Best Agency with a turnover under £20m: MTM

Founded in 2006 as a strategy consultancy business, MTM launched its integrated research and strategy proposition in 2010. The company grew its revenue by 46% during the year leading up to June 2018, attributing growth to its “world-class” researchers and improving its approach to business development and resource management.

MTM’s clients include Facebook, BBC, Amazon and Google, with the majority of its revenue ( 82%) coming from retained clients. The company also won new clients including Audible and Reuters in 2018.

At the time of entry to the MRS Awards, MTM had conducted research in 35 countries, but this has since grown to 105 countries.

Work with Turner included producing a cross-platform analysis of how children engage with the broadcaster’s content, identifying new opportunities for increasing numbers of fans, such as new platforms. MTM also issued advice on how the findings could be disseminated and used in follow-up projects.

In another recent project, the company led a three-year customer engagement programme focused on pay TV for Nagra. Over 300 senior pay TV executives participated in the forum across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the US.

MTM draws on a range of approaches, including screen capture, passive measurement, virtual reality, semiotics, behavioural economics and machine learning.

The company has also introduced ScreenThink, a UK syndicated tracker on all TV and video providers, conducted bi-annually with 3,000 consumers. The first wave of the study was bought by UKTV, Netflix and the BBC.

Caroline Wren, managing partner at MTM, said: "We’re thrilled to have won this award, which recognises our hard work over the past few years and our evolution – from UK start-up into an established agency with global reach."

As to what to expect next from MTM, Wren said: "Next year we’ll continue to add to our range of techniques (we are exploring data science and a tracker for voice command), and we’re also hoping to expand into the US. All of this is made possible by our amazing team!"

The Research Live awards judges described the category of Best Agency with a turnover under £20m as one of the toughest awards to win, given the number of "excellent" agencies that fit this bracket.

The judges added: "MTM takes the prize for the remarkable insights it has delivered for its impressive roster of clients – and its strong profit growth to match. The agency’s commitment to employee wellbeing and professional development, along with a sharp focus on innovation, contributed enormously to sealing the win."

The full list of MRS Awards winners can be found here.