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IQCS user members are UK based research agencies or consultancies who do not have their own in-house data-collection, but commit to use providers who are IQCS accredited or ISO20252:2012 registered.

For smaller / independent UK consultancies who may themselves not be ISO20252 registered, IQCS User Membership provides a ‘badge of quality’ and a level of reassurance to clients that fieldwork on their projects has been undertaken by an accredited agency or to standards outlined under the IQCS /ISO20252:2012 standard.

User members enjoy all the benefits of membership and have their fieldwork projects annually assessed and accredited by our independent inspectors to verify that, where at all possible/practical they have used accredited or registered fieldwork providers.

User Membership Costs

The cost of membership and accreditation is excellent value for money and considerably lower than for those of many of the other accreditation bodies. The annual membership fee is £595, and the cost of the annual inspection fee of £300.

IQCS Member Benefits

Listing in the IQCS company members directory

The IQCS member companies directory is a vital part of the IQCS website. Clients from all over the world use this directory to find their suppliers. More than 45% of all hits on the website are directed to the members’ directory. Other associations charge about the same rate as our annual membership fee just for this service in addition to their membership fee. Our members benefit from this service without additional charge.

Quality Mark

Accredited user members will receive an IQCS Membership logo to display on their website / email footer / advertising

Access to IQCS Working Forums

We conduct working forums regularly throughout the year and cover hot topics such as changes to data protection regulations, changes to employment law, training of interviewers and supervisors, operational leadership, developments in the industry and related bodies and everything else important to our members. Members’ suggestions for working forums are very welcome and we invite high profile speakers such as representatives from the Information Commissioner’s Office, employment law specialists from leading law firms, key representatives from the Market Research Society and expert operational staff from some of the biggest research firms in the UK to conduct forums. Our members benefit from working forums without additional charge.

Networking Events

We always take every opportunity we can to get our members together to network and share common experiences and knowledge. At our working forums we ensure time is allocated for refreshments and socializing before or after the forum itself. We always finish off the AGM evening with a social – with wine and a delicious buffet, and we host a very well attended New Year’s party which is usually scheduled for February each year. All of these present a chance for people to meet old colleagues or new contacts in data-collection. There is no additional cost to member companies. All this is covered by the annual membership fee.

IQCS Council Advice

The IQCS council and Gill, our Administrator, have a wealth of market research experience and are very happy to advise members on everything data-collection related – from quality and operational processes to data-protection. Council members themselves work in all areas of market research, including hands on operations, quality, senior management, small business, telephone and field operations, qualitative / recruitment field, data security, risk management and other quality standards. If we can’t help, however, we will point members to someone with specialist knowledge who can.

MR Industry Connections

Council members are also very active in the industry in other areas and have representation on the MRS Company Partner Scheme (CPS), the Market Research Quality Standards Advisory Board (MRQSAB) and the Association of Qualitative Research (AQR), making sure the IQCS stays well connected within the industry.