IFF was founded in 1965 to help the government better understand the needs of businesses. Although we’ve evolved considerably from those early days, this purpose remains central to who we are. We help government make better decisions for the good of society. And we help businesses and voluntary sector organisations make informed decisions to support customers and stakeholders and help them thrive.
IFF is now a well-established and trusted partner of many government bodies and we’re proud that our research helps shape public policy, informs programmes and initiatives and makes a difference to people’s lives. Naturally curious, we love getting stuck into a thorny research problem. We offer independent and impartial insight, informed by our expertise across a range of sectors and across a broad spectrum of methods.
Human-first approach
In addition to our combined research and sector expertise, what we think makes IFF special is our human-first approach. Working in a data driven industry we believe it’s our people who add real value to our partners. We embrace diversity – recognising that we all bring unique experiences and perspective, which delivers more balanced insight and makes work (and life) more interesting. And we work hard to nurture an inclusive and welcoming culture, where everybody has a voice and we achieve great results through collaboration.
Human-first culture
Remembering we are all people, first and foremost. We each bring different perspectives. And we each have our own strengths and challenges.
Ensuring inclusivity
We work hard to make sure we create a supportive and inclusive culture, where it’s safe for everyone to have a voice.
Focus on collaboration
We work collaboratively with a focus on strong communication and offering flexibility, as we work together towards a shared goal.
As a full-service research agency, we support our partners across all stages of a research project from design to data collection, data analysis and dissemination. So, we can help you identify the what, why and how – finding meaningful answers to those challenging questions.
A timeline of our history
From our early days as the first agency which specialised in business research, to becoming one of the largest independent research agencies in the UK, delivering some of the most impactful research, this is our journey so far….
1965
Our journey begins
Founded by Lord McIntosh of Haringey, as "Industrial Facts and Forecasting", the country's first specialist business to business research agency.
1978
Creating a name for ourselves
We shorten our name to IFF Research as we begin to build a reputation as a rigorous and personable full-service agency, working from our Argyll Street office in Soho.
1990
Our way of life
Working from a new location in Whiskin Street, Clerkenwell, under the leadership of Managing Director David Spilsbury, a signature IFF culture begins to emerge. The traces of this approach are later captured by our value of "being human first".
2002
Foundations for growth
We begin to thrive as a new team of Directors establishes an approach to work celebrating individuality in a team environment. We grow to become one of the leading independent agencies in the UK.
2007
Building a culture of success
A new management team emerges with Jan Shury, Lorna Adams, David Vivian and Mark Winterbotham laying out the foundations for IFF's future, further refining a distinctly IFF culture.
2018
Our journey continues
We move to our riverside office allowing our team to operate together as once company across a single floor for the first time.
2019
Inviting others to the party
Building on our expertise in complementary sectors, we make our first acquisition – housing research specialists, Voluntas – allowing us to grow their legacy of improving the quality of UK housing provision.
2020
Changing how we work
Already in the process of transitioning to a fully remote telephone interviewing panel, the Covid pandemic leads to rapid changes in the ways in which we work. We go on to embrace a hybrid working model, before making the change to three Research teams to support cohesion and reflect our areas of expertise.
2024
A new home and vision for the future
As we move into our new home in the Harlequin Building, we set out a clear path for the future, as we work to realise our vision of being the UK's foremost social research agency.
2025
Celebrating our diamond jubilee
In 2025 we celebrate 60 years of IFF, using the opportunity to reflect on our successes and the learning along the way
