We are a highly experienced boutique consultancy

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We are a network of award-winning qualitative and quantitative research directors. We work across multiple sectors on projects that align with our values. We deliver actionable insights and concise strategies that drive positive social impact, empowering our clients to achieve their goals.

What we do

We pride ourselves on developing closer connections using counselling skills and coaching techniques to provide evidence-based insights with clear actionable recommendations. We don’t have a Managing Director, timesheets, or sales targets. Instead, we carefully select projects that align with our values.

An (Aura) award-winning team that conducts seminars and presents published papers at industry conferences including the MRS annual conference. We were nominated for an Auras Best Impact award in 2023. We serve on the MRS Unlimited steering group and the 2023/24 MRS Changemaker Award Judging panel.

We provide training within the industry and also mentoring for the Market Research Society.

How we work

A team of director-level experts is dedicated to working on every research project from the beginning to the end. We use various traditional and online qualitative methodologies to conduct research.

Focus groups, workshops, and in-depth interviews
Accompanied Shopping trips, Intercepts, and in-store observations
Asynchronous research (online bulletin boards/ diaries)
Filmed ethnography
Customer Closeness workshops
Deliberative workshops
AND we provide training on all these methods.

person in black pants and black shoes sitting on brown wooden chair — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Who we work with

We enjoy close working relationships with multiple well-known brands on projects that align with our values and have a positive impact. We enjoy working on these types of projects across various sectors:

Ad inspiration and concept testing/ development
Informing marketing and communication strategies
Brand positioning and refresh
Content creation and development

Developing and refocusing legacy and fundraising strategies
Opportunity creation and ideation
Innovation development
Supporting and informing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategies

New Product/ Concept/ Service Development
Packaging development
Customer/ applicant/ supporter journeys
Impact of new policies and reforms

Charities/Not-for-Profit

We work closely with clients to help them make evidence-based decisions and support growth. We identify opportunities to enhance existing products and develop new fundraising opportunities based on deep supporter understanding.
We enjoy close working relationships with the British Red Cross, NSPCC, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Activity Alliance (with Sport England) informing the development and implementation of strategies, relating to growth, content creation, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), legacies and fundraising. We have also published research on partnership strategies with Remember A Charity and brand strategy for Macmillan at a previous agency.
We used insights recently to inform the NSPCC’s legacy advertising campaign in 2023. NSPCC nominated True Insights for an Auras 2023 Best Impact award for that research.
Our insights are used to inform Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s 5-year strategy, including their online content creation, the launch of their legacy ad campaign (nominated for a Smee & Ford Legacy Giving award in 2023), the launch of Battersea’s Wear Blue for Rescue campaign, their Academy education programme and their diversity and inclusion strategic action plan.
We published legacy-related research on behalf of Remember A Charity and presented at their conference in 2019 with another agency.
We presented a published paper with the National Lottery Charities Board at an MRS conference and co-led a seminar at the Institute of Fundraising conference in 2019.

FMCG & Retail

We work for well-known FMCG and retail brands to help them decide on and implement strategies and developments. We are experts in creative thinking in research and co-led a creative thinking seminar for the Institute of Fundraising conference in 2019.
We’ve looked at the future of cinema for a well-known drinks company and informed packaging designs for a wide range of products including, pet food, confectionery, and soft drinks. We’ve conducted numerous shopper research studies for Tesco at a previous agency.
We recently provided strategic insight in collaboration with a large quantitative consultancy exploring the future of shopping and developing a circular consumption strategy for IKEA.

Automotive

We have a strong history of working in the Automotive sector for well-known premium brands. We’ve worked on numerous car clinics, testing new designs with prototype vehicles, and supporting the development of future marketing strategies for Nissan and Porsche.
In 2022 we informed MG Motors’ future brand strategy, specifically related to its EV/ PHEV range and used insights to inform the launch of their UK ‘Get More’ ad campaign.
Our Qual Lead evaluated customer service and purchase experience in BMW and MINI car dealerships across the UK with another agency.

Government bodies

We have a strong history of working in the public sector developing communication strategies and new service development, exploring the behavioural influence of communication changes, and identifying triggers, prompts, and barriers to action for government bodies including The Women and Equality Unit, Houses of Parliament and more.
In 2023 we collaborated with another agency to inform the launch of various recruitment campaigns for the Ministry of Justice and the Metropolitan Police.

Media, Arts & the Digital Economy

We have a strong history of working in media. In 2023 True Insights collaborated with another agency to use insights to inform ITV’s Equality, Development and Inclusion strategy and
We collaborated with another agency to support and inform the 2024 launch of Tate Britain’s Women in Revolt art exhibition targeting LGBTQIA+ audiences.
Our team members supported the launch of global TV service propositions for children on behalf of Time Warner and international research related to the consumption of news content on behalf of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at a previous agency.
Our Head of Qualitative co-researched and co-wrote published reviews of TV Access Service User experiences (among users with visual and hearing impairments), Channel 4’s delivery of their Corporation Remit and the Representation and Portrayal of Minority Groups on BBC TV.
Our Qualitative Director’s insights with another agency led to Sky Art’s move to Free-to-Air to bring more Art to more people. She also co-led the study that informed the UK launch of The Promised Land, Barack Obama.
We recently conducted insights to understand Small Business customer journeys within the digital economy and inform online content creation for the Nominet Registry.
We contributed to two published reports in 2018 for the Oxford University/ Reuters Institute Study of Journalism, relating to the future of news and the rise of WhatsApp with another agency.

Financial

Our insights have informed the development of new strategies and tested new products and services, related to current and savings accounts, investments, pensions, and insurance plans for well-known brands such as HSBC and Lloyds Bank with other agencies.
We have also collaborated with other agencies to explore the likely impact of new policies and reforms relating to finance for government agencies. We played a significant role in examining people’s approach to budgeting and their likely behaviours and reactions to benefit payment changes. We also investigated the impact that PAYE reforms were likely to have on individuals and their relationships with their employers.
Presented/ co-wrote a report on behalf of HSBC at a National Union of Students Conference (2009) with another agency.

We are based in London and Surrey and work across the UK. We also have a strong network of collaborators across Europe and the USA.

Niche Skills

We specialise in researching sensitive subjects with Seldom Heard Audiences such as racially minoritised communities, Asylum Seekers, Refugees, domestic violence survivors, LGBTQIA+, Disabled People, and people living with and affected by (physical and mental) health conditions including terminal cancer. We also have extensive experience working on projects with children and young adults.