BidSkim
Free report
Service market

Social research contracts

UK public sector · 205 contracts awarded in the 12 months to 6 October 2026

Covering 600+ buyer portals · 5 years of records · Updated 6 October 2026 · How we count

Contracts awarded
205
Last 12 months
Median contract
£69k
Recorded value
Recorded value
£33.8m
192 of 203 main-service contracts have a published value
Buyers
93
Suppliers
141

BidSkim assigns contracts to services from the notice text. How services are assigned

What stands out

  • The five suppliers that won the most social research contracts took 24% of them (50 of 205).
  • Contracts awarded per quarter fell 25% from the first half of the period to the second.
  • The median contract, £69k, is 14% below the median across consulting & accountancy contracts (£80k).

Who buys social research

By contracts awarded, the 12 months to 6 October 2026.

  1. 1Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government15 contracts
  2. 2Ofcom10 contracts
  3. 3Department for Business and Trade9 contracts
  4. 4Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs8 contracts
  5. 5H M REVENUE & CUSTOMS7 contracts
  6. 6Food Standards Agency6 contracts
  7. 7UK Shared Business Services (UK SBS)6 contracts
  8. 8Information Commissioner's Office5 contracts
  9. 9Department for Education5 contracts
  10. 10Ministry of Justice5 contracts

Top social research contractors by contracts won

The 12 months to 6 October 2026.

  1. 1Ipsos18 contracts
  2. 2IFF Research13 contracts
  3. 3Thinks Insight & Strategy7 contracts
  4. 4Basis Social6 contracts
  5. 5Verian6 contracts
  6. 6National Centre for Social Research6 contracts
  7. 7Alma Economics5 contracts
  8. 8The Behavioural Insights Team3 contracts
  9. 9ICF3 contracts
  10. 10Community Research Limited3 contracts

Latest and largest awards

Each links to the official notice.

Latest

Largest

Contracts awarded by quarter

57Q4 2025*68Q1 202629Q2 202651Q3 20260Q4 2026*
* part quarter

Where the contracts were awarded

England 178 · Wales 20 · Scotland 7

London62Wales20Yorkshire and The Humber15North West10South East9North East6West Midlands6South West6East of England2UK-wide or not stated69

What is included

Primary research, mainly qualitative or mixed methods, into the experiences, attitudes and behaviour of the public, consumers, businesses or professionals to inform policy, regulation or service design, reported as findings.

  • Qualitative interviews, focus groups and case studies
  • Consumer research for regulators
  • Public attitudes and lived experience research
  • Research with businesses and stakeholders to inform policy
  • Mixed-methods policy research studies

What is not included

  • Large quantitative surveys and cohort studies (see Survey research and fieldwork)
  • Research for the buyer's own communications, brand or audiences (see Market research)
  • Desk-only evidence synthesis (see Evidence reviews and literature reviews)
  • Industry size and trend studies (see Market analysis)
  • Evaluation of a programme (see Programme and policy evaluation)
  • Scientific and engineering research for policy (see Engineering research)
  • Waste and resources evidence (see Waste & Environment)
  • Digital user research (see it software (it.dev.user research and service design))

Often bought by the same buyers