Joint managing director Mark Speed (pictured) said: “The [financial] year saw the country’s economic decline accelerate sharply. Our spread of public sector work and expertise in areas such as employment, financial regulation and learning and skills helped us to deliver good sales growth despite this, putting us in a strong position to withstand the increasingly challenging markets.”

IFF specialises in researching public policy issues for both private and public sector clients, and Speed noted that a change in the UK’s political situation could have an effect on its customers.

He said: “The looming general election and potential cuts in public spending will bring opportunities as well as challenges as many of our clients need research to better understand how to spend their budgets effectively.  Our focus now is on planning ahead, consolidating our growth and delivering the highest levels of service to reassure and retain clients across our markets.”