The Establishment Survey is a survey of UK households that aims to provide population estimates for access to and ownership of TV viewing equipment, as well as setting profile targets for Barb panel control and providing a pool of homes for Barb panel recruitment.

The tender will see Barb invite proposals to explore new methods and techniques in three areas, including the chance to redesign the survey questionnaire to make it more participant friendly.

Other areas covered in the tender are reviewing sample size, with currently 53,000 UK household interviews carried out annually, and sampling and data collection, where Barb is looking at greater flexibility and the potential for mixed mode fieldwork.

The current Establishment Survey contract is held by Ipsos and runs until the end of 2026.

The new contract will be awarded for 2027 to 2029, with an optional two-year extension – with 2026 operating as a testing year running in parallel with the current contract.  

The deadline for applicants for the latest invitation to tender is 9^th October 2025.

Caroline Baxter, chief operating officer at Barb, said: “This tender gives us the opportunity to review all aspects of the Establishment Survey’s methodology and data collection – particularly considering the Barb panel expansion to 7,000 UK homes – while ensuring it is based on flexible, future-facing and high-quality processes and continues to meet our core objectives.”