Member Article

North East research agencies join forces

One of the region’s leading market research agencies, Newcastle-based Explain, has acquired one of the country’s leading research and innovation practices, wood holmes (also headquartered in Newcastle), as it defies the economic climate with ongoing business growth.

This exciting acquisition will offer clients a vastly enhanced service as the combined skills of the two highly respected agencies merge. Wood holmes’ core strategy skills and commitment to excellence through innovation will complement the rigorous research skills that Explain are so well known for.

Explain CEO, David Shiel, commented: “We were particularly interested in capitalising on the research side of wood holmes and the market knowledge they have built. Wood holmes is an excellent fit for Explain because the companies are very strong in different sectors and the crossover with clients is so small.

“Bringing on board the wood holmes team will greatly enhance the already outstanding expertise of our team. Kim Davis, who has just taken over as MD from me, heads an ambitious new business development team and it is vital we convert even more opportunities to continue our growth in a static research market.”

Tamsin Greulich, Managing Director for wood holmes said: “We are delighted to be able to bring together these ambitious and talented agencies. Wood holmes has a global reputation for excellence in pioneering innovative new techniques with ethical foundations. The acquisition by Explain can only bring positive change and I have no doubt that our existing clients will be impressed by what we are able to offer with Explain.

“Wood holmes has operated out of Newcastle since 1989. During that time the company hasworked on some incredible projects.

“Recently this has included delivery of the fully integrated communications, research and engagement strategy for the award-winning New Tyne Crossing project, development of an ethnographic and business research-based Coastal Economy Toolkit for the Coastal Communities Alliance, as well as being appointed as the Independent Tenants Advisor for the Gateshead Housing Company. Through innovation we have been able to offer our clients highly effective solutions to their most challenging problems, and with the strengthin research skills at Explain I am confident that the potential impacts of our work will be transformed.”

This is an exciting period for Explain as they undergo a brand refresh with the appointment of a new Brand Director. In addition, negotiations are at an advanced stage for a further acquisition of another specialist research agency, based in London, next Spring.

David adds: “The Explain team has continually raised the bar over the last three years with record resultsand, despite current recession, we think the time is right to look for new partnerships, associates and skills to enable continued growth. Although we expect to see revenues improve in 2013 the real effect may not be felt in our sector until the year after. By then we will be in a much stronger position to take advantage of the upturn. The addition of woodholmes’ experience and skills to our offering can only help us to achieve better results, andwe’re relishing the opportunity to see where our combined talents take us.”

Explain, which was set up in 1993 by CEO David Shiel, provides engagement, insight and strategic research to the NHS, financial service, leisure, retail, social housing and utility sectors and, with the acquisition, now employs 37 staff at its head office on Leazes ParkRoad and CATI centre.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Explain Research .