Our Services

Economic & Social Research

Step Ahead provides a broad range of economic and social research services including:

• benchmarking and baseline studies;
• business and employer needs research;
• customer/client satisfaction surveys;
• employer engagement research;
• employment land reviews;
• feasibility studies;
• labour market analysis;
• local area assessments;
• market research, including demand analysis and product/service development;
• project appraisal;
• socio-economic impact assessments.

These studies often combine quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Our areas of expertise include: undertaking large-scale surveys (telephone, online and face-to-face); structured and semi-structured interviews; focus groups; activity-based workshops; community consultation; and literature reviews. Importantly, we are skilled in delivering high-quality analysis that transforms quantitative and qualitative research findings into realistic, actionable recommendations that inform project and policy development.

Examples of our work include:

• exploring the numbers of people sleeping rough in North Devon for North Devon District Council.  We also identified the agencies working with this client group; gathered rough sleepers’ views on the issues and barriers that they face in accessing services; and identified solutions to facilitate better access to services.
  
  
• conducting a feasibility study into the development of a dedicated building for local youth and community in the inner west end of Newcastle.
  
  
• carrying out an Employment Land Study for Lewes District Council by analysing business forecasts and trends in the Lewes district in order to gain a better understanding of the likely demand for future employment land space.
  
  
• producing a socio-economic baseline analysis for Midlands Metro and estimating the current and future impacts of the project on the employment prospects of local people.
  
  
• undertaking a quarterly survey of 1,200 businesses for South East Business Link Providers as part of a project to manage, analyse and disseminate research that helps to drive the development and marketing of Business Link’s business support services across the South East.