Appointment Signals Growth for UK's Independent Researchers

Times are good for independent research consultants in the UK. Representative body the ICG has been growing rapidly and this week announced the appointment of its first Professional Administrator, (Ms.) Andy Laing.

The ICG (Independent Consultants Group) said Laing was chosen from a strong field of nine applicants for the role. She has over ten years' experience as a senior-level PA and administrator for professional and not-for-profit organisations, including work recruiting for market research and implementing a range of marketing and admin programmes. She works from a home office in Cambridge, appropriately for the organisation - she comments: 'The members of the ICG work all over the UK and abroad, and seem to have a strong community ethos despite it being a kind of virtual organisation. That's a unique balance to have achieved.'

The ICG has over 300 members, consisting of mostly UK-based independent market researchers and small consultancies. Chairman Andrew Smith says the appointment is 'highly significant... To cope with our expanding membership and grow our activities requires us to appoint our first paid administrator - there is only so much that a volunteer committee can take on! This move allows us to undertake a range of exciting projects and signifies the progress that the ICG has made since its inception as a sub-group of the MRS over 5 years ago.' Smith says recent membership growth 'signals that independents are becoming an increasingly important force in the research community'.

The group's recently revamped web site is at www.indepconsultants.co.uk and provides a virtual network for its members.

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