A market insights agency named as one of Manchester’s most innovative businesses has celebrated its first birthday and strengthened its marketing team by bringing in a former BBC journalist as its marketing manager.

Rebecca Turner has joined the Insights People after spells at BBC Norfolk, BBC Newcastle and BBC News, where she worked on TV packages for, among others, the Victoria Derbyshire programme.

The Insights People, the UK’s most comprehensive and dynamic market intelligence specialist, was launched in May 2017 by CEO and experienced marketer Nick Richardson.

Fast forward 12 months and the business, which surveys 20,000 kids and 10,000 parents each year to offer brands insight into emerging trends, now boasts clients including  DC Thomson, Finsbury Foods, Guinness World Records, Penguin Random House and SuperAwesome.

Full-time staff numbers have increased to six too, with Dan Lucas joining as a junior developer. The business is also on the hunt for another junior developer.

Increasing staff numbers have meant a new office, and this week the business moved into its new 500 sq ft premises in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Nick Richardson said, “We knew when we launched the company a year ago that we had something special but the last 12 months have truly exceeded all our expectations. We’re working with some fantastic clients and that has allowed us to grow, both in terms of our staff numbers, but also into this new office."

“But the work doesn’t stop here. We continue to invest in improving our products, and we are excited about the opportunities which new technologies present, and of course as we scale we look forward to welcoming new clients into our family. We are also working hard on the next phase of developments for the business which we will be announcing in the next month or two,” Richardson continued.

Rebecca Turner said, “I’m really excited to be joining Nick and the team at such a huge moment for the business. They’ve achieved so much over the last year and playing a part in an even brighter future is a challenge that I’m really looking forward to.” 

Richardson added, “Rebecca and Dan really complement the skills we already have in the team and we’re all excited to see what they can do.”

After setting up in May 2017, the Insights People launched Kids Insights in October. Using its groundbreaking “AQuA” (All Questions Answered) technology and real-time online platform, Kids Insights surveys 400 different kids, tweens and teens every single week (more than 20,000 every year).

By collecting data continuously (more than 150,000 data points are added every single week), Kids Insights are able to uncover entrenched, emerging and flash trends - as well as better understanding the behaviours and consumption – of children. The results are presented every 12 weeks in a series of reports. 

That was followed in February 2018 by the launch of Parents Insights, which will survey more than 10,000 UK mums and dads each year. The results will be compiled into quarterly reports centred on expecting parents, and parents with new-born babies, babies and toddlers.

Earlier this year, Insights People were recognised as one of ‘ten of the best’ of Manchester’s most innovative businesses by Innovation100 Greater Manchester.