Updated: July 8th 2025
Gone are the days when market research was a “nice-to-have”—a checkbox before launch or a post-campaign pulse check. Today, it’s the engine behind confident decision-making.
In a market as dynamic as the UK, understanding consumers in real time and predicting what they’ll do next is a complex task. With the right market research partner, you can navigate this complexity and uncover growth opportunities before your competitors do.
But not all research companies are built for this moment. Some still move at yesterday’s pace. Others prioritize volume over value. This article breaks down top 8 market research companies operating in the UK today. Off we go, then!
Features to Look for When Selecting a Market Research Company in the UK
In a market as fast-moving and diverse as the UK, choosing the right market research partner matters. Here’s what sets the best apart:
- UK Market Fluency: Deep expertise in British consumers, categories, and culture is essential. Look for a partner that gets the local context and can spot signals others miss.
- End-to-End Capabilities: From qual to quant, idea screening to innovation tracking—the top firms offer a tech-enabled, full-funnel approach.
- AI and Automation: The best agencies use advanced technology to accelerate fieldwork, surface deeper patterns, and drive predictive insights that go beyond the obvious.
- Real Results: Look for proof, not promises. Case studies, client wins, and commercial outcomes should speak louder than buzzwords.
Top 8 Market Research Companies in the UK (2025)
1. Dig Insights
- Location: London, UK (with offices in the US and Canada)
- Size: Mid-sized, with a global team of insights consultants and technologists.
- Clients: McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, AB InBev, Meta
- Top Use Cases: Product innovation, trends & foresight, qualitative research, advanced analytics
- Unique Features: Upsiide—a proprietary AI-powered insights platform, in-house data scientists, full-spectrum innovation work including trends, qual, and quant
- Benefits: Drives predictable brand & innovation success through proprietary technology, data science, and AI solutions
2. Attest
- Location: London, UK (with offices in the US)
- Size: 150+ employees
- Clients: Microsoft, Samsung, Unilever
- Top Use Cases: Brand tracking, creative testing, consumer profiling.
- Benefits: Provides access to over 150 million respondents globally, delivering fast and reliable insights.
3. Kantar
- Location: London, UK
- Size: 25,000 employees
- Clients: Global brands across various industries
- Top Use Cases: Brand health tracking, advertising effectiveness, consumer behavior analysis
- Benefits: Combines deep industry expertise with advanced analytics to drive growth
4. YouGov
- Location: London, UK
- Size: 3,000 employees
- Clients: Media, political organizations, and consumer brands
- Top Use Cases: Opinion polling, market segmentation, brand perception studies
- Benefits: Offers real-time data and analytics through its online platform
5. Mintel
- Location: London, UK
- Size: 1,000+ employees
- Clients: FMCG companies, retailers, and financial services
- Top Use Cases: Market trend analysis, product innovation, consumer behavior insights
- Benefits: Provides in-depth reports and expert analysis across various sectors
7. Savanta
- Location: London, UK
- Size: 350 employees
- Clients: Businesses, government bodies, and non-profits
- Top Use Cases: Brand tracking, customer satisfaction, market segmentation
- Benefits: Offers a blend of consultancy and data collection services
8. Vision One
- Location: London, UK
- Size: 296 employees
- Clients: Retailers, service providers, and public sector organizations
- Top Use Cases: Customer experience, brand development, product testing
- Benefits: Recognized for delivering actionable insights and strategic recommendations
How to Choose the Right UK-Based Market Research Company
Whether you’re launching a new campaign, exploring new white space, or optimizing your portfolio for the UK market, look at these 5 things:
1. Start With Strategic Fit
Does the partner understand your goals—and have the tech and talent to meet them?
2. Prioritize Tech-Enabled Innovation
From AI-powered platforms to behavioral modeling, choose a firm that leads with technology and delivers at speed.
3. Look for Integrated Methodologies
The strongest partners seamlessly combine qual and quant, giving you a richer, more actionable picture of the market.
4. Seek Evidence of Impact
Ask for UK-specific case studies, success metrics, and stories of commercial success.
5. Ask About Support and Scale
Can the team flex to your needs across geographies, timelines, and complexity? The best firms blend SaaS efficiency with strategic support.
Why Work With Dig Insights?
With a growing presence in the UK and deep partnerships across CPG, retail, financial services, and food & beverage, Dig Insights is built to help British brands make smarter, faster decisions. We understand the nuance of local consumers—and the global pressures brands face to innovate and win.
At the heart of our offering is Upsiide, our proprietary insights platform that enables you to test ideas, concepts, and creative in real time. Powered by AI and built for commercial decision-making, Upsiide delivers insights that are predictive, actionable, and ready when you are.
But we’re more than just a platform. Our in-house team of researchers, strategists, and analysts bring category expertise and strategic thinking to every engagement. Whether you need to map a category, validate a new idea, or forecast in-market performance, we blend tech and talent to deliver results that matter.
Fancy a chat with our team?