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Market Research Companies in Cardiff: 35 Active Firms (2026)
Market research companies in Cardiff gather survey, behavioural and analytics evidence for organisations across the city and surrounding metro area.
Buying centres tend to sit with marketing, customer insight, policy, service-design and evaluation teams rather than procurement alone. Cardiff-area providers usually sell to SMEs, public-sector commissioners and third-sector organisations, with some work for UK and international clients managed from local teams. Engagements are typically scoped projects: surveys, interviews, panel management, evidence reviews and analytics work commissioned for a campaign, service change, grant case or board paper. Delivery appears mixed between owner-led specialists and small consultancies able to run fieldwork, analysis and reporting without looking like full-service national agencies.
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Cardiff has 35 actively trading market research and insights firms in this list, making it a compact local market rather than a dense agency cluster. Reported employment totals 202 people, and all 23 firms with staff counts show some headcount. No firm reports turnover above £5M, so the revenue profile is concentrated below mid-market agency scale. That points to a city cohort built around specialist practice, repeat project work and local commissioner relationships, with growth paths more likely to come through retained insight roles or multi-client studies than through large national agency accounts.
UK research and insights providers do not generally need a sector-specific operating licence, but the compliance burden sits close to the work itself. The Market Research Society is the main UK professional body, and its Code of Conduct sets standards for research, insight and analytics practice, including participant wellbeing, representative-sample reporting and co-operation with investigations. Where studies handle identifiable information about living people, UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act and ICO guidance shape lawful basis, controller or processor roles, retention, safeguards and research-purpose exemptions. For Cardiff consultancies selling into public-sector or charity settings, those safeguards are often part of the buying discussion rather than a back-office matter.
Cardiff appears likely to remain a practitioner-led market, with owner-managed specialists sitting alongside small teams that can handle mixed-method studies. Scale-up scarcity tends to matter: larger research buyers may still look beyond the city for national fieldwork capacity, while local consultancies compete on domain knowledge, local public-service context and proximity to commissioners. Privacy, sample quality and evidence standards have been moving from compliance language into day-to-day sales conversations. Consolidation pressure is plausible, but the more common path appears to be steady repositioning towards retained insight support, evaluation work and analytics-led reporting.
35
Active firms
2026
9
Recent incorporations
Since 2022
£9 billion
UK industry value
MRS estimate
Key facts
25% of the cohort was incorporated since 2022 (9 firms), so a sizeable share is in its first few filing cycles.
Market research and insights providers are not generally subject to a sector-specific operating licence, but MRS standards and ICO data-protection rules shape work with identifiable living people’s data.
The MRS Code of Conduct applies to MRS Members and Company Partners and covers research, insight and data analytics practice, participant wellbeing, representative-sample reporting and co-operation with investigations.
MRS estimates the UK research, insight and analytics industry at roughly £9 billion, a +11% uplift on the previous estimate of £8 billion.
A newer MRS-commissioned review put the wider research and evidence market at £18.74 billion in annual GVA, equal to between 0.7% and 0.8% of UK GVA.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of UK-based research and evidence businesses conduct projects for clients in other countries, with North America and Europe identified as primary export markets.
Top Cardiff Market Research companies
BEAUFORT RESEARCH LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides market research services using quantitative and qualitative methods, including bespoke studies, omnibus surveys and snapshot surveys. Conducts surveys and audience analysis to measure…
Serves public and private sector organisations needing market and audience insight, especially in Wales and across the UK, including transport, sport, marketing teams, and organisations targeting…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
ARAD CONSULTING LIMITED
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsProvides research, evaluation and policy analysis services for public and third‑sector programmes. Conducts surveys, interviews and focus groups, analyses qualitative and quantitative data, and…
Serves public-sector bodies, charities and industry organisations in Wales and across the UK, particularly teams responsible for education, skills, culture, social inclusion, Welsh language, health…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · 0% CAGR over 3y
Location
Strategic Research and Insight Ltd
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides market and social research services including customer satisfaction surveys, public opinion research, brand tracking, visitor and shopper surveys, employee and tenant surveys, market sizing…
Serves organisations needing market or social research, including businesses, public bodies, housing providers, visitor attractions, retailers and employers across the UK and Ireland.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 3% CAGR over 2y
Location
Rocket Science
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsProvides policy, research and grant management consultancy. Designs and delivers programme evaluations, social and economic impact analysis, data and consultation research, and funder advisory and…
Serves UK public sector bodies, funders, charities and social-purpose organisations working in employment and skills, health and social care, criminal justice, poverty, welfare, complex needs and…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 190% CAGR over 1y
Location
Feel Fire Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong
Location
GAT CONSULTANCY LIMITED
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsProvides survey management and research services including large‑scale data collection, third‑party validation, and monitoring studies. Uses digital tools for survey design, field data capture, data…
Serves organisations commissioning large-scale surveys, third-party validations, and monitoring exercises, including teams needing data collection, analysis, and reporting support.
Financial Health
StrongStrong
Location
Lynn Group Limited
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides communications consultancy using behavioural science to design social and behaviour change campaigns. Conducts audience research, develops creative campaign assets, and advises organisations…
Serves public sector bodies, NHS organisations, local and national government, NGOs, companies and brands needing behaviour-change and misinformation-related communications support.
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -45% CAGR over 2y
Location
THE GENESIS MEDIA GROUP LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -16% CAGR over 4y
Location
Mire Enterprises Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
DEURS LTD
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
RICHARD NEWTON CONSULTING LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides consultancy services to charities and other third sector organisations, including governance advice, fundraising strategy, business planning and feasibility studies, research and…
Serves third sector and voluntary/not-for-profit organisations, including charities and cultural bodies, plus public bodies engaging with the sector. Targets organisational leaders and teams seeking…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
HEALTH ECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides health economics and outcomes research consulting for pharmaceutical and healthcare organisations, including evidence review and synthesis, health economic modelling, statistical analysis,…
Serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology companies, particularly market access, evidence generation and commercialisation teams seeking payer and health technology assessment…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 14% CAGR over 4y
Location
LR Research Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
Trajectory
4y · 2019–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsProvides health economics and outcomes research consulting for pharmaceutical and healthcare products, including health economic modelling, evidence reviews, statistical analysis, health technology…
Serves life sciences businesses, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, targeting market access, HEOR, evidence generation and value communication teams supporting therapies through…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
Bridge Research Ltd
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Growing · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
CONTACT MARKETING LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 19% CAGR over 4y
Location
Policy Management Limited
Trajectory
4y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsProvides policy advisory, research, monitoring and evaluation services for governments and funders, focusing on climate, education, health, governance, and social protection programmes in low‑ and…
Serves governments, international funders, and public-policy decision makers working on sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries, across climate, education, governance, health,…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
Consumer Insights Lab Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
Run Jump Fly Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
PRAESIDIO SAFEGUARDING LIMITED
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides consultancy and research on online safety and safeguarding, focusing on children and young people in digital environments. Works with organisations and policymakers to develop digital safety…
Serves organisations and stakeholders across the digital policy landscape, particularly those responsible for children’s and young people’s online safety, digital wellbeing, safeguarding policy,…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · Hiring · 22% CAGR over 2y
Location
Digital Audience Data Limited
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
Avalon Insights Limited
Trajectory
1y · 2025–NowFinancial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
Jo Sullivan Research Services Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · -16% CAGR over 4y
Location
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How Cardiff Market Research companies work and how to sell to them
What they do
Cardiff market research firms usually earn through scoped project fees, retained insight support and day-rate consultancy rather than software subscription revenue. Pricing often combines researcher time, fieldwork costs, incentives, survey scripting, analysis and reporting, with pass-through charges made clear when external panels or specialist moderators are used. The sellable output is evidence: customer or citizen insight, market sizing, service evaluation, message testing and board-ready reporting. Some firms add analytics dashboards or ongoing tracking studies, but the underlying commercial model remains advisory and delivery-led, with repeat work depending on trust, method quality and the buyer’s next decision point.
Who they sell to
Buyers are typically marketing directors, customer insight managers, heads of policy, service-design leads, fundraising teams and evaluation commissioners. Private-sector SME work is often won directly through referral, networking or a sharply scoped proposal; public-sector and charity work tends to involve written briefs, framework-style procurement or grant-funded evaluation requirements. Sales cycles are usually shorter when a buyer needs campaign or customer feedback, and longer when ethics, procurement, safeguarding or multi-stakeholder sign-off are involved. Cardiff suppliers can be credible to UK-wide buyers when the requirement is specialist method or Welsh context, rather than large national fieldwork capacity.
What they buy
Most market research firms tend to spend on the operating layer that keeps projects repeatable: CRM, proposal management, project accounting, survey software, qualitative coding, transcription, analytics, secure file sharing and consent management. Recruitment and freelance researcher networks matter because workload is lumpy, especially where interviews, moderation or specialist sector knowledge are needed at short notice. They may also buy legal support for contracts and participant information handling, cyber security advice, paid search, website content, design support for reports and finance tools that track project margin. Vendors that reduce administration without disrupting research workflow usually have the clearer opening.
Why and how to sell to them
Buying intent tends to appear when teams move from founder-led delivery into delegated project management, win a retainer, take on a public-sector evaluation, or start hiring researchers faster than their back-office processes can absorb. Common frictions are utilisation, proposal volume, fieldwork coordination, consent trails, participant safeguarding and turning analysis into client-facing reporting without losing margin. Outbound messages are more likely to land when they reference a specific commercial trigger, such as a new framework award, a senior insight hire, a shift into tracking work, or tighter UK GDPR and ICO review points. Generic agency-productivity claims will usually be discounted.
How this list is built
Data sources
This list is built from UK Companies House filings, XBRL accounts data, and semantic analysis of each company's public website. Revenue and headcount figures come from the most recent filed accounts; where the company has not filed, values are estimated using a model trained on filed history and peer benchmarks and are labelled as estimates.
Classification
Rather than relying solely on SIC codes, Firmbase classifies each company semantically: the company's website is crawled, an AI model reads what the company actually sells, and the company is placed into the relevant industry and subsectors. SIC codes are used as one signal but not the only one. This means a company that registered under a generic SIC code but pivoted into (for example) fintech is correctly identified as fintech, not as its original SIC category.
Freshness
The underlying company data is refreshed from Companies House continuously; filings appear in the list within days of submission. The curated list ordering is regenerated when the underlying data moves meaningfully (company count changes by more than 5%, a new company enters the top-ranked segment, or the filed-revenue numbers for the top firms change). You can see the last-updated timestamp near the top of the page.
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Frequently asked questions
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