Research
Professional services trends information and insight are needed by policymakers, leadership teams and investors to make informed strategic decisions. Social and traditional media are also important channels for this type of information. The Forum has therefore organised regular trackers and benchmarks since 2011. These are completed by 98% to 100% of the members of formal research panels.
Trackers provide an informed understanding of 1) the outlook, priorities, activity levels, headcounts and spending patterns of functional leaders at professional services firms; and 2) those leaders’ assessment of firmwide and functional commitment to four themes: AI; Sustainability(ESG); Innovation; and Training/Learning. Trackers also allow anonymous messages to be shared with Government via the Forum.
Government is highly appreciative of Forum trackers: “A lot of the points raised are similar to those we hear from other professional services firms around skills, use of technology, AI, stability and regulation and it is thus useful to see the Trackers as validating these issues. We use such information anonymously to feed into relevant policy discussions taking place across Government about the views of the sector.”
Strategy & Marketing research panel
The inaugural Strategy & Marketing tracker was completed between 14 and 28 May 2024 by 87% of the 68 members of the research panel of marketing leaders at mainly mid-market UK professional services firms. The findings of the functional priorities and AI sections were presented by Alastair Beddow of Meridian West on the May episode of the ‘Retuning your Firm’ show – click here to view – with the sustainability, innovation and training sections presented by him on the June episode- click here to view.
Strategy & Marketing research panel members also complete an annual Strategy & Marketing Benchmark. The findings of the 2025 Benchmark will be presented to members of the Forum’s <Strategy & Marketing group> at their in-person breakfast roundtable of 6 February 2025 in London, and also to the online audience for the ‘Retuning your Firm’ show on 28 February 2025.
