Processes and costs of transferring a pension scheme (research conducted for DWP, April 2012)

Andrew Wood, Peggy Young, Naomi Crowther and Annalise Toberman

Qualitative research with pension providers and third-party administrators, designed to explore the processes and costs involved when individuals and firms transfer their pension pots between providers.
Click here to view report (pdf)

O-shaped recession – a never ending circle of uncertainty highlighted by new Swiss Re research into UK consumers (November, 2011)

Consensus conducted the market research for Swiss Re's latest edition of the Insurance Report entitled "Facing life's responsibilities". Swiss Re calls on industry and government to focus on improving access to straightforward advice and on simplifying products to build trust, before considering how messages are delivered.
Click here to read the press release

Progress towards the Professionalism requirements of the Retail Distribution Review (research conducted for the FSA) (2011)

Bryan Atkin, Naomi Crowther, Dominika Wintersgill and Andrew Wood

The first wave of a 3-year study to estimate the size of the UK's Retail Investment Adviser population and measure its progress towards the Professionalism requirements of the RDR.
Click here to view report (pdf)

City of London Corporation: Access to Global Talent - The impact of migration limits on UK financial and professional business services (2011)

Andy Glazier, Martin Marine and Naomi Crowther

Consensus helped the City of London Corporation investigate the impact of new migration limits set in April 2011 on the perceived attractiveness of the UK and London as a location for businesses. This contributed to the evidence-based research program that informed and supported practitioners and policymakers both inside and outside the City.
Click here to view report (pdf)

DWP: Likely industry responses to the workplace pension reforms (2011)

Andrew Wood, Peggy Young, Dominika Wintersgill and Naomi Crowther

RS explores the pension industry's expected responses to the pension reforms and the government's 'Making Automatic Enrolment Work' review, interviewing the Top 20 UK pension providers and a range of sizes of intermediary.
Click here to view report (pdf)

DWP: Evidence review of smartcard schemes in local authorities (2011)

Andrew Wood, Kate Downer and Annalise Toberman

As part of the Government's 'Active at 60' initiative, our evidence review of local authority smartcard schemes for over 60's demonstrates how the technology can improve the lives of older people.
Click here to view report(pdf)

Mystery shopping review the provision of basic bank accounts (research conducted for HM Treasury) (2011)

Andy Glazier, Martin Marine and Alexandra Walmsley

In response to the Government and the banking industry's joint initiative to address the problem of financial exclusion, our comprehensive mystery shopping programme demonstrated the extent to which UK banks are providing Basic Bank Accounts in accordance with Industry Guidance.
Click here to view report

Andy Glazier presented a paper with Swiss Re at this year's MRS Financial Services Conference. (2011)

This year's conference covered crucial changes in the financial services sector and how they are creating a need for data and insights in FS firms.
Click here to view paper

DWP: The use of vesting rules and default options in occupational pension schemes (2011)

Andrew Wood, Peggy Young and Dominika Wintersgill

Our study with employers and the pensions industry examines current and expected future developments in default pension fund design, as well as how occupational pension scheme regulations are put into place.
Click here to view report (pdf)

'Customers for Life' – The Swiss Re European Insurance Report (2010)

Building on the success of the 2009 UK research, Consensus was proud in 2010 to work again with Swiss Re, this time on a pan-European basis; 'Customers for Life' is the inaugural report published by Swiss Re on such a scale.
Click here for more information on our work with Swiss Re.

DWP: A comparative review of international approaches to mandatory retirement (2010)

Andrew Wood, Marisa Robertson and Dominika Wintersgill

A review of retirement legislation across the world, examining its impact on individuals, employers and the economy. The evidence fed directly into the government's proposals to abolish mandatory retirement from 2011.
Click here to view report (pdf)

Consumer Focus: Pre-Payment Meter Users & Self-disconnection (2010)

Victoria Boelman, Kate Downer, Bryan Atkin and Eimear Macgarty

An investigation into the extent, causes and impacts of 'self-disconnection' and 'self-rationing' amongst gas and electricity pre-payment meter users, conducted through a large scale quantitative survey followed by 30 in-home depth interviews with particularly vulnerable consumers.
Click here to view report (pdf)

DWP: Consultation on workplace pension reforms: Qualitative research with small and medium-sized companies (2010)

Andrew Wood, Marisa Robertson and Dominika Wintersgill

Results of our government consultation with small and medium-sized employers, undertaken to improve understanding of the possible impact of the proposed workplace pension reform regulations on medium and small employers.
Click here to view report (pdf)

DWP: Likely treatment of different workers under the workplace pension reforms (2010)

Andrew Wood, Sara Spinks, Jason Leong and Kate Reeve

In depth-interviews conducted with 60 employers across the UK, to understand how employers are likely to segment different types of worker into different schemes, and the levels of contribution they are likely to receive.
Click Here to view report (pdf)

Consensus Research supports Swiss Re in production of its 12th authoritative bi-annual report on the UK insurance industry.

"The Insurance Report 2009". with the theme of "The cost of doing nothing" examines the consequences for the consumer and the insurance industry of failing to adapt to the threat of a shortfall in savings and protection.
Click here for more information on our work with Swiss Re.