Walsall Council

“I felt that the VT Research [now Babcock Research] team really ‘got it’ and understood local government working with the added element of partnership working. They had a clear understanding of working in a partnership and strived throughout to take that into account.  All materials were produced to allow the sustainability of the project and to assess the success of the pilot. Everything was designed in line with MRS code and took into account the subject and overall aims and objectives of the project. They effectively managed our expectations. Excellent understanding and experience of running mystery shopping.”

Managers of each of the services involved in this innovative partnership approach to mystery shopping have given their response to the project findings on the council’s website.  One local service manager said: “Information gathered via the mystery shopping project has been used to monitor how the service is doing, it has also been valuable in providing an insight into how other organisations deliver services.” Please click here to read more…

Nextstep South East

“VT Research [now Babcock Research] has now worked on a number of projects for nextstep. Each time we have found them to be very responsive to our briefs, asking pertinent questions to ensure the right information is extracted from the research. The reports have been an extremely useful tool and we have used the findings for assessing the various aspects of the nextstep service and the suitability of our marketing materials. We look forward to a continued relationship with VT Research.”

Wakefield Council

“VT Research [now Babcock Research] has supported the Review of Post-16 Provision in the Wakefield District through the provision of top quality primary and secondary research and ongoing support.  VT Research have shown themselves to be thoroughly professional in all aspects of their work.  The methodologies they devised and employed have fulfilled all criteria and provided a huge amount of excellent data and a sound basis upon which the steering group could base decisions.

“VT Research [now Babcock Research] provides a wide range of research outputs and support; from facilitation and high quality disseminations to reports and data tables.  We have returned to VT Research which is why I can thoroughly recommend them to any organisations interested in high quality research and evaluation work for policy support.

“We were impressed by the way the team was able to translate the huge amount of data they produced into understandable and logical stories for the range of audiences we had for the research.  They were able to add extra value by getting behind the data and through their knowledge and interpretation of the issues surrounding the research.

“The key contribution for us is that while maintaining their complete independence, VT Research [now Babcock Research] became a key player in the total review process.”

Miller Construction

“ Miller Construction commissioned VT Research [now Babcock Research] to seek out statistics and intelligence on current and emerging markets. We required fast, up to date, accurate and succinct information in order to support our business planning process.  That is exactly what we got from VT Research and we were impressed by their flexible, informal and helpful approach to the brief.”

“We would certainly not hesitate to approach them for research support in the future”

Michael Page International

“Michael Page sought the help of VT Research [now Babcock Research] in quantifying and explaining the structures of a major new target market for our recruitment operation. The report and supporting information which we received was invaluable.  It saved us a huge amount of time and money and as a result we were able to get a vital head start in exploiting that market.”

“Michael Page will certainly use VT Research [now Babcock Research] again as they delivered quickly, enthusiastically and with our own commercial needs as their top priority.”

Wakefield Learning Partnership

“Wakefield District Learning Partnership gave VT Research [now Babcock Research] a brief to track the status of all Wakefield school leavers in 2001 with low qualifications who subsequently found employment.  The researchers’ skills in statistical analysis and geographic information systems led to the production of an excellent and useful report and presentation.  This will now be used to target and encourage employers to support the training of their youngest and most vulnerable employees.”

 “VT Research [now Babcock Research] produces high quality research through a combination of their own expertise, their ability to understand client needs and their knowledge of local labour markets, economics and education issues.”