8/14/2019 The Researcher - PFA News Winter 09

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-researcher-pfa-news-winter-09 1/2

     r     e     s     e     a     r     c       h

Welcome to the very rst

edition of PFA Research’s 

newsletter: theResearcher

As always, 2008 was a busy year for us, with a recruitment

drive, achieving ISO9001 accreditation and some exciting

research projects.

Please feel free to pass this newsletter onto a friend or

colleague, and if you would like to receive this on email as a

PDF let us know.

Warm wishes and all the best for a prosperous 2009.

Robert Rush, managing director.

 theResearcher 

For us this is so much more than a

qualication – it’s an award which

celebrates our focus on customer

care and quality service.

After a year’s focus on reviewing

and improving our processes we

were awarded the standard onDecember 12 2008.

The process started when Martin

Hockaday undertook an audit of

how our company was structured

and what we needed to do to

achieve ISO9001, plus ISO20252,

the quality standard for market

research practitioners.

We also worked with Robert

Meldrum of Quality Aspects in St

Austell to support us through theprocess.

Now we have a quality management

system in place and our practices

in writing which ensures we deliver

what we say we will to our customers.

Through working for this standard,

we also improved on other areas of

practice, so now we always look to

see how we can do better.

For many years we thought it was

too difcult to apply ISO9001 to a

company of our type.

In fact it’s the opposite – we have

much to gain. We go for a lot of public

sector tenders and are increasingly

nding that the pre-qualication

process is asking for an certied

quality management system in place.

As a result the ISO9001 standard

has already helped us secure atender by describing how we ensure

competency in our researchers and

demonstrating a quality management

system.

PFA Research is proud to have achieved the internationally

recognised standard ISO9001 for market research activities.

 Turn the page to nd out how you can help us develop and win a prize!

In pursuit of excellence 

PFA team achieve ISO9001 Standard

advantage is a matter of facts

www.pfa-research.com

In this issueInto Somerset

Website launch

PFA team grows

As a client, partner, friend, associate

or someone we’ve met along the way,we’re keen to keep you updated onwhat we’re up to.

8/14/2019 The Researcher - PFA News Winter 09

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-researcher-pfa-news-winter-09 2/2

PFA Research has been

esearching just what makes

Somerset businesses tick, on

behalf of the inward investment

programme Into Somerset.

Working with The Langdon

Partnership and Somerset-based

Tickbox Marketing, we delivered a

market research project designed

o identify key sectors the

programme should concentrate on.

The aim of the research was to

understand the strengths and

weaknesses of Somerset, for

businesses and those who run

them.

The information we gleaned will be

used to create key messages for

Into Somerset’s marketing material,

including the www.intosomerset.

co.uk website and brochures.

Due to growth and winning a number of largemarket research tenders over the last 12months we enjoyed a recruitment drive toexpand our team.

We now have a bank of over 30 experienced

esearchers who offer us support both in-house and

n the eld meaning that we can support both large

and small research projects easily.

And as part of our commitment to our staff we’re

utilising technology to allow them to work exibly

which enables them to work around their families

and other commitments.

Win a bottle of

champagne!

Send us your feedback on the

new site to newsletter@pfa-

research.com and your name will

be placed in a hat to win a bottle

of champagne.

The winner will be drawn on

Friday 27 February.

Remember you can win by

visiting www.pfa-research.com

and giving us your feedback on

our new site.

NCDC Business Survey

Issues facing businesses in North

Cornwall were explored in a

survey of 400 companies.

North Cornwall District Council

commissioned an updated survey

of research carried out in 2005 to

better understand specic needs

of businesses in the region.

Our team conducted a telephone

survey plus a number of in-depth

interviews both face-to-face and

over the phone.

Findings were presented to the

North Cornwall Business Forum

and the main report will soon be

available to download.

Actinic is a leading provider

of e-commerce software and

electronic point-of-sale systems.

As with all web-based

businesses, it’s important to

stay ahead of the game and

Actinic use our services to gain

understanding of how the market

is changing, its competitors and

product pricing.

We surveyed Actinic’s

customers – retailers who use

the company’s off-the-shelf

e-commerce and EPOS systems.

We love carrying out this survey

because it takes us back to our

roots and demonstrates how

market intelligence forms a

real foundation to a marketing

strategy.

What our marketresearch uncovered:

• 84% of businesses saySomerset has goodaccess to primarytransport routes.

• 83% of Somersetbusinesses say it’s awelcoming and friendlyplace

• 90% of businesses saythe county offers a

great quality of life

Created by Cornish design agency, Slightly Different,

the site offers visitors a chance to nd out more about

the company and what we do.

There is even a client login area where you can checkon your project and how it’s progressing.

And of course, as we’re a market research company

we want to nd out what you think about the site.

New website launch

It’s live! Our exciting new website, www.pfa-research.com, went live just before Christmas.

PFA Research, eCommerce House, Lower Bore Street, Bodmin, PL31 2JR T. 01208 262000 E. newsletter@pfa-research.com

PFA is growing

Somerset sits at the heart of the £90billion economy that is the South West.

PFA deliversannual survey

Excellent transport links, entrepreneurial

spirit, innovation and a stunning backdrop,

t’s a great place to do business.