MRS Awards Wins for The Behavioural Architects

In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has given both its new Sustainability Research Award and this year's Liz Nelson Grand Prix Award to The Behavioural Architects and New South Wales Department of Planning & Environment, for work which resulted in an increase in tree planting in Sydney.

The Behavioural Architects, which was launched in 2011 and has offices in London, Oxford, New York, Shanghai, Sydney and Melbourne, uses behavioural economics and behavioural sciences to help companies better understand and influence what consumers do. Judges of this year's MRS Awards described the company's work with New South Wales Department of Planning & Environment as 'a fantastic example of the power of behavioural research to influence and change perceptions for the greater good'. The company also took home a highly commended in the AQR Qualitative Excellence Award.

At last night's ceremony, held at Old Billingsgate in London for an audience of more than 900 research, insight and data professionals, UK-based insights agency Kokoro (formerly ABA Research) was named 2022 Agency of the Year, for its 'strong financial performance and commercial growth' during the past year, described by the judges as 'staggering'. The agency was also praised for its 'dedication to pro bono work, its positive spirt, and its investment in talent'.

GAMAAN took home the MRS President's Medal for its work gathering the opinions of Iranian people towards the regime, which the judges said has played a crucial role in making Iranians' views heard across the globe. Beatriz Molina Sanchez from NATO received The Young Researcher of the Year client-side award, while Chris Curtis of Opinium took home the supplier-side equivalent. The gong for the Best New Venture went to LADBible Group's newly formed research team; while the UK Business Impact of the Year Award was won by Shell and Strat7 Incite for their data-led approach to building the UK's network of electric vehicle charging points.

Following a Dragons' Den style panel session, this year's Innovation of the Year Award went to Kantar for its LinkAI tech, while Kantar Consulting and its client Fáilte Ireland took home the Research Live Global Business Impact of the Year Award. MRS CEO Jane Frost comments: 'The research sector has a crucial role to play in guiding leaders in the private and public spheres through another difficult period. The calibre of tonight's finalists shows just how committed our sector is to stepping up to the plate, innovating as technology and behaviour change to deliver actionable insights'.

A full list of this year's winners can be found at: www.mrs.org.uk/awards/mrs-awards .