Something we’re keen to stress to potential clients is that we “work with, not for” you. It’s a line we’ve repeated more than once in case studies. 

We want you to see us as a partner. That’s how we see ourselves—an extension of your team, rather than a third party in a transactional arrangement. 

It’s a small thing, but it’s important. A partner is someone you build a relationship with. In our experience, long-term relationships are how you get the most value from your research.

Here’s why. 

Value grows with time

In one-off jobs, collaboration is limited to the scope of the project. Sharing ideas and strategies goes as far as is needed to deliver the best outcome, then you both move on to the next thing. Nothing wrong with that, if you're sure there's no need for research in the future. 

If there is, you'll benefit from thinking about an agency as a long-term research partner rather than simply a one-time service provider. 

Why’s that?

Because partners add value by building knowledge and expertise over time.

We started PS Research as experts in research and evaluation for the public, cultural and not-for-profit sectors. 

Our expertise has grown to include topics like alcohol harm, stroke services and bereavement. 

We knew little about any of these areas before being hired to work on them. We built our knowledge by spending time with clients, learning about their needs and motivations and asking the stupid questions that force them to explain things in simple terms. 

Can we gain the knowledge we need to work effectively in one-off projects? Yes. And we do. But the value of working with a client over a longer period of time is we keep building on our knowledge and gain a deeper understanding. 

The more we get to know about your subject and research needs, the easier it is to understand the why and how behind it to see the bigger picture, connect ideas, question assumptions and deliver impactful research. 

This has a compounding effect. Understanding rolls over into each new project. We become familiar with how you work and vice-versa and efficiency improves each time with communication and feedback. 

After a few projects, you have an expert who can come in, get up to speed quickly and draw on previous insights to produce data that makes a difference. 

It’s hard to get this in standalone projects, when you’re always starting from scratch and working to tight timescales.

Knowledge goes both ways

With time and room for collaboration, you pick up things from researchers to improve how you work. 

For example, the Stroke Association used our insights and recommendations to improve its referral process and discuss wider strategies around how they collect data, promote their services and work with other organisations.

Other clients have adopted some of the same tools we use for analysis and data visualisation to better understand their audiences. 

Helping you research effectively when we’re not around means that, if you do need us again, some of our work is already done. You have good data that’s well organised and a clearer idea of the problems you want to solve. Projects have fewer missteps and holdups. Everything runs more smoothly.     

And if you don’t need us again. Well, you’re set up to succeed. 

We’re big believers in it’s nice to be nice. Sharing knowledge is a way to show we value clients and are invested in you doing well. 

It also helps to build trust, which goes a long way in any business relationship. Speaking of which…

Trust improves future projects

We’re not experts in what trust is, but we work hard to keep and earn it by being reliable, authentic, hard working and nice. 

Having trust leads to good personal relationships and better research. As relationships strengthen, you get a partner you can call on to help shape projects (rather than someone who’s there simply to do the work).  

For example, we’re often commissioned to deliver a particular service or method. Over time, as we get to understand clients, we might suggest different ways of collecting or looking at data to make it more meaningful. They start to see the value we add first hand and trust us to get a bit more involved. 

We now have clients that bring us in earlier in the process to help manage projects. Others trust us to work directly with their internal teams, liaise with stakeholders or engage the public on their behalf. 

This is what we mean when we say working with not for: becoming part of your team. Getting invested in projects together to make a difference. And freeing you up to focus on bigger picture stuff. 

One of the things we like most about our long-term client relationships is when a project lead emails us to get our thoughts on an early idea or whether a particular research method is viable. It shows they trust us enough to come to us for honest advice like they would with others in their team. 

It also benefits us because we get to guide their approach and ensure it’s something we can help with (or recommend the right person if we can’t). 

Trust is given from the start, but it’s cemented through consistent actions. The actions are what make every next project better than the last. 

A few tips for hiring a research partner

To choose someone you can work with long-term: 

  • Think beyond the first project. See an agency as a partner rather than a one-time vendor
  • Match your research objectives to their capabilities and values
  • Match your personality to theirs (you have to get along)
  • Look for researchers who offer long-term solutions rather than quick fixes
  • Look for an agency that will challenge you (it’s how we all improve)

There’s always someone who can do the work cheaper or sounds more impressive on paper, but it’s the deep understanding and trust of each other that produces the best outcomes. 

Find the right partner and it’s a relationship that will serve you well for years.