited federal funding for the creation of embryos for research and the destruction of embryos for “more than allowed for research on fetuses in utero.” [8] Following suit, in 2001, the Bush Administration heavily restricted stem cell lines for research. However, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 was proposed to help develop ESC research but was ultimately vetoed. [9] Under the Obama administration, in 2009, an executive order lifted restrictions allowing for more development in this field. [10] The flux of research capacity and funding parallels the different cultural perceptions of human dignity of the embryo and how it is socially presented within the country’s research culture. [11]

b.     Ubuntu and Collective Cultures

African bioethics differs from Western individualism because of the different traditions and values. African traditions, as described by individuals from South Africa and supported by some studies in other African countries, including Ghana and Kenya, follow the African moral philosophies of Ubuntu or Botho and Ukama , which “advocates for a form of wholeness that comes through one’s relationship and connectedness with other people in the society,” [12] making autonomy a socially collective concept. In this context, for the community to act autonomously, individuals would come together to decide what is best for the collective. Thus, stem cell research would require examining the value of the research to society as a whole and the use of the embryos as a collective societal resource. If society views the source as part of the collective whole, and opposes using stem cells, compromising the cultural values to pursue research may cause social detachment and stunt research growth. [13] Based on local culture and moral philosophy, the permissibility of stem cell research depends on how embryo, stem cell, and cell line therapies relate to the community as a whole . Ubuntu is the expression of humanness, with the person’s identity drawn from the “’I am because we are’” value. [14] The decision in a collectivistic culture becomes one born of cultural context, and individual decisions give deference to others in the society.

Consent differs in cultures where thought and moral philosophy are based on a collective paradigm. So, applying Western bioethical concepts is unrealistic. For one, Africa is a diverse continent with many countries with different belief systems, access to health care, and reliance on traditional or Western medicines. Where traditional medicine is the primary treatment, the “’restrictive focus on biomedically-related bioethics’” [is] problematic in African contexts because it neglects bioethical issues raised by traditional systems.” [15] No single approach applies in all areas or contexts. Rather than evaluating the permissibility of ESC research according to Western concepts such as the four principles approach, different ethics approaches should prevail.

Another consideration is the socio-economic standing of countries. In parts of South Africa, researchers have not focused heavily on contributing to the stem cell discourse, either because it is not considered health care or a health science priority or because resources are unavailable. [16] Each country’s priorities differ given different social, political, and economic factors. In South Africa, for instance, areas such as maternal mortality, non-communicable diseases, telemedicine, and the strength of health systems need improvement and require more focus. [17] Stem cell research could benefit the population, but it also could divert resources from basic medical care. Researchers in South Africa adhere to the National Health Act and Medicines Control Act in South Africa and international guidelines; however, the Act is not strictly enforced, and there is no clear legislation for research conduct or ethical guidelines. [18]

Some parts of Africa condemn stem cell research. For example, 98.2 percent of the Tunisian population is Muslim. [19] Tunisia does not permit stem cell research because of moral conflict with a Fatwa. Religion heavily saturates the regulation and direction of research. [20] Stem cell use became permissible for reproductive purposes only recently, with tight restrictions preventing cells from being used in any research other than procedures concerning ART/IVF.  Their use is conditioned on consent, and available only to married couples. [21] The community's receptiveness to stem cell research depends on including communitarian African ethics.

c.     Asia

Some Asian countries also have a collective model of ethics and decision making. [22] In China, the ethics model promotes a sincere respect for life or human dignity, [23] based on protective medicine. This model, influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), [24] recognizes Qi as the vital energy delivered via the meridians of the body; it connects illness to body systems, the body’s entire constitution, and the universe for a holistic bond of nature, health, and quality of life. [25] Following a protective ethics model, and traditional customs of wholeness, investment in stem cell research is heavily desired for its applications in regenerative therapies, disease modeling, and protective medicines. In a survey of medical students and healthcare practitioners, 30.8 percent considered stem cell research morally unacceptable while 63.5 percent accepted medical research using human embryonic stem cells. Of these individuals, 89.9 percent supported increased funding for stem cell research. [26] The scientific community might not reflect the overall population. From 1997 to 2019, China spent a total of $576 million (USD) on stem cell research at 8,050 stem cell programs, increased published presence from 0.6 percent to 14.01 percent of total global stem cell publications as of 2014, and made significant strides in cell-based therapies for various medical conditions. [27] However, while China has made substantial investments in stem cell research and achieved notable progress in clinical applications, concerns linger regarding ethical oversight and transparency. [28] For example, the China Biosecurity Law, promoted by the National Health Commission and China Hospital Association, attempted to mitigate risks by introducing an institutional review board (IRB) in the regulatory bodies. 5800 IRBs registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry since 2021. [29] However, issues still need to be addressed in implementing effective IRB review and approval procedures.

The substantial government funding and focus on scientific advancement have sometimes overshadowed considerations of regional cultures, ethnic minorities, and individual perspectives, particularly evident during the one-child policy era. As government policy adapts to promote public stability, such as the change from the one-child to the two-child policy, [30] research ethics should also adapt to ensure respect for the values of its represented peoples.

Japan is also relatively supportive of stem cell research and therapies. Japan has a more transparent regulatory framework, allowing for faster approval of regenerative medicine products, which has led to several advanced clinical trials and therapies. [31] South Korea is also actively engaged in stem cell research and has a history of breakthroughs in cloning and embryonic stem cells. [32] However, the field is controversial, and there are issues of scientific integrity. For example, the Korean FDA fast-tracked products for approval, [33] and in another instance, the oocyte source was unclear and possibly violated ethical standards. [34] Trust is important in research, as it builds collaborative foundations between colleagues, trial participant comfort, open-mindedness for complicated and sensitive discussions, and supports regulatory procedures for stakeholders. There is a need to respect the culture’s interest, engagement, and for research and clinical trials to be transparent and have ethical oversight to promote global research discourse and trust.

d.     Middle East

Countries in the Middle East have varying degrees of acceptance of or restrictions to policies related to using embryonic stem cells due to cultural and religious influences. Saudi Arabia has made significant contributions to stem cell research, and conducts research based on international guidelines for ethical conduct and under strict adherence to guidelines in accordance with Islamic principles. Specifically, the Saudi government and people require ESC research to adhere to Sharia law. In addition to umbilical and placental stem cells, [35] Saudi Arabia permits the use of embryonic stem cells as long as they come from miscarriages, therapeutic abortions permissible by Sharia law, or are left over from in vitro fertilization and donated to research. [36] Laws and ethical guidelines for stem cell research allow the development of research institutions such as the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, which has a cord blood bank and a stem cell registry with nearly 10,000 donors. [37] Such volume and acceptance are due to the ethical ‘permissibility’ of the donor sources, which do not conflict with religious pillars. However, some researchers err on the side of caution, choosing not to use embryos or fetal tissue as they feel it is unethical to do so. [38]

Jordan has a positive research ethics culture. [39] However, there is a significant issue of lack of trust in researchers, with 45.23 percent (38.66 percent agreeing and 6.57 percent strongly agreeing) of Jordanians holding a low level of trust in researchers, compared to 81.34 percent of Jordanians agreeing that they feel safe to participate in a research trial. [40] Safety testifies to the feeling of confidence that adequate measures are in place to protect participants from harm, whereas trust in researchers could represent the confidence in researchers to act in the participants’ best interests, adhere to ethical guidelines, provide accurate information, and respect participants’ rights and dignity. One method to improve trust would be to address communication issues relevant to ESC. Legislation surrounding stem cell research has adopted specific language, especially concerning clarification “between ‘stem cells’ and ‘embryonic stem cells’” in translation. [41] Furthermore, legislation “mandates the creation of a national committee… laying out specific regulations for stem-cell banking in accordance with international standards.” [42] This broad regulation opens the door for future global engagement and maintains transparency. However, these regulations may also constrain the influence of research direction, pace, and accessibility of research outcomes.

e.     Europe

In the European Union (EU), ethics is also principle-based, but the principles of autonomy, dignity, integrity, and vulnerability are interconnected. [43] As such, the opportunity for cohesion and concessions between individuals’ thoughts and ideals allows for a more adaptable ethics model due to the flexible principles that relate to the human experience The EU has put forth a framework in its Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being allowing member states to take different approaches. Each European state applies these principles to its specific conventions, leading to or reflecting different acceptance levels of stem cell research. [44]

For example, in Germany, Lebenzusammenhang , or the coherence of life, references integrity in the unity of human culture. Namely, the personal sphere “should not be subject to external intervention.” [45]  Stem cell interventions could affect this concept of bodily completeness, leading to heavy restrictions. Under the Grundgesetz, human dignity and the right to life with physical integrity are paramount. [46] The Embryo Protection Act of 1991 made producing cell lines illegal. Cell lines can be imported if approved by the Central Ethics Commission for Stem Cell Research only if they were derived before May 2007. [47] Stem cell research respects the integrity of life for the embryo with heavy specifications and intense oversight. This is vastly different in Finland, where the regulatory bodies find research more permissible in IVF excess, but only up to 14 days after fertilization. [48] Spain’s approach differs still, with a comprehensive regulatory framework. [49] Thus, research regulation can be culture-specific due to variations in applied principles. Diverse cultures call for various approaches to ethical permissibility. [50] Only an adaptive-deliberative model can address the cultural constructions of self and achieve positive, culturally sensitive stem cell research practices. [51]

II.     Religious Perspectives on ESC

Embryonic stem cell sources are the main consideration within religious contexts. While individuals may not regard their own religious texts as authoritative or factual, religion can shape their foundations or perspectives.

The Qur'an states:

“And indeed We created man from a quintessence of clay. Then We placed within him a small quantity of nutfa (sperm to fertilize) in a safe place. Then We have fashioned the nutfa into an ‘alaqa (clinging clot or cell cluster), then We developed the ‘alaqa into mudgha (a lump of flesh), and We made mudgha into bones, and clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.” [52]

Many scholars of Islam estimate the time of soul installment, marked by the angel breathing in the soul to bring the individual into creation, as 120 days from conception. [53] Personhood begins at this point, and the value of life would prohibit research or experimentation that could harm the individual. If the fetus is more than 120 days old, the time ensoulment is interpreted to occur according to Islamic law, abortion is no longer permissible. [54] There are a few opposing opinions about early embryos in Islamic traditions. According to some Islamic theologians, there is no ensoulment of the early embryo, which is the source of stem cells for ESC research. [55]

In Buddhism, the stance on stem cell research is not settled. The main tenets, the prohibition against harming or destroying others (ahimsa) and the pursuit of knowledge (prajña) and compassion (karuna), leave Buddhist scholars and communities divided. [56] Some scholars argue stem cell research is in accordance with the Buddhist tenet of seeking knowledge and ending human suffering. Others feel it violates the principle of not harming others. Finding the balance between these two points relies on the karmic burden of Buddhist morality. In trying to prevent ahimsa towards the embryo, Buddhist scholars suggest that to comply with Buddhist tenets, research cannot be done as the embryo has personhood at the moment of conception and would reincarnate immediately, harming the individual's ability to build their karmic burden. [57] On the other hand, the Bodhisattvas, those considered to be on the path to enlightenment or Nirvana, have given organs and flesh to others to help alleviate grieving and to benefit all. [58] Acceptance varies on applied beliefs and interpretations.

Catholicism does not support embryonic stem cell research, as it entails creation or destruction of human embryos. This destruction conflicts with the belief in the sanctity of life. For example, in the Old Testament, Genesis describes humanity as being created in God’s image and multiplying on the Earth, referencing the sacred rights to human conception and the purpose of development and life. In the Ten Commandments, the tenet that one should not kill has numerous interpretations where killing could mean murder or shedding of the sanctity of life, demonstrating the high value of human personhood. In other books, the theological conception of when life begins is interpreted as in utero, [59] highlighting the inviolability of life and its formation in vivo to make a religious point for accepting such research as relatively limited, if at all. [60] The Vatican has released ethical directives to help apply a theological basis to modern-day conflicts. The Magisterium of the Church states that “unless there is a moral certainty of not causing harm,” experimentation on fetuses, fertilized cells, stem cells, or embryos constitutes a crime. [61] Such procedures would not respect the human person who exists at these stages, according to Catholicism. Damages to the embryo are considered gravely immoral and illicit. [62] Although the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, surveys demonstrate that many Catholic people hold pro-choice views, whether due to the context of conception, stage of pregnancy, threat to the mother’s life, or for other reasons, demonstrating that practicing members can also accept some but not all tenets. [63]

Some major Jewish denominations, such as the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements, are open to supporting ESC use or research as long as it is for saving a life. [64] Within Judaism, the Talmud, or study, gives personhood to the child at birth and emphasizes that life does not begin at conception: [65]

“If she is found pregnant, until the fortieth day it is mere fluid,” [66]

Whereas most religions prioritize the status of human embryos, the Halakah (Jewish religious law) states that to save one life, most other religious laws can be ignored because it is in pursuit of preservation. [67] Stem cell research is accepted due to application of these religious laws.

We recognize that all religions contain subsets and sects. The variety of environmental and cultural differences within religious groups requires further analysis to respect the flexibility of religious thoughts and practices. We make no presumptions that all cultures require notions of autonomy or morality as under the common morality theory , which asserts a set of universal moral norms that all individuals share provides moral reasoning and guides ethical decisions. [68] We only wish to show that the interaction with morality varies between cultures and countries.

III.     A Flexible Ethical Approach

The plurality of different moral approaches described above demonstrates that there can be no universally acceptable uniform law for ESC on a global scale. Instead of developing one standard, flexible ethical applications must be continued. We recommend local guidelines that incorporate important cultural and ethical priorities.

While the Declaration of Helsinki is more relevant to people in clinical trials receiving ESC products, in keeping with the tradition of protections for research subjects, consent of the donor is an ethical requirement for ESC donation in many jurisdictions including the US, Canada, and Europe. [69] The Declaration of Helsinki provides a reference point for regulatory standards and could potentially be used as a universal baseline for obtaining consent prior to gamete or embryo donation.

For instance, in Columbia University’s egg donor program for stem cell research, donors followed standard screening protocols and “underwent counseling sessions that included information as to the purpose of oocyte donation for research, what the oocytes would be used for, the risks and benefits of donation, and process of oocyte stimulation” to ensure transparency for consent. [70] The program helped advance stem cell research and provided clear and safe research methods with paid participants. Though paid participation or covering costs of incidental expenses may not be socially acceptable in every culture or context, [71] and creating embryos for ESC research is illegal in many jurisdictions, Columbia’s program was effective because of the clear and honest communications with donors, IRBs, and related stakeholders.  This example demonstrates that cultural acceptance of scientific research and of the idea that an egg or embryo does not have personhood is likely behind societal acceptance of donating eggs for ESC research. As noted, many countries do not permit the creation of embryos for research.

Proper communication and education regarding the process and purpose of stem cell research may bolster comprehension and garner more acceptance. “Given the sensitive subject material, a complete consent process can support voluntary participation through trust, understanding, and ethical norms from the cultures and morals participants value. This can be hard for researchers entering countries of different socioeconomic stability, with different languages and different societal values. [72]

An adequate moral foundation in medical ethics is derived from the cultural and religious basis that informs knowledge and actions. [73] Understanding local cultural and religious values and their impact on research could help researchers develop humility and promote inclusion.

IV.     Concerns

Some may argue that if researchers all adhere to one ethics standard, protection will be satisfied across all borders, and the global public will trust researchers. However, defining what needs to be protected and how to define such research standards is very specific to the people to which standards are applied. We suggest that applying one uniform guide cannot accurately protect each individual because we all possess our own perceptions and interpretations of social values. [74] Therefore, the issue of not adjusting to the moral pluralism between peoples in applying one standard of ethics can be resolved by building out ethics models that can be adapted to different cultures and religions.

Other concerns include medical tourism, which may promote health inequities. [75] Some countries may develop and approve products derived from ESC research before others, compromising research ethics or drug approval processes. There are also concerns about the sale of unauthorized stem cell treatments, for example, those without FDA approval in the United States. Countries with robust research infrastructures may be tempted to attract medical tourists, and some customers will have false hopes based on aggressive publicity of unproven treatments. [76]

For example, in China, stem cell clinics can market to foreign clients who are not protected under the regulatory regimes. Companies employ a marketing strategy of “ethically friendly” therapies. Specifically, in the case of Beike, China’s leading stem cell tourism company and sprouting network, ethical oversight of administrators or health bureaus at one site has “the unintended consequence of shifting questionable activities to another node in Beike's diffuse network.” [77] In contrast, Jordan is aware of stem cell research’s potential abuse and its own status as a “health-care hub.” Jordan’s expanded regulations include preserving the interests of individuals in clinical trials and banning private companies from ESC research to preserve transparency and the integrity of research practices. [78]

The social priorities of the community are also a concern. The ISSCR explicitly states that guidelines “should be periodically revised to accommodate scientific advances, new challenges, and evolving social priorities.” [79] The adaptable ethics model extends this consideration further by addressing whether research is warranted given the varying degrees of socioeconomic conditions, political stability, and healthcare accessibilities and limitations. An ethical approach would require discussion about resource allocation and appropriate distribution of funds. [80]

While some religions emphasize the sanctity of life from conception, which may lead to public opposition to ESC research, others encourage ESC research due to its potential for healing and alleviating human pain. Many countries have special regulations that balance local views on embryonic personhood, the benefits of research as individual or societal goods, and the protection of human research subjects. To foster understanding and constructive dialogue, global policy frameworks should prioritize the protection of universal human rights, transparency, and informed consent. In addition to these foundational global policies, we recommend tailoring local guidelines to reflect the diverse cultural and religious perspectives of the populations they govern. Ethics models should be adapted to local populations to effectively establish research protections, growth, and possibilities of stem cell research.

For example, in countries with strong beliefs in the moral sanctity of embryos or heavy religious restrictions, an adaptive model can allow for discussion instead of immediate rejection. In countries with limited individual rights and voice in science policy, an adaptive model ensures cultural, moral, and religious views are taken into consideration, thereby building social inclusion. While this ethical consideration by the government may not give a complete voice to every individual, it will help balance policies and maintain the diverse perspectives of those it affects. Embracing an adaptive ethics model of ESC research promotes open-minded dialogue and respect for the importance of human belief and tradition. By actively engaging with cultural and religious values, researchers can better handle disagreements and promote ethical research practices that benefit each society.

This brief exploration of the religious and cultural differences that impact ESC research reveals the nuances of relative ethics and highlights a need for local policymakers to apply a more intense adaptive model.

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[26] Luo, D., Xu, Z., Wang, Z., & Ran, W. (2021). China's Stem Cell Research and Knowledge Levels of Medical Practitioners and Students.  Stem cells international ,  2021 , 6667743. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6667743

[27] Luo, D., Xu, Z., Wang, Z., & Ran, W. (2021). China's Stem Cell Research and Knowledge Levels of Medical Practitioners and Students.  Stem cells international ,  2021 , 6667743. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6667743

[28] Zhang, J. Y. (2017). Lost in translation? accountability and governance of Clinical Stem Cell Research in China. Regenerative Medicine , 12 (6), 647–656. https://doi.org/10.2217/rme-2017-0035

[29] Wang, L., Wang, F., & Zhang, W. (2021). Bioethics in China’s biosecurity law: Forms, effects, and unsettled issues. Journal of law and the biosciences , 8(1).  https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsab019 https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article/8/1/lsab019/6299199

[30] Chen, H., Wei, T., Wang, H.  et al.  Association of China’s two-child policy with changes in number of births and birth defects rate, 2008–2017.  BMC Public Health   22 , 434 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12839-0

[31] Azuma, K. Regulatory Landscape of Regenerative Medicine in Japan.  Curr Stem Cell Rep   1 , 118–128 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-015-0012-6

[32] Harris, R. (2005, May 19). Researchers Report Advance in Stem Cell Production . NPR. https://www.npr.org/2005/05/19/4658967/researchers-report-advance-in-stem-cell-production

[33] Park, S. (2012). South Korea steps up stem-cell work.  Nature . https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.10565

[34] Resnik, D. B., Shamoo, A. E., & Krimsky, S. (2006). Fraudulent human embryonic stem cell research in South Korea: lessons learned.  Accountability in research ,  13 (1), 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989620600634193 .

[35] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

[36] Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies.  https://www.aabb.org/regulatory-and-advocacy/regulatory-affairs/regulatory-for-cellular-therapies/international-competent-authorities/saudi-arabia

[37] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia.  BMC medical ethics ,  21 (1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

[38] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics , 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

Culturally, autonomy practices follow a relational autonomy approach based on a paternalistic deontological health care model. The adherence to strict international research policies and religious pillars within the regulatory environment is a great foundation for research ethics. However, there is a need to develop locally targeted ethics approaches for research (as called for in Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6), this decision-making approach may help advise a research decision model. For more on the clinical cultural autonomy approaches, see: Alabdullah, Y. Y., Alzaid, E., Alsaad, S., Alamri, T., Alolayan, S. W., Bah, S., & Aljoudi, A. S. (2022). Autonomy and paternalism in Shared decision‐making in a Saudi Arabian tertiary hospital: A cross‐sectional study. Developing World Bioethics , 23 (3), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12355 ; Bukhari, A. A. (2017). Universal Principles of Bioethics and Patient Rights in Saudi Arabia (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/124; Ladha, S., Nakshawani, S. A., Alzaidy, A., & Tarab, B. (2023, October 26). Islam and Bioethics: What We All Need to Know . Columbia University School of Professional Studies. https://sps.columbia.edu/events/islam-and-bioethics-what-we-all-need-know

[39] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics.  Research Ethics ,  17 (2), 228-241.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779

[40] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics.  Research Ethics ,  17 (2), 228-241.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779

[41] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[42] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[43] The EU’s definition of autonomy relates to the capacity for creating ideas, moral insight, decisions, and actions without constraint, personal responsibility, and informed consent. However, the EU views autonomy as not completely able to protect individuals and depends on other principles, such as dignity, which “expresses the intrinsic worth and fundamental equality of all human beings.” Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

[44] Council of Europe. Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No. 164) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=164 (forbidding the creation of embryos for research purposes only, and suggests embryos in vitro have protections.); Also see Drabiak-Syed B. K. (2013). New President, New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy: Comparative International Perspectives and Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laws in France.  Biotechnology Law Report ,  32 (6), 349–356. https://doi.org/10.1089/blr.2013.9865

[45] Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

[46] Tomuschat, C., Currie, D. P., Kommers, D. P., & Kerr, R. (Trans.). (1949, May 23). Basic law for the Federal Republic of Germany. https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf

[47] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Germany . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-germany

[48] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Finland . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-finland

[49] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Spain . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-spain

[50] Some sources to consider regarding ethics models or regulatory oversights of other cultures not covered:

Kara MA. Applicability of the principle of respect for autonomy: the perspective of Turkey. J Med Ethics. 2007 Nov;33(11):627-30. doi: 10.1136/jme.2006.017400. PMID: 17971462; PMCID: PMC2598110.

Ugarte, O. N., & Acioly, M. A. (2014). The principle of autonomy in Brazil: one needs to discuss it ...  Revista do Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgioes ,  41 (5), 374–377. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-69912014005013

Bharadwaj, A., & Glasner, P. E. (2012). Local cells, global science: The rise of embryonic stem cell research in India . Routledge.

For further research on specific European countries regarding ethical and regulatory framework, we recommend this database: Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Europe . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-europe   

[51] Klitzman, R. (2006). Complications of culture in obtaining informed consent. The American Journal of Bioethics, 6(1), 20–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265160500394671 see also: Ekmekci, P. E., & Arda, B. (2017). Interculturalism and Informed Consent: Respecting Cultural Differences without Breaching Human Rights.  Cultura (Iasi, Romania) ,  14 (2), 159–172.; For why trust is important in research, see also: Gray, B., Hilder, J., Macdonald, L., Tester, R., Dowell, A., & Stubbe, M. (2017). Are research ethics guidelines culturally competent?  Research Ethics ,  13 (1), 23-41.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016116650235

[52] The Qur'an  (M. Khattab, Trans.). (1965). Al-Mu’minun, 23: 12-14. https://quran.com/23

[53] Lenfest, Y. (2017, December 8). Islam and the beginning of human life . Bill of Health. https://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/08/islam-and-the-beginning-of-human-life/

[54] Aksoy, S. (2005). Making regulations and drawing up legislation in Islamic countries under conditions of uncertainty, with special reference to embryonic stem cell research. Journal of Medical Ethics , 31: 399-403.; see also: Mahmoud, Azza. "Islamic Bioethics: National Regulations and Guidelines of Human Stem Cell Research in the Muslim World." Master's thesis, Chapman University, 2022. https://doi.org/10.36837/ chapman.000386

[55] Rashid, R. (2022). When does Ensoulment occur in the Human Foetus. Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association , 12 (4). ISSN 2634 8071. https://www.jbima.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2-Ethics-3_-Ensoulment_Rafaqat.pdf.

[56] Sivaraman, M. & Noor, S. (2017). Ethics of embryonic stem cell research according to Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, and Islamic religions: perspective from Malaysia. Asian Biomedicine,8(1) 43-52.  https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.0801.260

[57] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[58] Lecso, P. A. (1991). The Bodhisattva Ideal and Organ Transplantation.  Journal of Religion and Health ,  30 (1), 35–41. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27510629 ; Bodhisattva, S. (n.d.). The Key of Becoming a Bodhisattva . A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. http://www.buddhism.org/Sutras/2/BodhisattvaWay.htm

[59] There is no explicit religious reference to when life begins or how to conduct research that interacts with the concept of life. However, these are relevant verses pertaining to how the fetus is viewed. (( King James Bible . (1999). Oxford University Press. (original work published 1769))

Jerimiah 1: 5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…”

In prophet Jerimiah’s insight, God set him apart as a person known before childbirth, a theme carried within the Psalm of David.

Psalm 139: 13-14 “…Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

These verses demonstrate David’s respect for God as an entity that would know of all man’s thoughts and doings even before birth.

[60] It should be noted that abortion is not supported as well.

[61] The Vatican. (1987, February 22). Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day . Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html

[62] The Vatican. (2000, August 25). Declaration On the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells . Pontifical Academy for Life. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_20000824_cellule-staminali_en.html ; Ohara, N. (2003). Ethical Consideration of Experimentation Using Living Human Embryos: The Catholic Church’s Position on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . Retrieved from https://article.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/30/2-3/pii/2003018/77-81.pdf.

[63] Smith, G. A. (2022, May 23). Like Americans overall, Catholics vary in their abortion views, with regular mass attenders most opposed . Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/05/23/like-americans-overall-catholics-vary-in-their-abortion-views-with-regular-mass-attenders-most-opposed/

[64] Rosner, F., & Reichman, E. (2002). Embryonic stem cell research in Jewish law. Journal of halacha and contemporary society , (43), 49–68.; Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[65] Schenker J. G. (2008). The beginning of human life: status of embryo. Perspectives in Halakha (Jewish Religious Law).  Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics ,  25 (6), 271–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9221-6

[66] Ruttenberg, D. (2020, May 5). The Torah of Abortion Justice (annotated source sheet) . Sefaria. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/234926.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

[67] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[68] Gert, B. (2007). Common morality: Deciding what to do . Oxford Univ. Press.

[69] World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA , 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053 Declaration of Helsinki – WMA – The World Medical Association .; see also: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979).  The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/read-the-belmont-report/index.html

[70] Zakarin Safier, L., Gumer, A., Kline, M., Egli, D., & Sauer, M. V. (2018). Compensating human subjects providing oocytes for stem cell research: 9-year experience and outcomes.  Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics ,  35 (7), 1219–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1171-z https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6063839/ see also: Riordan, N. H., & Paz Rodríguez, J. (2021). Addressing concerns regarding associated costs, transparency, and integrity of research in recent stem cell trial. Stem Cells Translational Medicine , 10 (12), 1715–1716. https://doi.org/10.1002/sctm.21-0234

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[72] Krosin, M. T., Klitzman, R., Levin, B., Cheng, J., & Ranney, M. L. (2006). Problems in comprehension of informed consent in rural and peri-urban Mali, West Africa.  Clinical trials (London, England) ,  3 (3), 306–313. https://doi.org/10.1191/1740774506cn150oa

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[74] Msoroka, M. S., & Amundsen, D. (2018). One size fits not quite all: Universal research ethics with diversity.  Research Ethics ,  14 (3), 1-17.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016117739939

[75] Pirzada, N. (2022). The Expansion of Turkey’s Medical Tourism Industry.  Voices in Bioethics ,  8 . https://doi.org/10.52214/vib.v8i.9894

[76] Stem Cell Tourism: False Hope for Real Money . Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). (2023). https://hsci.harvard.edu/stem-cell-tourism , See also: Bissassar, M. (2017). Transnational Stem Cell Tourism: An ethical analysis.  Voices in Bioethics ,  3 . https://doi.org/10.7916/vib.v3i.6027

[77] Song, P. (2011) The proliferation of stem cell therapies in post-Mao China: problematizing ethical regulation,  New Genetics and Society , 30:2, 141-153, DOI:  10.1080/14636778.2011.574375

[78] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[79] International Society for Stem Cell Research. (2024). Standards in stem cell research . International Society for Stem Cell Research. https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/5-standards-in-stem-cell-research

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Mifrah Hayath

SM Candidate Harvard Medical School, MS Biotechnology Johns Hopkins University

Olivia Bowers

MS Bioethics Columbia University (Disclosure: affiliated with Voices in Bioethics)

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