GC Insight provides clients with a deeper understanding of the audiences that matter: policymakers, opinion formers, investors, businesses, activists, voters, and other stakeholders. We use a range of robust qualitative and quantitative research methodologies - including in-depth interviews, focus groups and polling – to inform the strategic advice we give clients and to build evidence to support engagement. Our integrated approach combines bespoke, credible and insightful in-house audience research capabilities with the deep political, policy and economic expertise of our specialist practices.
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How we help clients
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Developing a political brand
GC supports clients to understand, measure and improve their political brand: how the industry, product and organisation is perceived; what the most significant reputational and regulatory risks and opportunities are; and how to position itself to influence policy effectively. Our approach includes extensive stakeholder mapping to identify and target the most relevant audiences, development of different political brand propositions, and in-depth audience research to explore perceptions and identify opportunities to improve them.
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Shaping advocacy & communications
GC uses audience insight to help clients communicate and engage more effectively, from tactical messaging to long-term advocacy campaigns on a particular issue. Our work spans exploratory research to better understand key audiences and the messages they are exposed to, co-creative development of communications propositions, and rigorous audience testing to identify the territories, messages and specific executions that resonate and persuade.
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Demonstrating thought leadership
GC works with clients to develop compelling thought leadership collateral, underpinned by the robust evidence and new audience insight required to shape policy debates. Whether identifying audience trends, challenges or needs, our thought leadership outputs are carefully focused on issues of relevance to policymakers, designed to be memorable, and rooted in credible audience research techniques that stand up to external scrutiny.
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Understanding the wider context
GC’s audience research also helps corporates and investors understand the wider political, regulatory and commercial environment in which they (or potential assets) are operating. This includes gauging public or policymaker sentiment around a particular industry or issue, exploring consumer or business behaviours and experiences, and consulting opinion formers, experts and decision-makers to identify new opportunities.
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Our research
If you have any questions about a GC Insight research project or upcoming focus group or event, get in touch.
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Bespoke qualitative and quantitative methodologies
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In-depth interviews
One-on-one interviews to understand perceptions and experiences in detail, especially in relation to specialist and hard-to-reach audiences or sensitive subject matters.
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Focus groups
Group sessions to explore attitudes to an issue in-depth, understand group dynamics, and explore commonalities and differences efficiently.
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Citizens’ juries
Deliberative workshops to explore public attitudes on complex, technical or low salience topics, understand the ‘informed citizen’ perspective, and reach verdicts on knotty policy challenges.
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Surveys and polling
Quantitative surveys to generate robust, representative data, facilitate audience comparison, and provide benchmarking to facilitate tracking of views over time.
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Secondary data analysis
Analysis of existing audience data, including from internal and publicly-available sources, to inform research design, build on existing insight, and identify gaps in data.
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Others
Additional tools and approaches include ethnographic observation, online communities, mobile diaries, expert panels, consultations and co-creative workshops.
Dedicated Expertise
Our people
The research and insight team is comprised of expert research practitioners with experience of a broad range of methodologies. The team works closely with our broader corporate advisory practices, combining audience research capabilities with political, policy and economic expertise.
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Chris
Levy
Chris leads our research and insight function, playing a vital role in further developing our data-driven approach and supplementing the strategic advice we provide across practices and geographies.
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Alex
Dawson
Alex advises clients on the issues that are driving policymakers in Westminster, Whitehall and the devolved governments, and how they can build up the political capital to be heard by decision makers.
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Emma
Morris
Emma works across policy areas as part of the Research and Insights function, using bespoke qualitative and quantitative audience research and data analysis to shape and strengthen the advice given to clients.
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Raphael
Malek
Raphael is an adviser to the Research and Insight team, providing support across policy practices, using bespoke audience research and data analysis to complement GC’s policy expertise and strengthen the advice provided to clients.