As social researchers we have a genuine interest in changes that impact the way we live, work and interact. Whether that’s changing policies, new innovation or changing perceptions, the impacts are interesting to explore and discuss. Which is where our research blog comes in.
Have a read of some of our recent articles and thought pieces, sharing research news and sector-specific content covering the different sectors we support.
If you’re looking for something relevant to your sector you can filter using the options below.
How to create great customer experiences in social housing
Landlords are learning lessons from the Covid-19 lockdowns
Employer Skills Survey (ESS) results published
The business case for baselining your STAR survey
IFF Research celebrates winning MRS Operational Excellence award
Deliver research in-house or outsource? Weighing up the pros and cons
Apprenticeship Employer Incentive Scheme research published
Job Retention Bonus unlikely to be a factor in retaining jobs, say UK businesses
DfE’s 5-year Child and Family Social Worker study Wave 2 results published
Social housing white paper: Likely implications of the pandemic
Graduate Outcomes results published
Last week saw results of the inaugural Graduate Outcomes survey…
Research highlights threats to occupational health provision
Doing more with less: practical solutions for housing providers
Measuring return on investment in housing research
Research findings on the impact of the COVID pandemic on UK business
…
The impact of the coronavirus on social housing: Part 2
Customer journey mapping in social housing: See your services through your customers eyes
45% of the UK workforce furloughed amid COVID-19 pandemic
Evaluating processes and impact in social housing
Coronavirus in social housing: sharing solutions
Half of UK businesses very concerned about the impact of Coronavirus
Large scale apprenticeship evaluation research for DfE recently published
Listening widely: Engaging with geographically dispersed residents
Adjusting to a new normal: protecting your wellbeing
How can social housing providers tackle stigma?
From Engagement to Action: Bringing About Positive Change in Social Housing
Shining a light on student accommodation
Improving financial wellbeing: MaPS’ launch 10 year strategy
How to write an effective research brief
…
Perception is reality: Why reputation matters in social housing
The heart of the matter: measuring your Customer Trust Score
Realising the value of volunteering
Scottish Employer Perspectives Survey: 2019
Looking back and looking ahead: The IFF Research Year in Review
Solving Research & Policy Problems Creatively
What matters most: eliminating effort within social housing
Real-world practicalities of survey research at Middlesex University
Why we need to be talking more about financial wellbeing
The Elephant in the Room: Talking about Money and Pensions
How to undertake a complaints process review in social housing
Harnessing data to improve graduate outcomes: Working Futures
Harnessing data to improve graduate outcomes: Planning for Success
Harnessing data to improve graduate outcomes: learning analytics
Harnessing data to improve graduate outcomes: Employer Skills Survey
Examining employment and skills challenges in the construction sector
Results from a major IFF Research study examining employment…
Preparing for the Social Housing White Paper
Benchmarking in a Post-White Paper World
A New Deal for Social Housing: Implications for Social Housing Providers
Launch of Creative Spark Year 2
Investigating a new educational landscape with Creative Spark
New Frontiers
Social researchers are used to handling data from…
Social researchers are used to handling data from…
DfE’s 2019 Employer Skills Survey in full swing
We are delighted that this year’s Employer Skills Survey (ESS)…
Landmark new study publishes first insights to help keep children safe
Keeping children safe is important, anyone would agree. But some…
Making time to make a difference
Being busy has become the norm for so many of us, both in work…
What does it take to be a market researcher?
How lenders can better support the high street mortgage broker
A mortgage is one of the most significant financial products…
Entrepreneurs with disabilities need more support – Findings of an IFF Research report, commissioned by the DWP
Disabled entrepreneurs may have greater support needs, found…
IFF Research and Voluntas Join Forces to Improve the Quality of Housing Provision
We’re delighted to announce that our team has grown, with the…
Paying for Postgraduate Study – Findings from our evaluation of The Master’s Degree Loan Scheme
Contemporary discussion about encouraging access to Master’s…
IFF’s stakeholder perception audit report published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council
The report draws together the views of some of the NMC’s most…
Data re-sight: the answer for HE strategic planning?
Across the UK’s higher education sector, competition to attract…
Tackling graduate unemployment in Wider Europe
Richard Everitt
British Council Regional Director, Education…
British Council Regional Director, Education…
What employers want: Understanding the employer perspective on graduate skills
Our previous entry provided a broad overview of the importance…
Seeing beyond the Fog: University Horizon Scanning of the Future Labour Market
Dr Anthony Mansfield
University of East London
At the heart…
University of East London
At the heart…
Reflections on the use of labour market data in Higher Education (HE)
This week, it will be 20 years since I started working at IFF…
IFF Research leads redevelopment of the UK Employer Skills Survey for the Department for Education
IFF is delighted to have been commissioned by the Department…
IFF’s report on Corporate Strategy and Stakeholder Research published by the General Medical Council
The GMC has published research from patients, healthcare bodies…
IFF’s sixth report on research among post-16 providers published by DfE
The report from the latest wave of the Post-16 Institutions Omnibus,…
IFF’s School Snapshot Study report published by the DfE
We’re very pleased that the findings from the second wave of…
Deciding where to study – Findings from IFF’s high profile evaluation of the TEF
This week, the annual mid-January scramble for students to finalise…
“Putting customers at the heart” in Financial Services organisations
This is a phrase that is used across so many organisations these…
Seven aspects of engagement pilot (Qualitative Evaluation) – Findings from IFF and the University of Derby published by the Department for Education
The findings from IFF’s qualitative evaluation of the seven…
Social inequality in a post-truth world: How evidence could have turned the referendum
Social inequality has been a part of life for as long as humans…
Creative Spark: IFF’s Elizabeth Shepherd contributes to Higher Education Enterprise event in Georgia
IFF’s Elizabeth Shepherd is providing a UK sector overview…
A collaborative search for equality: IFF’s crucial Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination findings shared at Brussels seminar
IFF’s Pregnancy and Maternity-Related Discrimination and Disadvantage…
Perceptions of the UK’s unique Higher Education offer – views from international students
A new report published today by IFF Research, conducted in partnership…
Delivering effective tracking surveys in financial services
Is your tracker just a tick box exercise for the organisation…
Financial Services Forum Event: The future is bright for Challenger Banks
On October 17th IFF Research’s Associate Director, Chris O’Brien,…
Investigating alternative provision – Findings from high profile IFF study published by the Department for Education
We’re delighted that the findings from IFF’s large-scale,…
IFF Seminar: Dividing Lines The Role Of Evidence In Reducing Social Inequality
We are very excited to announce that IFF's next event Dividing…
Delivering agile insight: IFF’s approach to fast and flexible Financial Services research
Increasingly, our financial services clients stress the need…
IFF ‘Highly Commended’ at the MRS Operations Awards for Best Data Collection (Online)
What a fabulous, festive and fun-filled evening at the MRS Operations…
IFF works with EAIE to launch comprehensive study on the state of internationalisation in Europe
Today marks the launch of the 2nd EAIE Barometer, the research…
ESS 2017: The UK Employer Skills Survey has been published by the Department for Education
We’re delighted that the report for the flagship study, the…
IFF nominated for two MRS Operations Awards for Data Collection (Online and Telephone)
We are very pleased to announce that IFF Research has been nominated…
One company: IFF’s move to London Bridge represents more than just a change of scenery
We are now well and truly settled into our London Bridge office…
IFF launches ‘Bright Ideas’ Financial Services insight portal
IFF’s Financial Services team have launched a new central insight…
A global comparison of national student surveys: IFF at the Advance Higher Education Training and Learning Conference
IFF’s Elizabeth Shepherd assessed the impact of teaching at…
The Truth About Research – How to uncover what people really think?
Trying to understand what people think and how they behave goes…
Can effective financial decisions be made without human interaction?
Last week’s Customer Experience Financial Services conference…
IFF’s experienced team experience the FS Customer Experience conference!
IFF’s Financial Service team arrived bright and early at this…
IFF Seminar: The Truth About Research – How to uncover what people really think?
“The trouble with research is that people don’t think how…
The Role of Robo-Advice in the Investment Market
Consumers are engaging with new digital banking providers for…
IFF Research is sharing research insights hot off the press at the Financial Services Customer Experience conference
Delivering a positive customer experience, across all areas of…
Measuring the quality of a Higher Education experience: a complex product co-produced by the consumer
Higher education is a complex experience, offering an intensive,…
50 years in the making: IFF’s journey from 1965 – 2018!
With just over a week until IFF’s office move we have been…
IFF hire super 6 in a busy April!
IFF Research have appointed 3 new Research Managers, Daniel Salamons,…
Moving on to bigger and brighter things! IFF will be moving premises in May 2018
We are very excited to announce that this May IFF is moving to…
What is the best way to approach qualitative research? Is it time to get “Back to Basics”?
I’m not referring to early 1990’s Conservative policy or…
Department for Education publish two user experience reports featuring research from IFF
The Department for Education has just published the findings…
Digital consumers shine a light on future pension needs
Pensions are not considered at the vanguard of technological…
Feeling the love: Feedback from some of our not so secret admirers
We love our clients and we always appreciate their feedback but…
Keeping it real: Key considerations for engaging, empowering and inspiring Generation Z
Last week IFF attended the MRS Kids and Youth research conference…
IFF expands their Higher Education team with hire of new Director
IFF Research have recruited former British Council Director Elizabeth…
What have smart speakers, Open Banking and a Paul Hollywood bread bin got in common?
We recently completed a short survey with our Fintech Beacon…
Video: Understanding ESS: A practical guide to using Employer Skills Survey data
The Employer Skills Survey is one of the largest B2B surveys…
The changing shape of digital financial consumers
Until recently we would tend to associate users of digital banking…
Does relationship advice help new parents overcome a decline in relationship quality?
An evaluation of perinatal pilots for the delivery of relationship…
Apprenticeships: Lessons from the 2017 Evaluation survey
There have been positive results from the latest Evaluation surveys…
IFF Research launches its Fintech Beacon: How to really understand the new digital-only customer?
Unless you have been living under a rock recently, you’ll have…
The 2017 MRS Awards: A glitzy and glamorous evening but IFF come away empty handed
The Market Research Society pulled out all the stops for this…
All we want for Xmas this year is an MRS Best Place to Work Award
Hollywood may have rolled out the red carpet back in September…
Research futures seminar summary: The future is closer than you think – what technology means for research
The third event in IFF’s seminar series, The Future is closer…
Millennials running UK businesses are better prepared for the future
Our recent Business Spotlight results show that millennials that…
Will Robots Take My Job? Future Skills and the 4th Industrial Revolution
Last month IFF was lucky enough to be invited to present our…
Why aren’t consumers open to Open Banking?
The financial services industry sees open banking as an exciting…
IFF make two senior appointments to Learning and Skills team
IFF Research have added to the recruitment of Georgina Clarke…
IFF Seminar: The Future is Closer Than You Think – What Technology Means for Research (23rd November 2017)
As we move deeper into the digital age we are presented with…
How can you use insight from businesses to improve upcoming events and conferences?
The events industry faces a number of challenges. With the ongoing…
State of the Nation 2017: Careers and Enterprise Provision in England’s Schools report published
A major new report has recently been published on the state of…
Results from large-scale survey conducted by IFF, on behalf of CITB, have been released
We are pleased to announce that results from a high-profile,…
High demand, not enough access: The road to growing the UK retail impact investment market
Recent research undertaken by IFF Research, on behalf of Big…
Former Ipsos Director, Georgina Clarke, joins IFF’s Financial Services team
IFF Research have recruited former Ipsos MORI Director Georgina…
Conference review: IFF deliver two workshops at the AGCAS Annual Conference 2017
The AGCAS Annual Conference is a key date in the diary for HE…
IFF sponsor Crystal Palace U14 Ladies Academy of Excellence 2017/18
We are proud to announce that IFF are the new training kit sponsor…
What is an omnibus survey?
We all know that the findings from research allow us to make…
Longitudinal DLHE survey published by HESA
We are delighted to see that HESA have published findings from…
‘Achievers and leavers: Barriers and opportunities for people entering construction’ Research from IFF used to inform CITB white paper
Results from two IFF studies for CITB have been used in their…
The Oppies are back! Return of IFF sponsored MRS Operational Awards
IFF has been the principal sponsor of the MRS Operations awards…
How can market research reduce commercial risk?
We have all faced difficult decisions in our professional lives.…
Apprenticeship pay, minimum wage rates and why these matter
The government's introduction of the National Minimum Wage (NMW)…
New report published: Understanding the experiences of over 50s following redundancy
An IFF report on the experiences of older workers (aged 50+)…
News: Apprenticeship numbers likely to fall
The results of work carried out by IFF Research with the Institute…
UK Employer Perspectives Survey 2016
Today sees the release of the UK Employer Perspectives Survey…
Benefits of a telephone survey vs. online panel
Survey research
There is a growing culture of impatience in…
There is a growing culture of impatience in…
A robust guiding principle in a turbulent time?
Post-election welfare policy: a robust guiding principle in a…
How the HE Sector responds to Brexit
With the General Election just days away, one of the inevitable…
Conducting B2B market research on a small budget
B2B Market Research
Assessing the opinions of businesses can…
Assessing the opinions of businesses can…
Harnessing insights in Financial Services
Research that combines flexibility, open-mindedness and rigour…
Evidence Matters Event Summary
IFF’s Evidence Matters seminar series made a bright and colourful…
The Art of Translating Evidence
Our relationship with facts is conflicted. On the one hand, we…
A healthy future for healthcare research
IFF's innovative healthcare offering sees recognition and…
Graduates’ career planning outcomes
We’re delighted that the much anticipated ‘Graduates’ career…
Assessing communications in Financial Services
“The problem is we try to unravel the Mighty Infinite using…
3 key considerations for online qualitative research
When did you last talk to someone who didn’t own a smartphone?…
4 Key Concerns about the Pension Dashboard 2017
IFF's Chris O'Brien discusses the 4 key concerns about the Pension…
Apprenticeships across the UK
Policy makers have often looked to other countries for lessons.…
Graduate Employment Conference Review
“Making Every Graduate Employable” is surely an incontestable…
Education and Skills in 2017
It’s been a turbulent 12 months in the Education and Skills…
Retirement choices: No perfect answer
When conducting focus groups or interviews with consumers, retirement…
The role of evidence in uncertainty
In November, IFF hosted a seminar on ‘The Role of Evidence…
The opportunities presented by uncertainty
There is no doubt that 2016 will be remembered as a turbulent…
Londoners’ reliance on their homes in retirement
The first wave of IFF Research’s ‘Retirement Choices’ syndicated…
How will employers respond to the apprenticeship levy?
A report on how large employers are likely to respond to the…
Skills gap in the construction sector
IFF Research are conducting critical research into skills gaps…
UK regulations and business success
A report exploring businesses’ views on regulation in the UK…
Assessing the role of evidence in times of uncertainty
We are living in a world of increasing uncertainty. Where the…
National Student Survey update
How can universities leverage the results of the NSS?
The…
The…
Making a difference at IFF Research
Over the course of this blog series we have presented our organisational…
IFF Values: Being Human First
Last month we kicked off a blog series that reflects on our company…
Unique Insight into Welsh Businesses Published
Published today, the Employer Skills Survey gathered information…
IFF shortlisted for two MRS Operations Awards
The Oppies are back and we are delighted to announce that we…
IFF Values: remaining impartial in the research industry
Articulating the “values” that an organisation or business…
Intro to the Teaching Excellence Framework
It seems like a whole new era has dawned since the publication…
EHC Experience pilot survey results
The Department for Education (DfE) are undertaking a large scale…
Predicting the Future in Uncertain Times
Thoughts on the IntoWork Conference, Learning & Work…
Remaining impartial in the research industry
For many organisations developing a set of values can be a challenging…
How will UK businesses react to Brexit?
So, it has happened. We are now in a post-Brexit society. In…
Brexit – What next for the UK?
The dust is still some way from settling after a dramatic night…
IFF Directors predict the outcome of the EU Referendum
On the eve of much anticipated EU referendum we have asked 6…
To Remain or to Brexit: Business opinions
The latest wave of IFF’s Business Omnibus has revealed…
IFF Report on Enterprise Finance Guarantee
A review of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG), featuring…
Careers Education and Advice Forum update
A very timely and quite interesting conference in late May on…
Growth continues at IFF Research
IFF continues to strengthen across the spectrum through senior,…
Effective usability testing and the future of UX
In an age of rapidly evolving technology and short attention…
Benefits–in-work conditionality for Universal Credit
"A lot of times people don’t know what they want until…
SFA / BIS Apprenticeship dissemination event
IFF recently presented several research projects at the “Apprenticeship…
4 tips for creating an effective partnership
What do you do when your organisation doesn't have the resource…
How policy change is impacting retirement saving
Much of the discussion at the Westminster Business Forums ‘Savings…
The Lifetime ISA impacts
The Governments latest budget has been the subject of much scrutiny…
Maternity discrimination report published
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is calling for urgent…
Business opinion increasingly divided over EU future
The latest wave of IFF’s Business Omnibus has revealed increasingly…
An innovative approach to employer research
The 2015 study was the third survey in the series. While continuity…
The Employer Skills Survey: the largest B2B survey in the world
Three fieldwork contractors; 21 weeks; 91,000 interviews.
The…
The…
The Employer Skills Survey: Learning about the skills market
We think the Employer Skills Survey (ESS) gives as reliable and…
2 million UK workers are working below their potential
This was the fact that stood out for me from the 2015 Employer…
The largest B2B survey in the world?
Welcome to the first in our series of blogs about the Employer…
All about the Apprenticeship Levy
In a previous blog we asked what levers government have at their…
Investing in mental and physical healthcare
Government invests almost a billion pounds in funding aimed…
ESS15: The launch of the Employers Skills Survey
“A world class landmark survey…high class intelligence”…
Offering Private Medical Insurance as a benefit
IFF’s exclusive research sheds light on the opportunities…
How small changes can make a difference for respondents
A few little changes - a welcoming email invite, a smiling…
Professional service providers need to think small
Research reveals opportunities for professional service providers…
IFF wins MRS Healthcare Research Award
IFF Research has won the MRS ‘Healthcare Research Award 2015’…
The dangers of caution in retirement planning
A ubiquitous finding for anyone conducting research on UK pensions…
ISBE Conference Review
The 38th annual Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship…
IFF Business Omnibus update
Jeremy Corbyn’s emergence as Labour leader has been the…
How are pension reforms changing retirement?
Pension reforms mean new opportunities for those in Financial…
A healthy future for healthcare research
Last week, IFF's Health and Wellbeing team were nominated for…
How banks can help Britain’s small businesses?
First, how about some good news? The latest results of the IFF…
Support, don’t sell: Banks must add value if they wish to rebuild trust
Positive steps are being taken but do banks have their customers…
All to play for as businesses split over EU debate
The latest wave of IFF’s Business Omnibus has revealed…
IFF Report: Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings
Another one of IFF’s high profile studies for HMRC has…
The NHS in 2015: The Health & Care Innovation Expo
There were mixed feelings at this year’s Health and Care Expo,…
SMEs, Exports and The Bribery Act
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role…
Tube Strikes: Public perceptions
Are the negative attitudes to strikes fuelled by resentment…
Apprenticeships from the employer perspective
How can the number of employers taking on apprentices be…
IFF celebrates 50 years
Our recent recruitment drive has seen us take on employees across…
Improving Financial Literacy
Can people be prevented from sleep-walking through important…
The July 2105 Budget and the research industry
There have been plenty of talking points around this year’s…
IFF Conference Review
Thoughts from this year’s SRA conference (7/07/15)
The…
The…
IFF Conference Review: Innovation and insurance
The UK Financial Services Experience Awards
Wednesday…
Wednesday…
Challenging stereotypes in welfare
There is much speculation recently about how the Government will…
IFF Celebrates 50th Birthday
The competitive spirit
Competition law and anti-competitive behaviour
Healthy…
Healthy…
Improving care for dementia sufferers
IFF and Loughborough University evaluate dementia pilot…
Illuminating the needs of employers
Can more be done to engage employers in back to work…
A necessary burden
“If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all…
Out of the Shadows…
Perceptions of any public-facing organisation are hugely influenced…
