Recent News
Fundraising activity in arts, culture, heritage and sports organisations
GfK NOP Social Research was commissioned to undertake research to build on existing knowledge of fundraising activity in the arts, heritage, museums and libraries, and sports sectors. The study was commissioned by the Culture and Sport Evidence (CASE) programme and involved desk research to contextualise the UK fundraising landscape, and a series of 17 organisational case studies of culture and sporting organisations.
The case study research revealed a changing environment for fundraising over recent years, caused by the financial crisis and the resulting impact on donor behaviour, as well as the anticipated impact of reductions in government spending. These changes were compounded by a perceived intensification in competition for a reduced pot of potential donations.
Donors were thought to have become more exacting in their expectations, with an increased requirement for tangible and measurable outcomes. This in turn created a new requirement for organisations to demonstrate sound business planning and financial management, and an ability to generate benefits for potential donors. Some had become practiced in this; while for others the new environment required a culture shift, as they had previously relied heavily upon strong personal relationships with their major funders.
The research also identified a range of factors which were thought to have affected arts, culture, sport and heritage organisations to a greater extent, both in terms of opportunities and threats.
For more information please contact Amrita Sood Qualitative DirectorHealth and Well-being at Work: Surveys of Employees and Employers
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently published two reports based on a programme of work undertaken by GfK NOP.
The first study, jointly commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the cross-Government Health, Work and Well-being Strategy Unit (HWWB), looked at employees’ perceptions of their working life, including the provision of health and well-being initiatives and set a baseline against which progress may be measured and monitored over time.
The second study, commissioned by HWWB and DWP, focussed on employers’ views of the health and well-being agenda, as well as gathering new information about sickness absence and organisations’ occupational sick pay policies.
For more information please contact Viv Young (Research Director) or Claire Bhaumik (Research Manager)
Health and Well-being at Work: A Survey of Employees
Health and Well-being at Work: A Survey of Employers
Developing an online service: Customer research into the benefits and likely uptake of Automated Service Delivery (Jobseekers Allowance)
The Central Office of Information (COI) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently published a report of work conducted by GfK NOP. The study aimed to explore reactions to and likely uptake of a new system to automate some interactions for customers claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA).
We used conjoint analysis techniques to identify which features of the new service were most influential in driving likely uptake, and to estimate how many customers would use the service. As well as understanding likely take up of the service, we worked with DWP and partner agencies to understand how to encourage customers to use the new service, and to develop messages which may motivate different customer groups, based on the barriers they faced to using the service.
For more information please contact Bridget Williams (Divisional Director) or Chris Holmes (Research Manager)
Budgeting behaviour and scope for budget account
In 2010, HM Treasury comissioned GfK NOP to conduct qualitative research to inform the design of a Budgeting Account for people in the UK who are financially excluded, and those who may benefit from the introduction of a budget account. This research was commissioned as part of HM Treasury's Financial Inclusion Taskforce research programme.
Prior to the Budget Account report, GfK NOP had previously conducted research around the motivations and barriers to becoming banked. This previous research was also comissioned as part of the Financial Inclusion Taskforce research programme and the report is available below.
For more information on these research reports please contact Polly Hollings (Associate Director) at polly.hollings@gfk.com
Click here for Budget Account Case Studies
Motivations And Barriers To Becoming Banked
Powers of the National Assembly for Wales: Referendum Question Testing
In March 2011, a referendum will be held on the Powers of the Welsh Assembly. GfK NOP Social Research tested the draft referendum question amongst members of the Welsh public. The research sought to explore whether people identified any problems with the question in terms of understanding or bias and suggest ways in which these could be addressed.
For more information about this research please contact Amrita Sood (Divisional Director) at amrita.sood@gfk.com
Powers Of The National Assembly For Wales Referendum Question Testing
Youth Taskforce study of perceptions in Youth Crime Action Plan areas
In 2010, GfK NOP carried out a large quantitative and qualitative project on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (now Department for Education). The study was designed to investigate the views of residents within Youth Crime Action Plan areas to understand more about perceptions regarding young people and crime, anti-social behaviour and alcohol use. A baseline survey was held amongst local residents with further innovative face-to-face and online qualitative work carried out with young people.
For more information about this research please contact Polly Hollings (Associate Director) at polly.hollings@gfk.com
Youth Taskforce Study Of Perceptions In Youth Crime Action Plan Areas
Nick Moon