Jane Frost, CEO MRS I Getting the sector back to work write this at the end of May such is the pace of a quarterly publication. The first tentative steps are being made to ease the lockdown. By the time you read this, any number of scenarios could have unfolded. The only thing I am certain of is that the economic strictures many small businesses are already suffering will be cutting even deeper in July. MRS has spent the months since lockdown began lobbying government over issues that could make all the difference to protecting your business. We know how hard it is for you: the research we undertook in May into the impact of Covid-19 on our members was painful reading. Thank you to Sinead Jefferies and her team at Watermelon for conducting it. We have built relationships with many other trade bodies, including the Advertising Association, Federation of Small Businesses and the CBI. The goal has been to amplify our lobbying efforts with organisations who share our structural needs and, so, increase the pressure on government departments. A key thing for MRS to focus on is helping areas that have stalled to get back to work see our face-to-face research guidance. Consultations included agencies big and small, as well as the AQR, and ideas that might prove fruitful are freezing dividend tax and requesting tax credit. Please let us have any further suggestions. I also want to applaud the research heroes who have gone beyond expectations and done something exceptional. Many, if not all, of you will know Bob Qureshi, founder of i-view Studios. MRS put Bob, a new Fellow, together with companies seeking advice from us, and he was happy to help other viewing facilities with rates relief from local authorities. Bobs advice has resulted in thousands of pounds saved for at least three companies so far. Thank you Bob! I have talked in the past about some key trends I saw continuing to develop in the market, including: the move to blend streams of data and ad hoc research; the transition to online; the need for speed; the pressure on ROI; and repurposing and client in-housing. Consultations with the MRS Senior Client Council confirm these trends are accelerating. We need to be shouting loud about the power of research to transform businesses. I want the entire sector to get behind our Intelligence Capital initiative. You can gain double CPD points if you watch this free webinar and read the report as part of your professional development (see mrs.org.uk/ intelligencecapital). Finally, if we want to keep research top of mind for clients and their finance directors, then nothing opens up the purse strings like winning an award. Officially, the MRS Awards closed for entries on 6 July, but for those of you who realised too late that you have a story that must be told this year, youll be pleased to know that because of the exceptional circumstances late entries will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact john.bizzell@ mrs.org.uk for more details. Sector and MRS news MRS is committed to supporting members and championing the needs of the research sector during this time. You can find our guidance and resources at mrs.org.uk/resources/ coronavirus Post Covid-19 lockdown guidance We have published a new set of guidelines for returning to work, including face-to-face activity. The guidance builds on the governments safe-working guidance and sets out measures that research practitioners should take to ensure the safety of their staff and the public. Research participant vulnerability MRS has produced best- practice guidance and a checklist to help practitioners identify, understand and respond to research participant vulnerabilities effectively and consistently. Coalition lobby government A group of membership bodies representing around 300,000 people, ranging from optometrists and osteopaths to market researchers and accountants has joined forces to call for financial support for their members, who may have been overlooked for government support. 59