Services

Evidence and issue reviews

Literature and rapid research reviews, supported by fact-finding interviews and conversations to help clients develop a deeper understanding of key issues, needs and operating contexts. We support progressive projects and campaigns with insight and evidence on the issues, voices and causes that matter. Outputs can include: briefings, thought pieces, evidence reports, consultation submissions, monitoring and horizon scans, presentations and facilitated sessions. We ground our research in: what’s so (the facts, trends and evidence); what’s said (the issues, voices and lived experiences); what works (learning, best practice and innovation), and what’s next (future possibilities and scenarios).

Audience research and development

Community-centred research, listening and storytelling projects to help our clients develop a deeper understanding of their visitors and audiences, informing robust audience development plans and strategies.

Events and festival research and evaluation.

We work with and alongside creative teams to document and tell the story of community-powered events and festivals, capturing the stories and data to help festival teams programme and develop thriving events and festivals that align to and deliver wider social and economic goals.

Our methods are creative and involve the talents, practices, and research skills of the artists and partners involved, plus impact journalism, film and photography. Our services can be tailored to meet the needs of events and festivals of all shapes and sizes.

Business modelling and planning.

Drawing on a broad toolkit of research and consultancy methods, we help our clients understand their impact and operating contexts and work collaboratively with their teams to develop realistic and robust plans and models for the future.

Impact evaluation and storytelling.

From narrative and storytelling approaches to social value auditing, we are skilled at helping our clients understand and communicate their impact and legacy and tell their stories in meaningful and cost-effective ways built on dialogue and trust. We have a track record of co-ordinating community-led storytelling projects. We can work with you at the start of your project to design an evaluation framework or theory of change and ensure evaluation is built into your project. We can support you along the way, or carry out formative and summative assessments at key milestones.

We adopt a conversational, asset-based and relationships-led approach to our social value and community research services, starting with the people, communities and (hi)stories at the heart of your project or organisation.

Research and development

Comparative research, learning, benchmarking and best practice with market insight and modelling to inform design concepts – using a solutions or impact journalism approach to get under the surface of successful comparative projects and understand deeper understories, intersectionalities and relationships. Secondary research services and baseline data analysis to identify the needs, priorities and drivers in a local area or catchment area.

Social value and community audits

Through getting to knows, walks and talks, story cafes, and place-based narrative research and ethnography – alongside harder social, economic and environmental data and baseline analysis – we provide placeshapers with a deeper understanding of both the understory and overstory of a place or project, knitting that into an effective Social Value Policy/Statement or Community Audit report, with baseline assessment and opportunities and recommendations for social value development. We provide Placeshapers with the knowledge and tools to map, measure, assess, and report the positive social outcomes of their activities, and we provide guidance and advice on the best ways to capture and report social value. We have a strong track record and experience in measuring and advising on social impact and value in arts and creative-led and youth-led projects and programmes that enhance placeshaping and community regeneration goals in City contexts.

Community listening and civic design

We specialise in place-based narrative research to listen to and understand the lived experiences and hopes and aspirations of people and communities.

Drawing on our decades of experience in community-centred project work and our comprehensive civic design toolkit, which includes consultancy, research, creative, and ontological services, we are skilled at creating a conducive space and platform for people to share their stories, ideas and experiences, and facilitate community-led conversations to gain insights from a diverse range of perspectives.

Social value strategy development

We know that local leaders and communities understand the opportunities for social impact and value creation best. Building on a community audit or social value assessment and drawing on our experience in place-based research and civic design, we can work with you and your community partners to listen to and develop innovative ideas and opportunities to maximise social value and impact as part of a project or development, co-ordinating a social value strategy and action and monitoring plan.

Options appraisals and business modelling

We specialise in social and service based modelling of design schemes using research and consultancy methods. We collaborate with Friendly CFO/MetaValue on financial/economic modelling and appraisals and bring a strong track record in the modelling and appraisal of viable creative hubs and coworking spaces in city contexts.

Policy research, white papers and storytelling

Research, copywriting and storytelling to help you document, communicate and advocate for new approaches, service models and designs.

Small business entrepreneurs and changemakers are helping us engage in the world in fresh and exciting ways and driving creative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our times.

We are passionate about helping businesses with purpose make an impact and grow through agile research and consultancy that brings them closer to the lived experiences of their people and customers and market opportunities.

Our market research experience spans work in professional services, the creative industries, design and crafts, communities, and health and wellbeing.