BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//The ICG - ECPv6.3.3.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://theicg.co.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The ICG
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/London
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20260329T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20261025T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260108T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260108T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T044502
CREATED:20251203T101027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T170632Z
UID:39287-1767870000-1767873600@theicg.co.uk
SUMMARY:Basic Compliances for SMEs
DESCRIPTION:Join us for this informative webinar run by Accountant Jai Haran (husband of ICG member Aakanksha Haran). \nBased on the topic areas that many of you requested\, Jai will talk about business compliance requirements for \n\n\n\nAccounting and Corporation Tax\nVAT essentials\nPAYE basics\nCompany Secretarial.\n\n\n\nHe’ll then be available for questions. \nA perfect start to the year – get your company and finances operating efficiently – and compliant with the law. \nJai Haran \nJai works at RNM UK –  a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants\, tax and business advisers. Their key focus is identifying opportunities that give our clients a meaningful business advantage. They provide a full range of accounting and business services to enterprises and individuals helping them to achieve growth and long-term success. Between them\, they have decades of knowledge and practical experience. \n  \n  \nRegister here\n 
URL:https://theicg.co.uk/event/basic-compliances-for-smes/
CATEGORIES:ICG Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theicg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/money-g53e3b8e08_1280.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260120T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260120T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T044502
CREATED:20251203T111703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T125811Z
UID:39289-1768906800-1768910400@theicg.co.uk
SUMMARY:State of the (Insight) Nation - A review of 2025 and some predictions for 2026
DESCRIPTION:This webinar has been generously sponsored  by Liveminds \n \n  \n  \n  \nJoin our esteemed industry panellists to discuss some key themes from 2025 and help predict 2026. \nCome away from the session with a better idea of what those in other areas of the industry (field\, larger agencies\, clients) are experiencing\, as well as an idea of what your fellow independent consultants are going through as well. \nA perfect start to the new year. \nOur Panellists \nRebecca Cole – Panel Chair\, Cobalt Sky\, MRS Board Member (and Chair-Elect) \n \nRebecca Cole is the CEO of Cobalt Sky\, an award-winning market research operations company\, where she has worked since 2006. She has served on the main board of the Market Research Society (MRS) since 2020 and will be assuming the role Chair in April 2026. A highly experienced web scripter and quantum programmer\, Cole is also Co-Chair of the Association for Survey Computing (ASC). \nSteven Darby: Leeds Building Society  \nSteven is responsible for the Leeds Building Society research department\, over a decade of client-side industry experience across B2B and B2C. He works with leading partners and agencies across the industry to bring the needs and voice of customer to the heart of the organisation. \nSteven became Aura Director of Events and Awards in 2018\, and Vice Chair in 2023 where he is responsible for delivering the Aura program of webinars\, seminars\, conference content and the AURA awards. As well as working at LBS and volunteering with Aura Steven has used this experience to support the MRS and has been a judge for the MRS Awards since 2019. \nSam Grey: Managing Director\, i-view London \nSam has 24 years’ experience across recruitment\, qual and quant fieldwork\, automotive clinics\, interviewing and facility operations. As Managing Director of i-view London\, Sam has helped shape a multi-award-winning\, inclusive viewing facility known for high-end hospitality\, technical excellence and seamless delivery. Sam is a vocal advocate for the unique value of face-to-face insight in an increasingly hybrid industry. \nDr Sarah Jenkins\, \nDr. Sarah Jenkins\, Founder and Director of Magenta \nSarah is an award-winning insight professional with a distinguished career spanning more than 20 years. Starting in academia\, moving to a think tank then the Social Research Institute of Ipsos MORI\, Sarah moved into commercial research when she became Head of Qualitative in the Ipsos media team. In 2016\, she founded Magenta Research\, growing it into a multi-award-winning agency known for actionable client insights and storytelling. As an active member of the research community\, Sarah has judged awards\, served as AQR Vice Chair\, and delivered MRS training.  As respected conference speaker and thought leader\, Sarah continues to push the boundaries of research challenging others to think differently and not always take the easy path. \nRegister for this session 
URL:https://theicg.co.uk/event/state-of-the-insight-nation-a-review-of-2025-and-some-predictions-for-2026/
CATEGORIES:ICG Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theicg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/hands-for-lindsey.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260210T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260210T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T044502
CREATED:20260105T150202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T151259Z
UID:39371-1770721200-1770724800@theicg.co.uk
SUMMARY:Award Finalists 2025 Submissions
DESCRIPTION:Come and hear from our 4 Award Finalists from last year about their submissions. Hear more about how they approached their work\, the hurdles they overcame\, what worked well and less well\, and why they chose to enter the Award. \nA great opportunity to learn from other consultants and ask them questions. Also an opportunity to find out more about the Award for 2026. \nOur Finalists \nAWARD WINNER: Wren Insight: Hannah Beech and Judith Terry  \nReimagining the Students’ Union: transforming student life through a closeness-led segmentation \n \n  \n  \n  \nWren Insight partnered with Reading Students’ Union (RSU) to revolutionise how a Students’ Union should operate in 2025 and beyond.  Our ethnographic and closeness-led approaches informed and embedded a statistically rigorous and richly human segmentation\, with students’ emotional needs at its heart. The research challenged outdated assumptions about student lives and directly shaped a new RSU in strategy\, structure and services – including better targeted student provision and refocused commercial planning.  This enabled RSU to secure increased University funding and deliver to its purpose of helping all students to live a happy and fulfilled life at University. \nhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-students-union/  \nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-beech-9bb60752/  \nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-terry-b68b6914/ \nHighly Commended:  Open Questions: Joe Bonnell and Rachel Lewis: \nXLH UK Patient Stories – How ethnographic research led to life-changing results for people living with XLH \n \n  \n  \n  \nThis research was conducted by independent researchers Joe Bonnell and Rachel Lewis. It was commissioned by XLH UK\, a charity that supports people living with X-Linked Hypophosphatemia (XLH)\, a rare genetic condition. \nOur client had two research objectives: \n\nGenerate better awareness and understanding of XLH\nProvide evidence to NICE / NHS England as they were appraising a game-changing new drug\, Burosumab\, to receive funding for use in adults with XLH on the NHS\n\nThis was a creative\, sensitive and collaborative research project that combined excellence in the use of qualitative interviews and the innovative use of visual ethnography and co-production. Our work had major impacts for our charity client\, XLH UK\, and the people it supports. Our research contributed to a “life-changing” new drug being approved for funding on the NHS for use in adults living with XLH. Our key analytical theme\, “navigating uncertainty”\, became central to our client’s strategic vision\, shaping the way they frame and offer support\, and guiding their communications. Our work also had a significant impact on our participants — feeling confident and empowered to share their personal stories publicly for the first time. This project highlights the impact that a small\, specialist team of experienced\, independent researchers\, dedicated to working equitably and flexibly with our participants and our client\, can achieve. \nAll outputs from the project are public domain\, and you are welcome to view them here and here. \nJoe Bonnell | LinkedIn  Rachel Lewis | LinkedIn \nDeep Blue Thinking: Nick Bonney: \nPutting the Art Back into Artificial Intelligence  \n \nThis submission was about harnessing the power of AI alongside rather than instead of sound qualitative research techniques. By using AI-driven sentiment analysis we were able to create structure around a large volume of customer feedback forms and open up the kind of modelling to our SME client (a regional security company) that previously would have been out of reach for a business of this size. However\, we would not have got the same results if we’d simply been ‘slaves to the algorithm’ . By combining the machine learning with qualitative techniques such as call listening\, spending days with engineers and customer depth interviews\, we were able to develop a much more nuanced approach. Perhaps more importantly\, we harnessed the power of face to face workshops to ensure we got buy into the results both from senior management and from team leaders. This has enabled the prioritisation of six key customer experience workstreams\, each designed to address to a key underlying churn driver. \nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbonney/ \nSMPL Research: Poppy Reece\, Sean Marks\, Maura O’Malley \nReal voices informing real change for women’s safety \n \nSMPL Research evaluated two women’s safety initiatives for MOPAC and TfL – an impact evaluation of the Women’s Night Safety Charter\, and process evaluation of a safety audit programme led by members of the community trained as researchers. We used traditional research methods alongside creative digital ethnography to amplify lived experience. Our insights helped shape improvements to future safety audits and informed strategies to embed inclusive\, community-led approaches to make London safer for women and gender-diverse people. \nhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/smplresearch \nRegister for this webinar here
URL:https://theicg.co.uk/event/award-finalists-2025-submissions/
CATEGORIES:ICG Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theicg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/winner-award-pic--scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260324T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260324T133000
DTSTAMP:20260426T044502
CREATED:20260226T110821Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T111148Z
UID:39562-1774353600-1774359000@theicg.co.uk
SUMMARY:AI State of the Nation (with a focus on Synthetic Data)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis webinar is generously sponsored by Qualzy \n \n  \n\n\n\nCome and join us at this ICG-member only panel discussion which will cover;\n\nThe results of the second wave of the ICG-member survey about AI (including responses to the questions about Synthetic Data)\nSynthetic Data – what is it and industry perspectives about it\nSynthetic Data user experiences\, covering qual and quant….\nDiscussion and next steps for us all as Indies.\n\n  \nWith special thanks to our speakers: \nMike Brown \nMike brings the experience gained from large agency technology and data to smaller research businesses and brands. From automation\, improvement of research processes and methods often now using MR specific AI tools as well as the broader industry LLMs\, Mike’s company\, Green Bird Consultants\, can help you survive and thrive. \n  \nKaren Cooper \nKaren runs Living Brands\, an insight and brand consultancy. Her passion and expertise is qual and her business partner offers quant. In this session she’ll be talking about the findings she gained after replicating a human qual study with synthetic personas. \n  \n  \nAakanksha Haran \nAakanksha runs Smart Move Ventures\, a UK data and research consultancy specialising in quant and qual methodologies\, with a significant part of her business currently run via AI tools. She has run two waves of the ICG AI monitor survey\, the results of which will be shared. She will also be presenting a case study on synthetic data usage in a quantitative setting for a syndicated study. \n  \nTom Woodnutt  \nTom is the founder of Feeling Mutual\, a  strategic qualitative research consultancy. He is co-leading the ICG AI survey initiative and will both contribute to and chair this discussion. \n  \n  \n  \nRegister for this session here \n(note the unusual start time for this webinar plus it’s slightly longer duration)
URL:https://theicg.co.uk/event/ai-state-of-the-nation-with-a-focus-on-synthetic-data/
CATEGORIES:ICG Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theicg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/eye-g5762246f9_1280-e1692692003699.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260416T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260416T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T044502
CREATED:20260305T120225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T121045Z
UID:39581-1776337200-1776340800@theicg.co.uk
SUMMARY:The Human Advantage in a Digital World - How to navigate the tension between convenience and connection
DESCRIPTION:This webinar has been generously sponsored by Babble Research\, Research\, Meeting and Training Facility in Solihull Birmingham  \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nIn a world which is increasingly digitised\, and in an industry in which digital and agentic services abound\, it’s hard to remember the power that in-person\, real-life\, human interactions can bring at every stage of the research journey. \nThis webinar will act as this reminder. \nWe welcome representatives from two industry initiatives\, ‘Power of Presence’ and ‘The Fieldwork Collaboration Group’ to talk about their work\, after which we will open up the discussion for your thoughts. \nSpecifically\, you will leave the webinar with; \n\nA greater understanding of what these industry initiatives are doing – and how we can all benefit\nAn understanding of the sorts of arguments that you can present to clients who resist the human advantage\nAn appreciation of the power of industry collaboration (rather than competition)\nA sense of hope about the future of the Insight sector.\n\n  \nPower of Presence\nAs research becomes increasingly digital and AI-supported\, the industry is asking an important question: what role does human presence still play in insight? Drawing on findings from the Power of Presence (POP) industry survey\, this session explores why connection remains central to understanding people. Rather than positioning technology and human interaction in opposition\, POP highlights the importance of balance. In a screen-mediated world\, the ability to connect\, observe and engage meaningfully may be one of the most valuable and undervalued skills in modern research. \nThe Fieldwork Collaboration Group\nThe Field Collaboration Group (FCG) was formed in early 2025 by Richard Bryan\, Managing Director at Qa Research and Kathy Tomlin\, Managing Director at QRS Market Research. It is a collective of market and social research agencies’ across the UK that offer or use face-to-face research as a key service offering. The aim is to grow the volume of interviewers\, particularly in low coverage areas across the country. \nSince the Covid-19 Pandemic the volume of face-to-face interviewers and recruiters has declined significantly\, with many at the time deciding to retire or find other forms of employment. Some parts of the country have a very low volume if any interviewers at all\, which affects our industry’s ability to fully meet client demands for this methodology when required. \nThe face-to-face research method is critical to accessing parts of the population that are harder to reach via online research methods. It is able to target very specific local geographies and therefore fulfil survey quotas that other methods struggle to achieve. \nThe main goal of the FCG collective is to boost face-to-face interviewer numbers by 100-200 into the market and social research industry over the next couple of years. \nInterest in the group is continually growing with 16 companies actively involved. \nIn March 2026 the FCG are running a pilot training session with prospective interviewers in Greater Manchester following a recruitment process in the region and working collectively to produce training materials. \nFollowing the pilot agencies across the FCG will share and discuss lessons learnt and agree improvements that could be made to the process. They will then select another region in the UK to deliver a recruitment and training session\, focusing on a locality that has low interviewer coverage but continued high demand for this methodology. \nDuring the webinar Richard and Kathy will share more about the FCG and its aspirations and how others can get involved. \nOur Speakers:\nCara Allan \n  Cara is a Director at Plus Four Market Research (and The Qualitative Lab\, London SW19) with over 20 years of international qual and quant expertise. She is known for her quick grasp of complex issues and cutting through the noise to achieve clear\, human-centred insight. Cara energises projects with creative thinking\, combining methodologies to produce tailored approaches across sectors. She brings audience motivations to life and delivers sharp\, actionable findings that inspire confident decisions and drive meaningful change. With an awareness of the need for an evidence base\, Plus4 have supported the POP campaign delivering a pro bono industry survey. \nRichard Bryan \nRichard is Managing Director of Qa Research a full service social and market research agency operating in a range of sectors including transport\, education\, utilities\, health and social care\, agriculture\, environment\, and tourism. Qa offers a wide range of online and offline qual and quant research services. A key part of Qa’s offer includes face-to-face surveying\, often as part of multi-mode projects or as the only method on a project. Richard worked with Kathy Tomlin as a joint founder of the Field Collaboration Group (FCG) to bring the industry together to help boost the volume of interviewers in low coverage areas of the country. Richard chairs monthly online meetings with the FCG and provides advice on strategy. He also chaired a smaller group of FCG members to focus on developing the process and materials for training new interviewers. \nSam Grey \nSam is Managing Director of i-view London and has worked in market research for over 24 years. Beginning her career in recruitment and fieldwork operations\, she has supported both qualitative and quantitative research across a wide range of sectors. Sam now leads one of the UK’s most awarded viewing facilities and is the founder of the Power of Presence (POP) campaign\, a collaborative initiative bringing together UK viewing facilities to champion the value of face-to-face research. Her work is grounded in the belief that insight is created through human connection\, and that as research evolves\, empathy\, interpretation and presence remain central to its impact. \nKathy Tomlin \nKathy is Managing Director of QRS Market Research with over 30 years’ experience in the industry. As a fieldwork specialist\, Kathy initially started as a telephone interviewer and mystery shopper before her career spanned into all methodologies and areas of the business. Operationally\, it has been impossible to ignore the sharp decline in UK based interviewers following the Covid pandemic and its resulting impact on fieldwork coverage\, quality\, and cost — issues Kathy believes are critical to the long-term sustainability of face-to-face research. As a joint founder of the Field Collaboration Group (FCG)\, Kathy is responsible for overseeing the group’s operations and co-ordinating its first recruitment pilot in March ‘26. Boosting interviewer numbers and maintaining a quality field force is imperative for safeguarding the long-term survival and future of face-to-face interviewing in an evolving research landscape. \n  \n  \n  \nRegister for this session here\n 
URL:https://theicg.co.uk/event/the-human-advantage-in-a-digital-world-how-to-navigate-the-tension-between-convenience-and-connection/
CATEGORIES:ICG Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theicg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/18-paper-men.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260514T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260514T120000
DTSTAMP:20260426T044502
CREATED:20260420T104557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260423T111912Z
UID:39752-1778756400-1778760000@theicg.co.uk
SUMMARY:Getting Representation Right In Qual and Quant
DESCRIPTION:Join us for this panel discussion about the impact that getting a properly representative sample can mean for the effectiveness of your research\, and how to go about persuading clients of the importance of this. \nWe welcome Daniel Singham (Yonder Data Solutions) and Kate Dale (This Girl Can) to share their experiences. \nWe will then open up for a discussion about the challenges we face in this and where to go/what you can use to help navigate this. \nThis will be a discussion rooted in real case studies and shared experiences. \nDaniel Singham \n \nDaniel Singham is Commercial Director at Yonder Data Solutions and a member of the MRS Main Board\, with more than 20 years’ experience across commercial and operational roles in market research. He also chairs the MRS Representation in Research Committee\, where he champions inclusion\, representation and better reflection of diverse audiences across the industry. \nKate Dale \n \nAfter starting life as a journalist\, Kate evolved into a campaign and digital specialist. She’s currently leading This Girl Can – Sport England’s award-winning\, disruptive campaign to get more women more active. She’s a strategic communicator with extensive experience in producing integrated behaviour change and marketing campaigns. Kate is also a confident and inspiring public speaker\, experienced writer and analytical campaign and content strategist. Outside work\, she’s a stand-up comedian and co-owner of The Queer Comedy Club and Milli Productions. \n  \nRegister for this session here 
URL:https://theicg.co.uk/event/getting-representation-right-in-qual-and-quant/
CATEGORIES:ICG Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theicg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/omnibus.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260519T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260519T100000
DTSTAMP:20260426T044502
CREATED:20260413T154031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T154031Z
UID:39709-1779181200-1779184800@theicg.co.uk
SUMMARY:Not another Gen Z brief: Exploring the Older Adult Opportunity in Asia
DESCRIPTION:  \nDeveloped Asian markets share a defining reality: rapidly ageing societies. Yet most brands persist in chasing youth\, overlooking those with longer lives\, deeper pockets\, and rising cultural influence. \nTo shed light on this huge opportunity\, join fellow ICG members Drago Djourov and Scott Percival to hear key insights from their proprietary research — “The New Contract”.  \nTheir qual-quant study focused on the experiences of 50+ adults in Singapore and Japan through the lens of retirement. They’re also building on the learnings via a series of expert interviews from across Asia on their podcast – Potluck. \nThis session will unpack the key dimensions that define the older adult experience in Asia — and reveal how brands can authentically engage this audience. With implications for any ageing market – and a challenge to help your clients see what they’ve been missing. \n  \nScott Percival \n \nScott is the founder of Lore Consulting\, based in Singapore. Lore focuses on learning what brands must know about people\, cultures and categories to help drive decisions\, inspire ideas and be part of the story. We work with selected local partners and associate researchers across Asia to deliver qualitative projects – with specialisms in brand\, communications and UX research. \n  \nDrago Djourov \nDrago left post-Communist Bulgaria to go to university in post-bubble Japan\, make a stop in post-reunification HK\, and then start an insights agency in post-LKY Singapore. Now\, with a network of partners\, he conducts research across Asia for London-based MNCs\, Chinese startups or New York ad agencies. Most of his work is in travel\, tourism and hospitality\, but has experience across categories. \n  \nPotluck \nBorn in 2019\, Potluck is the podcast that stirs up a unique flavour of people\, culture and brands in Asia. As co-hosts\, Drago and Scott speak with guests from across the brand\, marketing and academic spheres. In 2025\, we’ve rebooted the show – using it as extension of our thought leadership collaboration\, beginning with The New Contract. \n  \nRegister for this session here 
URL:https://theicg.co.uk/event/not-another-gen-z-brief-exploring-the-older-adult-opportunity-in-asia/
CATEGORIES:ICG Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theicg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/older-adults-jpeg.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR