Growing Pains - and Pleasures - of UK Agencies

Finding the right kind of people is the biggest challenge facing fast-growing research agencies of all sizes, according to the next edition of MRWho, out shortly. The issue looks in detail at 6 UK-based success stories with turnovers from £1 million to £50 million, and finds most in buoyant mood.

The agencies are Firefish, Virtual Surveys, Kadence, Nunwood, MORI and Synovate, and growth rates range from around 10% to over 100% per annum in exceptional years. The six are randomly selected so their stories are not necessarily representative - however, they cover a wide range of activities from b2b to consumer branding, public consultation to automotive image and online to ftf syndicated studies, and sizes from fewer than 10 staff to many hundred worldwide.

Key facts illustrating growth are listed for each agency, along with comments from agency bosses outlining some of the main challenges and rewards; and a narrative covers some general conclusions.

Personnel and recruitment challenges were always going to be among the key areas mentioned, although they differ depending on the size of the agency. One of the other central themes was getting efficient systems in place, especially during the phase when an agency moves from a size where one person can monitor everything to one where procedures are needed to ease communication and maintain quality. How to standardise certain elements without stifling creativity?

Hard work is the general rule but not all those interviewed are expecting to spend the next few months behind their desks, in meetings or on aeroplanes touring various new acquisitions. Similarly, optimism about the future of MR is the general rule but not universal. A readiness to admit mistakes and backtrack where required is an interesting common feature of those agencies making the transition from small to large.

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All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.