The latest Richmond Events’ business panel report on the brand is now available. Headline findings include:-

• Marketing is the department primarily responsible for developing the brand within 66% of organisations, with a further 24% leaving charge to the MD/CEO.
• In terms of influence over the brand, marketing leads the way with 48%, followed by sales 27% and the MD/CEO 18%. 17% of the panel feel all departments have equal influence over an organisation’s brand.
• 90% of the panel feel brand reputation is very important to their organisation, however only 68% say they measure it. 
• Of those that do the most popular measurement tools are customer focus groups 46%, competitor analysis 42% and social media tracking / analysis 39%.
• The panel feels 47% of their department have high engagement levels with the brand, compared to only 32% of the wider organisation and the same figure (32%) for their customers.
• 72% of the panel feel there is a slight mismatch between what their customers and what their employees think of their brand. However 70% feel their own perception of their brand is similar to their customers’ perception.
• In terms of the importance of their organisation’s brand reputation to the panel personally, 26% say it’s essential - they’ll only work for an organisation with a strong brand, whereas 57% say it’s very important – a key factor as to where they work

For a copy of the full report please contact David Clark.
 

The annual economic outlook survey from the Richmond Events’ Business Panel is now available. Headline findings include:-

• Government’s handling of the economy: 3% rate the government’s handling of the economy as very good, 44% as acceptable, 41% could have been better and 8% as shocking.
• Interest rates: the panel predicts interest rates will be at (average) 0.8% in 1 year’s time and 1.65% in 3 years’ time.
• Growth: Not a single respondent expects the economy to grow significantly over the coming year, whilst 30% expect it to grow marginally. A further 52% expect it to stay much the same as it is now, whilst 16% expect it to shrink a little and 2% shrink a lot.
• Headcount: 25% of organisations have increased headcount over the last year. The number who have reduced headcount, and may do so again, has fallen slightly: 34% to 31%.
• Turnover: just under half expect their turnover to increase, with a further third expecting it to remain the same. As a result, those who feel their turnover will probably reduce comprise only 13% of the panel.
• Profit: Less than half the panel feel their organisation’s profit will increase in 2013, slightly down from last year. 14% feel their profits will fall this year - 5% less than last year. 4% are undecided.

For a full copy of this free report, please contact David Clark.
 

• The overwhelming majority of the panel whole heartedly feel the UK still needs a public service broadcaster.

• By far the highest proportion, over ½ of the panel, are also happy with the current compulsory licence fee.

• Asked whether the recent happenings had eroded some of the public’s trust of the BBC the panel mainly agreed; 41% saying yes and 31% feeling partially.

• In terms of the panel’s attitudes towards the recent happenings at the BBC, 67% opted for disappointed 6% shocked and 4% angry. However 18% say it hasn’t affected their opinion which is still positive.

• Just over ½ of the panel support the renewal of the BBC charter. However, whilst a further ¼ also support its renewal it is dependant on the BBC rebuilding the public’s trust over the next few years.

• Of all the aspects that the BBC offers, the panel rate radio and international news the highest.

• The majority of the panel get their regular intake of news from the internet than the TV.

Richmond Events’ latest business panel report on research and development is now available. Headline findings include –

• The average number of people working within an organisations' research function is 21.
• 55% of respondents have between 1-5 employees within their research function.
• Around a third of the panel don’t have a specific research department yet allow whoever comes up with a new idea / product to research it themselves.
• The average amount the panel commits to R&D as a percentage of their overall turnover is 4%.
• 80% of the panel say they purchase from external market research agencies - 20% regularly and 60% sometimes.
• Organisations tend to undertake research more frequently with their customers than non customers.
• The majority of the panel are positive in their views towards research - almost one third say it keeps them up with or ahead of competition whilst over half feel it greatly increases effectiveness / product development.
• Well over half of organisations use their own employees to continually research their customers.
• Just under half of the panel feel it is always almost money well spent. However it is closely followed by 45% who feel measuring ROI on R&D is more difficult.
• On a less positive note only 39% of the panel use research to better understand their competition.

Richmond Events’ latest business panel report on employee engagement is now available. Headline findings include –

• 82% of the panel feel employee engagement is essential within their organisation, with a further 15% feeling it’s nice to have.
• Only 70% of the panel say their organisations actually measure employee engagement. A worrying 4% are unsure if they do or not…
• The panel feel that levels of employee engagement are higher within their department than they are for their organisation as a whole.
• 50% of the panel feel that engagement levels have increased within their organisations’ over the past 3 years.
• The most popular measurement tools for employee engagement are questionnaires and appraisals. However, only 4% of the panel feel engagement questionnaires completely reflect the true feelings of their organisation.
• The two most important factors in terms of employee engagement are good line management and a good leadership team.
• The two areas needing most improvement are good line management and a good leadership team!