The ICG

How to "level up" with larger agencies by using data quality
2025-01-22 13:00 - 13:30 (Europe/London)
This Lunch & Learn will outline the development of online research over the past 20 years, including how respondents are increasingly seen as a “commodity”. The advent of “faster and cheaper” has led to exchanges where respondents may go through numerous pre-screeners/ routers to qualify for a survey. Even if they qualify, they then get paid a minimum amount for their time in a questionnaire which still doesn’t always consider their experience. This poor respondent experience has led to inattentive answers and therefore poor-quality data.
HOWEVER, there is a chance for a micro business to “level up” with some larger agencies by highlighting the importance of data quality, even having a checklist within their proposal.
Norstat will share their checklist in this session.
Andrew O’Connell, UK Managing Director, UK

Andrew has spent nearly 20 years working in online research, including 6 years as the UK Managing Director of Dynata. He has seen how it has evolved in that time with some developments which have worked well and some which haven’t. Prior to this he has worked client side in research roles.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-o-connell-36167433/
Register for this here

The Segmentation Playbook: From Analysis to Execution
2025-01-16 11:00 - 12:30
This training session has been generously sponsored by E-Tabs

A successful segmentation should be at the top of every Insights team’s list of priorities. But the landscape is littered with expensive, unloved & forgotten segmentation studies. How can you avoid this?
Paul Carney of ClearCut Insights will share his experience from over 25 years of analysing and implementing segmentations, including:

What makes a good segmentation?
How to work with segmentation data
Pros & cons of different segmentation approaches
Demystifying some of the terminology – Personas, Demand Spaces, Audiences, Needstates etc.
Top tips for successfully landing a segmentation with clients

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carneypaul/
Register for this training session here

Insights Ignite: Cultivating a Growth Mindset
2025-01-09 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar has been generously sponsored by Norstat

Join ICG member Lara Meyer in this webinar designed to kick-start your new year.

In this session, we’ll dive into the power of a “Growth Mindset” and why it’s a game-changer for both work and life! Lara will reveal simple, actionable ways to nurture your growth mindset while uncovering those sneaky traps that can pull you back into a fixed mindset (without you even realising!). Get ready for inspiring case studies and real-world examples that will spark fresh ideas and show you exactly how to apply this mindset shift to supercharge your success.
Why you should attend:
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a loop of ‘I can’t’ or ‘I’m just not good at this,’ then it’s time to break free! Join this session to discover how you can transform obstacles into opportunities for learning and growth. It’s not magic – it’s science!
Lara Meyer
Lara is a researcher turned coach for leaders in the insights industry, helping them and their teams find the sweet spot between high performance and happiness. She offers 1:1 and team coaching, training and motivational talks to support positive wellbeing.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-biddiscombe-meyer/
Register for this session here

B2B Insights, Simplified: LinkedIn-Verified Sampling for Small Businesses
2025-01-08 13:00 - 13:30
Discover how small businesses in insights can access affordable, expert network-quality B2B sample using Emporia’s LinkedIn-verified, programmatic platform.
This Lunch&Learn will explain why manual methods fall short and how a more automated approach ensures credibility, efficiency, and impactful research results. Learn how to leverage Emporia’s award-winning mrxCore platform for reliable data collection, reducing costs without compromising on quality.
A bit about Emporia
Emporia is a leading B2B research platform that delivers LinkedIn-verified respondents through a programmatic, scalable solution. The company’s approach reduces manual effort and improves data quality, allowing businesses to focus on insights that matter. By offering affordable, verified B2B sample, Emporia helps research agencies and independent consultants streamline their research with confidence.
Michael Hess

Michael Hess is the CEO and co-founder of Emporia Research. Prior to starting the company in 2020, Michael managed teams within global marketing at Marriott International and led large-scale database consolidation projects at Fortune 500 companies as an information systems consultant at Baker Tilly. Drawing from years of experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge in leveraging innovative technology to improve data quality and research efficiency. Now leading Emporia, Michael is dedicated to helping businesses access high-quality, affordable insights to drive smarter business decisions.
www.emporiaresearch.com
Register for this session here

Knowledge Share: Why is France different?
2025-01-07 16:00 - 16:45
This Knowledge Share has been generously sponsored by Norstat

Join ICG member Katherine Passerieu who’ll take us through some background information on the French market and the French consumer, therefore outlining some key considerations when conducting qualitative market research in France.
She’ll talk about cultural sensitivities, methodological considerations, analysis and interpretation, recruitment, timings, regulatory compliance.
Katherine Passerieu

A French National, Katherine had lived and worked in the UK for over 30 years.
Before setting up Passerieu Consulting in 2011, Katherine worked as a Director in international advertising and market research companies, e.g.:
– forward thinking, a boutique strategy consultancy
– GfK NOP – Director of Brand Strategy
– Censydiam UK – Managing Director
– CRAM International – Free lance Research Director for the French market
– TNS (now WPP) Director of Qualitative and International Research
– Landor & Associates – European Research Director
– Ted Bates France – Director of Research & Planning
Katherine has used an array of methodologies online and offline for projects in all industry sectors.
Her background is Sociology and Psychology.
She’s a member of the MRS, ESOMAR, ICG, IoD and BACP
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-passerieu-9054426/

Login in here for this session (no need to pre register)

ICG Christmas Party 2024
2024-12-06 12:00 - 16:30 | The Castle 33-34 Cowcross Street EC1M 6DB, The Castle, London, EC1M 6DB, United Kingdom
Looking forward to celebrating with you all. ICG members and non-members all welcome!
Hurry! Limited numbers.
The details:

Friday 6 Dec, 12 – 4.30pm
Private upstairs room of The Castle, 34-5 Cowcross St, Farringdon EC1M 6DB
Festive buffet and drinks
£42+VAT+Eventbrite fee

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Co-Sponsor: Face Facts

This event has been generously sponsored by Face Facts who are a multi award winning independent qualitative and quantitative fieldwork agency. They were winners of the Recruitment Excellence Award and finalists in the Best Data Collection (Online) category at this year’s MRS Operations Awards. They pride themselves on offering an experienced, trusted service with quality at their core – their RAS accreditation, MRS Fair data and ISO27001 certifications are testimony to this. Clients partner with them for their extensive experience, the value they add and their flexible approach so you can trust them to support your research projects, no matter how big or small.
Co-Sponsor: QuestionPro

QuestionPro offer a fully integrated experience management platform that includes surveys, research & insights, audience, communities, CX and EX software.
First Drinks Sponsor: Teneo Translations

Buy your tickets here

AddMaple: Live Coding and Interactive Training Session
2024-12-04 13:00 - 13:30
Want to learn how to use an AI co-pilot to tag themes in bulk, refine responses, and capture nuance?

Curious about how AI can streamline your analysis of open-ended (or even closed) responses for specific research questions? Join Ange for a free, hands-on training session where everything is set up for you. Working with real-world data, on your own laptop, you’ll work with an AI co-pilot to tag responses for themes, sub-themes, sentiment, or other questions your clients would like you to look out for. Ange will show you how to guide the AI if you want to ask specific questions.

AddMaple
AddMaple is a quant and qual data analysis tool that uses a sophisticated stats engine to turn raw data into table and graph summaries with AI for analyzing open ends into themes, segments, sentiment, intent and more.
Ange Taylor

Ange has worked across industries, from fintech to GDS until she took the leap to build the data tool she always wanted! She’ll be speaking at IIEX AI about how AddMaple brought together 12 state-of-the-art sentiment models so you can compare their output on the same text, in one go. She lives in Slovenia with her family, and can be found hiking the Julian Alps regularly! Joking. She’s building an early stage bootstrapped startup and can simply be found, founding 🙂
Join Ange for another session on the 4th of December (1-1.30pm) where we’ll tackle live coding together in an interactive session and perhaps even interactive reports if we get time!
Register for this event here (deadline for registration is Friday 29 Nov)
More about AddMaple, and the discounts Ange is offering ICG members, is here
Website: https://addmaple.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angemaple
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@addmaple
https://theicg.co.uk/member/angeaddmaple-com/

Innovations & Trends in Research Tech for 2025
2024-12-03 16:00 - 16:45
This Knowledge Share has been generously sponsored by Yasna.

ICG member Mike Stevens , Insight Platforms, will take us through an overview of the big themes, emerging trends and new technologies for research, analytics and insights.
No need to pre-register: Login is https://zoom.us/j/96355976193

Default Mode Network – the brain’s house of habit – what every researcher ought to know
2024-11-28 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar has been generously sponsored by Norstat

Whilst we’ve all been having our head turned by the latest in AI, we should be paying attention to neuroscience too.
Kath Rhodes from Qual Street will take you through her understanding of the ‘DMN’ and make the case that knowing about the DMN is foundational qualitative insight. You’ll learn what the DMN is, and how it’s important to our qualitative understanding of ‘what’s going on’.
Bonus offer – it’s pretty useful to know/ recognise the DMN in ‘real life’ too…
Kath Rhodes

Kath describes herself as a qualitative enthusiast and runs Qual Street. She loves to dip her toe into the latest learnings on neuroscience, psychology and social science – using them to evolve and improve qualitative methods and approaches.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/qualstreet/
www.qual-street.co.uk
Register for this webinar here

Introducing Benori: An easy and cost-effective way of accessing targeted data and insights to enable strategic decisions
2024-11-20 13:00 - 13:30
We will present Benori’s bespoke research solutions, capabilities (desk research, primary research and data modelling) and examples of how we support our clients in their projects. Particularly, we’d like to talk about how we work with advisory firms and independent consultants, providing them targeted data and insights to enable strategic decisions. We will also cover our flexible engagement models tailored to different client needs.
Why you should attend?
The session will showcase how Benori can act as an on-demand extension of your team, offering both the expertise and additional capacity you need in a flexible, cost-effective manner.
Benori’s services span a broad spectrum, including desk research, quantitative research, developing data assets (e.g. compiling and tracking poduct or pricing data) and building data visualizations (such as Power BI dashboards, infographics) across multiple industries.
They’ve already collaborated with several ICG members on various strategic projects, including market sizing, competitor benchmarking, and customer segmentation. This session will be a great opportunity to explore how their capabilities can complement and enhance your own work.
Benori has grown to a team of 125+ research professionals, having successfully delivered 700+ projects to 150+ clients spread globally. We’ve also worked with several ICG members (Liz Montgomery, Teresa Hadfield, Henrique Savelsberg, Heather Macleod, Riaz Marzban to name a few) on a range of different projects.
Speakers
Ashish Gupta (Founder and CEO)

Ashish is a visionary in the field of global knowledge services, he is credited with coining the term “Knowledge Process Outsourcing.” In his previous role, he co-founded Evalueserve and served as COO and Global Business Unit Head of Financial Services. In addition, Ashish is the Founder and Trustee of Ashoka University and Plaksha University.
Suchi Gupta (Director, UK)

Suchi brings over 15 years of expertise in strategy, business research, and analytics. She is known for her strength in building client relationships and solving complex challenges. Throughout her career, she has led global cross-functional teams, consistently delivering tailored solutions across diverse industries.
About Benori
Benori, is a bespoke research and analytics firm that provides actionable and cost-effective insights to clients across different industries. We have a global footprint with respect to client base and research coverage with multilingual capabilities. We work extensively with consulting firms – large ones as well as boutique firms and independent consultants.
We have a well-rounded research methodology comprising:

Desk research including public sources and paid databases

Primary research including qualitative interviews, FGDs and B2B surveys

Data Modelling covering market sizing models and financial analysis

Key areas where we can support:

Market Assessment including market size, growth forecast, emerging and disruptive trends

Competitive Landscape to benchmark companies on their size, offerings, financial and operational performance, geographic coverage and other parameters

Data Management and Design Solutions including data visualisation, dashboard development and design creatives

Sustainability-related Initiatives involving decarbonisation strategies, waste management and circular business models

Product Tracking including monitoring new product launches by competitors, claims analysis, trends analysis and regulatory tracking

Register for this Lunch&Learn here

Benori – Bespoke Research Solutions

Rethinking Sustainable Packaging in FMCG

What about Cannabis? A deep dive into feelings and opinions of consumers from Netherlands, Spain and Thailand. A comparison of three very distinct cannabis markets
2024-11-19 16:00 - 16:45
This Knowledge Share has been generously sponsored by Research Clever, a Field and tab agency helping with consumer and B2B target audiences in 130 markets. Our values focus on respondent quality, agile communication, one point of contact on each project, project management expertise and commitment to our proposals backed by our guarantees.

In the past decade cannabis has emerged from being considered a narcotic into the mainstream with applications from skin cream to food & beverages, vaping products and even medical cannabis for pets. Its growth has been exponential, and the global legal cannabis market is projected to reach from US$58[1] to US$82 billion[2] in the next 3 to 4 years. This exponential growth brings with it opportunities for market researchers and strategists, with consultancies specifically focused on cannabis and many major brands exploring new market opportunities.
This study is a truly intercultural exploration of the cultural differences between three countries: Netherlands, Spain and Thailand, with deep dives on how consumers get informed about cannabis rules and regulations, and their knowledge, feelings and opinions about cannabis. The differing phases of cannabis adoption in the three markets, with very distinct policies, rules and regulations, offers three different perspectives on the current state of consumer attitudes towards cannabis and its regulation.
The study consists of store observations, interviews and a short quantitative validation for all three markets. Also, in addition to the focus on the three countries, desk research will cover the global market as well the opportunities being created for market research professionals across the globe.
[1] BDSA, June 2024 https://bdsa.com/press-release/bdsa-forecasts-global-legal-cannabis-sales-to-hit-58-billion-in-2028/
2 Markets and Markets February 2024 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cannabis-market-201768301.html,
++++++++++++
About the research team:

Henrique Savelsberg (https://theicg.co.uk/member/henrique-savelsberg/) is Dutch native with close to 25 years experience in developing/managing international market research studies, recently also more UX research studies. Henrique moderates mainly in Dutch and English language, provides qualitative and strategic market research across the globe with particular focus on Europe and (SE) Asia. Henrique offers B2B and B2C research with sector experience specifically in air travel/tourism, F&B/Foodservice, FMCG, technology, financial services and Industrial/B2B strategic market research. His local Thai research partner conducted the Thai interviews for this study.

Originally from the US, Brian Loeb (https://theicg.co.uk/member/brian-loeb/) has lived in Spain for nearly 25 years and is bilingual in Spanish and English. He has over 25 years of experience in Strategy, Marketing and Market Research, and conducts both qualitative and quantitative market and UX research on a freelance basis across the English and Spanish-speaking worlds, with a particular focus on CPG (FMCG), Tech and Telco, and Financial Services.

Log in here to join the session (no need to pre register)

Yasna.ai: Let AI Handle the Routine, So You Can Focus on Growth
2024-11-06 13:00 - 13:30 | https://zoom.us/j/91823795409
Freelance researchers, consultants, and small agencies are often limited in scaling their businesses due to the capacity of their workforces.
AI tools like Yasna.ai open up new opportunities for solo researchers and small teams by automating the research interviewing process without compromising on quality.
In the upcoming Lunch & Learn session, you’ll discover how to use an AI conversational agent to handle more projects, expand into new markets, and win clients — all without exceeding your working hours.
Yasna.ai
Yasna.ai is a platform for conversational research through automated interviewing. The AI moderator engages in one-on-one text chats with real respondents and then transforms the transcripts into meaningful summaries.
Tanya Berlina Client Success Director at Yasna.ai

With more than 15 years in qualitative research, both offline and online, Tanya has conducted hundreds (or thousands, who counts?) of IDIs, FGs, and communities. She has carried out ethnographies and multicultural studies with much enthusiasm and is an early adopter of AI technology in market research.
Website: https://yasna.ai/solution/for-research
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yasna-ai/
Email: ask@yasna.ai
Register for this session here
Yasna – AI-powered Conversational Agent – The ICG

Taking it apart, putting it back together: A brief introduction to semiotics and cultural research
2024-10-31 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar has been generously sponsored by Indeemo

The webinar will introduce and expand on semiotic analysis and cultural research techniques, and how they’re used in commercial research contexts – drawing on Canopy’s recent look at some of the changing cultural meanings of ownership in UK and US markets to illustrate what these methods look like in practice.
Why should you attend?
You’ll gain a clear introductory grounding in what semiotic analysis and cultural research look like in practice, why they’re valuable for clients… and how you can incorporate them into your own research projects.
Natalie Edwards

Nat Edwards is the co-founder and Managing Director of semiotics and cultural research consultancy Canopy Insight, where she works with clients to develop culturally meaningful and commercially viable product designs, innovations, market strategies and communications. She has a PhD in media, politics and cultural studies, and an enduring interest in the construction and evolution of meaning in cultures. She is also an ICG member.
LINKED – https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-edwards-106a8337/
WEBSITE – https://canopyinsight.com/
Register for this webinar here

How to analyse tens of thousands of open ends and get quant insights from raw data fast!
2024-10-23 13:00 - 13:30
Join Ange Taylor, AddMaple (and also ICG member) who will show you how to save hours in analysis and how to spot relationships in your data that go beyond guess work, allowing you more strategic time to craft your insight stories!
ICG members Dan Young and Barbara Du Perron already use AddMaple – why don’t you join them?
More specifically, Ange will cover:

Text analysis using AI with themes quantified that you can segment and test for significance across the dataset
How to get a quick read of survey data without data wrangling (empty cells, multi-select – all the apply questions, etc)
How to pivot, cross tab and filter to go deeper with ease.

AddMaple
AddMaple is a quant and qual data analysis tool that uses a sophisticated stats engine to turn raw data into table and graph summaries with AI for analyzing open ends into themes, segments, sentiment, intent and more.
Ange Taylor

Ange has worked across industries, from fintech to GDS until she took the leap to build the data tool she always wanted! She’ll be speaking at IIEX AI about how AddMaple brought together 12 state-of-the-art sentiment models so you can compare their output on the same text, in one go. She lives in Slovenia with her family, and can be found hiking the Julian Alps regularly! Joking. She’s building an early stage bootstrapped startup and can simply be found, founding 🙂
Website: https://addmaple.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angemaple
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@addmaple
https://theicg.co.uk/member/angeaddmaple-com/
Register for this session here

Colour of Research and the Importance of Representation in Research
2024-10-03 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar is generously sponsored by Yonder Data Solutions who are a trusted fieldwork and data collection company offering numerous services such as UK/International online data collection, advanced analytics, CATI, dashboards and visualisation, AI technology and omnibus services

Come and hear from Daniel Singham (Yonder Data Solutions) and ICG member Sonal Malkan, about:

Who and what Colour of Research (CORe) is
How CORe supports the industry and inclusive research.

A bit about CORe

CORe advocates for the inclusion of ethnic professionals in the market research industry. We aim to provide guidance and encouragement while forging meaningful connections to enable growth and development.
Daniel Singham

Daniel is the Commercial Director at Yonder Data Solutions, on the steering committee for CORe, and represents CORe on the MRS EDI Council. Daniel has been in the industry for 19 years and his specialism is in all things quant.
Sonal Malkan

Sonal is a qualitative researcher and behavioural science consultant with experience across private, public and third sectors. She’s passionate about using research to make a difference to groups considered to be marginalised in society.
Further info

CORe: https://www.colourofresearch.org/
YDS: https://yonderdatasolutions.com/
Daniel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-singham-2288346/
Twitter: @DanielSingham

Register for this webinar here

Discover how Crowdsourced Shopper Insight could generate additional revenue
2024-10-02 13:00 - 13:30
This Lunch&Learn will be presented by ICG members Robin Shuker and Gwen Deloux. Field Agent

What is Field Agent?
Field Agent delivers fast, accurate retail information and shopper insights so brands and retailers can identify key growth opportunities.
Our approach provides instant on-site visibility and feedback on the shoppers’ real experience which includes: –

The effectiveness of product stocking and display in-store (A1 tracking model)
Insights into how Shoppers make purchasing decisions and why? (Photos and Videos)
Assessment of product satisfaction, complemented by online retailer reviews

Why should you attend this Lunch&Learn?
Shopper research can be costly and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Discover how you could use the Field Agent mobile app and crowd of shoppers for your own in store research studies. Faster Cheaper Smarter.
Understand how you could use this methodology and some relevant case studies.
Field Agent will also be offering up to 10 attendees a free pilot study (10 Shopper Visits) and training on how to use the system.
Who’s the session for?
Anyone wanting to know more about crowdsourced shopper research and interested in having access to the Field Agent platform and mobile app or partnering with the UK Team.
Robin Shuker Managing Director
After a career in advertising in the UK and Sydney, Robin got into market research through online focus groups and communities, then did some good old-fashioned face-to-face and set up the Field Agent® Business in the UK 2020.
Robin is also a past Committee Member of the ICG.
Gwen Deloux (Director of Insight)
Gwen Deloux is a market researcher with over 20 years’ experience. After working client side for over 10 years with P&G, Gwen started her own consultancy working with GSK, P&G, Philips, Unilever, Historic Royal Palaces, Nestle among others. She has been partnering with Field Agent over 5 years and is now Director of Insight.

www.fieldagent.co.uk

Register for this session here

Knowledge Share: Using Microsoft Teams Interpretation for Qualitative Research
2024-10-01 16:00 - 16:45
This Knowledge Share is generously sponsored by Yasna.ai, a platform for conversational research through automated interviewing.

The session will be led by ICG member Iris Griffiths, Across Research.

Join us for a practical session on how to use the interpretation feature in Microsoft Teams during online qualitative research interviews and focus groups. This quick session is designed specifically for qualitative researchers and will cover how to set up and utilize the Teams integrated interpretation function. The session will cover best practices and tips for configuring language settings, setting up the interpretation channel and managing interpreters during interviews and focus groups.
Iris Griffiths

Iris Griffiths is a seasoned professional with a dual focus on international qualitative research and conference interpreting . As a conference interpreter, Iris brings a wealth of experience in facilitating real-time communication across languages during industry events, conferences, business, and diplomatic meetings. Working in the combined fields of language and market research, Iris leverages her linguistics skills by offering interpreting services tailored for the market research industry via the Across Lingo (www.acrosslingo.com) platform.
Combining her expertise in qualitative research with her interpreting skills, Iris Griffiths offers a unique value proposition, enhancing cross-cultural communication and providing deep insights that drive strategic decision-making in the market research industry.
JOIN THIS KNOWLEDGE SHARE HERE (NO NEED TO PRE REGISTER)

ICG's Half-Hour Coffee And Connect
2024-09-24 10:00 - 10:30
A monthly half-hour get-together with fellow ICG members at the start of each month, with a particular welcome to new members, offering the opportunity to chat through anything you’d like to about the ICG, about your work issues, business matters etc.

No need to pre-register. Just login if you can make it. You never know who’ll be on….

LOGIN IS:Coffee And Connect https://zoom.us/j/99588121682

WEBINAR: The impact of gambling in everyday life on children and young people
2024-09-18 11:00 - 12:00
Join Nicki Karet (Sherbert Research) and Hanna Chalmers (CultureStudio) as they talk about their interesting study for GambleAware.
Back in 2023 Sherbert and CultureStudio were commissioned by GambleAware to explore the perception of gambling among Children and Young People and to look at how this is different from adult perceptions – looking at the ‘grey areas’ in gambling/gaming and the impact on their perception and attitudes towards gambling. It was a fascinating study with a report being published earlier this year… we will take you through the main headlines and discuss some of the most interesting findings.
So, if you are interested in finding out what CYP know, think and feel about gambling come along and join us!
Nicki Karet

Nicki is the Managing Director and founder of Sherbert Research, an agency she established in 2003. With over 25 years of experience, Nicki has spent her career focusing on understanding and engaging with children and young people and those within their worlds. Her work covers a wide range of topics from media, sports, and mental health to the effectiveness of ad campaigns and new product launches/development in both the UK and internationally.
Hanna Chalmers

Hanna is a cultural expert, a skilled and instinctive strategic researcher with endless enthusiasm and curiosity to make sense of what is an increasingly complex world. At CultureStudio, he combines both extensive commercial acumen with an enduring interest in culture and society. Hanna spent the first half of her working life at two of the world’s most powerful and influential cultural organisations, BBC and Universal Music. After some time abroad she returned to London moving agency side working first as a global insight director at a media agency before joining Ipsos Mori as a senior director in media and tech. In 2020 she took all this experience and learning to bring together a unique offer – always thinking culture first to help organisations, businesses, brands and charities, harness people understanding to do things better.

Register your place here

BOOK GROUP: Data Storytelling in Marketing
2024-09-11 12:00 - 13:00
Welcoming the author of this book, Caroline Florence, to lead a Book Group discussion about it.
Use data more effectively to develop compelling evidence-based stories that influence, persuade and drive strategic decisions.
Marketers are storytellers, they write content, marketing strategies and devise internal communications, but unless these stories are evidence-based, they won’t be believable or truly persuasive.
Understanding how to use data to build and tell stories is an increasingly important part of the modern-day
marketers’ toolkit. Stories centered on robust evidence and credible data can withstand challenges, provide meaning, offer insight and engage audiences.
This book is designed to plug the data storytelling skills gap and enable marketing professionals to cut through the data overload, join the data dots and create engaging narratives and content.
Regardless of whether you’re a data expert, data anxious or a data sceptic, this book will give you the tools to help you to communicate more effectively with your customers and your stakeholders.
Written by expert trainer Caroline Florence, this book outlines how to build robust and compelling data stories.
Drawing on her client work with companies such as Toyota, Lactalis, News UK, Mars Petcare and AXA, plus contributions from experts across data, insights, marketing and customer experience, this book provides a practical roadmap to increase your influence with data storytelling.
About the author:

Caroline Florence is a trainer and coach in data analysis, insight generation and storytelling based near Cambridge, UK. As founder of Insight Narrator, she was included in the Twenty Women in Data and Tech in 2023. She was also listed in the ESOMAR Insight250 in 2021 as a global innovator in market research, data-driven marketing and insights and speaks regularly at conferences around the world on the value of insight.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineflorence/

Knowledge Share: Applied Colour Psychology for Brands and Comms
2024-09-03 16:00 - 16:45
This Knowledge Share has been sponsored by Perspective Research Services who specialise in data collection solutions involving qualitative, F2F, CATI and online approaches – domestically in the UK and Internationally – consumers and B2B. Please feel free to contact Jade On , Commercial Director for any questions or RFQs

Colour is a key element of brand and personal communication. In this session Maria will introduce applied colour psychology and look at how the universal psychology of colours and colour harmony from the Colour Affects System is used to identify the best colours and combination to communicate a personality. The colour palette can then be applied across all elements of the communications mix to give a clear message in keeping with the brand personality. This system can also identify what is off in a colour scheme and suggest improvements.
Maria Boyle

Maria first started working in advertising agencies and media independents as a media planner working in UK and Asia while based in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. In 2001 she moved into qualitative research and became a freelance consultant in 2007. Also in 2007 Maria studied and graduated in the Colour Affects System, and further trained to become a Colour Affects teacher. Earlier this year Maria completed the CPD accredited course ‘How To Do Semiotics In Seven Weeks’ which is a perfect fit to applied colour psychology. In her free time Maria is an artist where colour of course plays an important role in her work.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-boyle/
https://www.mariaboylecolour.com/

Register for this session here

Knowledge Share: Roundtable Discussion about AI and Qual
2024-08-06 16:00 - 16:45
This Knowledge Share has been generously sponsored by Qualzy, known for their Researcher First AI that thoughtfully supports researchers without replacing the human touch.

Following on from our members’ e-group discussion, we’d like to invite all ICG members to a roundtable discussion about your experiences, hopes, fears, frustrations and knowledge gaps when using AI in your qual work.
Come and hear others’ experiences and learn from each other.
NO NEED TO PRE-REGISTER – LOGIN IS
https://zoom.us/j/96355976193

B2B Research Myths
2024-07-31 13:00 - 13:30
This Lunch&Learn will be run by Internet Research Bureau – IRB

Join this 30-minute session to better understand:

Key B2B research myths/stereotypes and how IRB is addressing them. E.g., Myth #1 B2B respondents quality is too poor given the cost. We’ll show what extra quality measures IRB and other leading sample providers apply to maintain higher quality of b2b sample. And also show how we can be cost effective without sacrificing on quality and relevant for smaller consultancies
Some relevant case studies (inc. one run with an ICG member) and how they relate to your business: demonstrating capabilities, timings, targets we can reach etc.
Online and off-line B2B research we can help ICG members with.

This session is for any consultants interested in conducting primary B2B research (online, CATI, qual recruitment), sample only or full-service.
Our speakers:
Elena Speer, PhD European Sales Director at IRB

Elena is an industry veteran with 18 years of extensive experience in both B2B and B2C market research. She joined IRB from her previous roles at Ipsos and PureSpectrum, where she led significant business development efforts. Elena’s impressive background is also marked by her tenure as Strategic Planning Director at top advertising agencies such as BBDO, Leo Burnett, and Saatchi & Saatchi. She holds a PhD in Psycholinguistics and a bachelor degree in business administration.
elena.speer@irbureau.com
+44(0)7967790823
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaspeer/

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David Winter

David Winter has been MD Europe for IRB since 2020, having worked at Lightspeed and Kantar for eight years.
He has been developing IRB’s commercial footprint during that time, focusing on MRAs and smaller consultancies, who fit well with IRB’s flexible approach.
Together with Elena and other team members he promotes IRB’s panel and offline recruitment offering.
“We are now offering a full B2B recruitment and fieldwork service, for a wide range of quant and qual projects. I have been fortunate to have worked with many ICG members and very much look forward to the opportunity to meet you on 31st July”
David holds degrees in Theology and Law and is a sports enthusiast.
You can reach him at david.winter@irbureau.com , 07714 244686 or (16) David Winter | LinkedIn

Register for this session here

Understanding ESOMAR UK and how it can help you
2024-07-24 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar has been generously sponsored by Opinion Hub

We welcome ESOMAR UK rep, Lucy Davison, to talk about how ESOMAR can really help UK-based consultants.
Specifically, the webinar will cover;

An over-arching view of what ESOMAR does and its purpose
UK specific activities and why they’re beneficial for micro businesses
How insight consultancies in the UK members can get involved
More about a deal that ESOMAR UK have agreed to apply to ICG members.

Lucy Davison

Lucy Davison FMRS is a strategy and communication expert with over 30 years’ experience. She founded Keen as Mustard Marketing in 2006 to provide communications for clients in data, research and insight. Working with insight teams from global companies such as Adobe, Bic, JPMC, and Purina Mustard gets long-term impact for their work, while also helping agencies like Hotspex and InsightsNow raise awareness. With a background in both journalism and design, Lucy started out in insights in 2000 as global marketing director of Research International, working in over 55 countries. She is an award-winning writer and presenter and a sought-after keynote speaker.
REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR HERE
ESOMAR UK invite you all to their summer party, 9 July: https://esomar.org/events/esomar-uk-summer-event-2024

ICG’s Half-Hour Coffee And Connect
2024-07-18 10:00 - 22:30 | https://zoom.us/j/99588121682
FREE

A monthly half-hour get-together with fellow ICG members at the start of each month, with a particular welcome to new members, offering the opportunity to chat through anything you’d like to about the ICG, about your work issues, business matters etc.

No need to pre-register. Just login if you can make it. You never know who’ll be on….
LOGIN IS:Coffee And Connect https://zoom.us/j/99588121682

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Survive and Thrive: Motivation Hacks for Independent Researchers
2024-07-16 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar is generously sponsored by Indeemo

In this webinar, we welcome ICG members Steph Holland (Hush Research and Strategy) and Joe Bonnell (Open Questions) who’ll share 1st hand experiences of what they have done to stay motivated, upskill and generate new work when the going gets tough. This includes talking about tangible examples of how they brought together teams of experts from within and outside the ICG to deliver proprietary research to build expertise and open new doors.
Why you should attend this webinar
If you’re dealing with the ups and downs of research, have some spare time to fill, or just need a boost of inspiration, this is the place for you. Steph and Joe will share ways to stay optimistic, find new opportunities, and keep your research game strong. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas and new ways to connect with other ICG members who get what it’s like to navigate these difficult times.
There’ll be an opportunity during the webinar to share experiences so that everyone can learn from each other. A great way to meet fellow members at the same time.
Steph Holland

Steph spent the 1st part of her career leading sales, marketing and insight teams in Mars, Pepsi and GSK before taking the family to Hong Kong where she kick started her entrepreneurial journey. Now a seasoned researcher and brand strategist, she heads HUSH research and strategy. This was established to bring together global experts, ensuring clients receive unparalleled service without compromise.
Joe Bonnell

Joe is an Ethnographer and Qualitative Researcher, Visual Anthropologist and Documentary Photographer and Filmmaker.
He designs and conducts context-rich and person-centred qualitative research in the UK and internationally. His approach is characterised by collaboration, curiosity, empathy and in-depth analysis.
Register for this session here

ICG Summer Party (with an arty twist) 2024
2024-07-11 18:00 | The Atlas Pub, 16 Seagrave Road, Fulham, London SW6 1RX
Generously sponsored by Rigour Research and Qualzy, with first drinks from Field Notes.
Proudly bringing you this year’s Summer Party – with an arty twist!
What is this ‘arty twist?’
As something a little different, we’d like to invite people to embrace their artistic side.
So much of our work can feel functional – from the practicalities of arranging fieldwork, to template-style objectives, to a general client expectation/industry culture that makes originality and flair in how we communicate findings feel “risky”.
And yet there’s clearly great creativity – and beauty – in how we think and the subjects of the work we do.
We’re proposing that at the party we have an area where people can display something relating to their work as a piece of art. This is likely to be space on tables rather than on easels, but if you’re up for something ambitious then so are we!
The idea is that the exhibition is something people can wander round and peruse at their leisure – not something that has to be “manned” all evening whilst everybody else is having fun.
The art/object(s) could be ANYTHING (so long as it isn’t breaching any privacy/GDPR rules):

Maybe a notepad containing (non-sensitive) notes or sketches?
A picture of a sunset taken through the window of a viewing facility?
Or a redacted first invoice you ever sent?
Perhaps you want to pop a few watercolours on a canvas to visualise your feelings when clients ghost you?
Your chipped mug stained with a thousand coffees?
A framed picture of the product in store that YOU were responsible for bringing to market?
A data visualisation you’re obsessed with?
A sketch depicting the most random thing a respondent has said?
And so on and so forth…

If doing this sounds sooooo YOU, then we’d like to ask a few things:
1) That you let us know – so we can keep track of numbers, not because we want to vet anything!
2) That each thing you submit has a “title” and 200-word-max description which you can print and bring along to explain your object.
We hope this is an opportunity for people to share with each other and find the joy in what we do.
Book your tickets here

Everything you wanted to know about Marketing (but were afraid to ask). A Q&A with two Marketeers (who are not afraid to answer)
2024-07-04 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar has been generously sponsored by Teneo Translations
Teneo Presentation – The ICG July 2024

Join this Q&A style webinar with marketers Chantal Cornelius (Appletree Marketing) and Paul Griffiths (Client Advocates) and ask them any marketing-related questions you may have, such as;

I know what I should be doing but I just can’t seem to do it; why?
What’s the best way to promote my business? Phone, email or social media?
What can I do to make my business stand out?
I don’t know where I should be marketing and to whom?
Is marketing really all it’s cracked up to be; isn’t word of mouth more important?
I don’t know how to differentiate myself….

Chantal and Paul are no strangers to the ICG. Both have presented individually to our members several times.
This time, we bring you both of them together for their combined expertise.
Chantal Cornelius

Chantal Cornelius left the corporate world in 2000 to set up Appletree Marketing. It was the second best decision she’s ever made.
Since then, she’s filled her time helping hundreds of coaches, consultants and trainers to grow their businesses. Her marketing advice is bossy, practical and down to earth. She’s written two books and her third one might even ready, by the time you read this!
Now she spends her time showing her clients what marketing to do, simplifying how they promote their businesses. She is straight talking and will give her honest opinion to any question she’s asked.
Paul Griffiths, Client Advocates

Paul helps owners of Market Research and Insight Agencies to grow revenues by implementing proven growth strategies.
For more than 20 years he’s helped grow research and insight agencies. In that time he’s sold research projects, managed clients and spoken to many Heads of Insight. He understands the challenges of growing a research business while also being a practitioner within it.
Paul knows what great client growth strategies look like and how to implement them in a way that is both effective and efficient. He’s seen what works, what doesn’t, and how to engage with your clients and market to win work. He can help you grow your research business more effectively and more quickly.

Register for this session here

Knowledge Share: Teach Your Clients To Give Better Briefs - It's Worth It
2024-07-02 16:00 - 16:45
This Knowledge Share has been sponsored by Perspective Research Services who specialise in data collection solutions involving qualitative, F2F, CATI and online approaches – domestically in the UK and Internationally – consumers and B2B. Please feel free to contact Jade On , Commercial Director for any questions or RFQs

We welcome ICG member Alex Blondin’s colleagues, Dan Hyde from Everything is User Experience, and Victoria Peel from Literal Humans, to run this session for us.

The brief is usually the first stage of engagement in a client project, and it’s often the part that’s given the least consideration. That’s usually because it’s boring.
While the client’s imagination is trained on their goal or visualising the end product, the first—boring—step to articulate what they want and why they want it is easy to rush or neglect.
In reality, we should think of the brief as the most important step in a collaborative process—one that’s as important for user research as it is for developing campaign creatives.
From another perspective, the brief is the first phase of research. It’s where you begin to map out goals, desires, hopes, stakeholders, and importantly, the resources that will be available to make it all happen.
We co-produced a whitepaper because we saw value in helping our clients understand how they can do better and get more ‘bang for their buck’ out of their suppliers. It’s part of a strategy to get clients thinking in a structured manner before we begin our work, so that we can work more efficiently and be more valuable partners.
How do we know this works? Because it’s an approach we use in projects when we collaborate as agency partners serving a common client.
Dan Hyde

Dan Hyde is co-founder of UX strategy and user research agency Everything is User Experience. A veteran of publishing and agency life, he now uses UX strategy to support clients in everything from website development and content strategy to supply chain support systems design for major house builders.
www.everythingisuserexperience.com

Victoria Peel

Victoria Peel Yates is a Content Strategist and Senior Writer at Literal Humans. After a brief career in humanitarian aid, she joined the world of SEO in 2019, and now helps clients in the tech-for-good and nonprofit spaces grow with strategic, human-centred content.
www.literalhumans.com

Join this Knowledge Share here. No need to pre-register

AURA's Working Well Together Charter: What Is It And How Does It Impact Independent Consultancies?
2024-06-27 11:00 - 12:00
AURA launched its Working Well Together Charter at Quirks London on the 8th May 2024.

The Charter is founded on the belief that the way clients and research agencies work together can make a
real difference to people’s confidence and well-being. AURA members who sign up to the AURA Working Well Together Charter have committed to a set of standards they will live up to when you work with them.
AURA Working Well Together Charter May 2024
This webinar will shed more light on what the Charter is and how this will be impact on independent consultants.
It will be led by AURA representative Ruth Hinton and ICG member Nick Bonney, who was instrumental in its design.
Ruth Hinton

With a career in client-side consumer insight spanning over 20 years at a variety of major retail and hospitality brands, and a background in psychology, Ruth Hinton specialises in understanding the people behind the numbers and collaborating with colleagues to drive improvements for customers.
Ruth is currently Group Head of Customer Experience at Vue International, and also Chair of AURA, the UK’s biggest community exclusively for client-side researchers – providing content, events and peer-to-peer support, to inspire insight and drive impact within organisations.
Register for this session here
