Kantar TNS was a multiple winner, taking the MRS Award for new consumer insights, the MRS/BIG Award for business to business research, alongside Lightspeed, and the MRS Award for Social Media Research (a new award for this year), alongside Unilever.

Some of the winners of the Research Live awards were: Hall & Partners (pictured), which won best agency with a turnover above £20million; Circle Research, which won best agency with a turnover below £20million, Girl Effect, 2CV & Maido, which won the award for best innovation, and Opinium, which won best place to work. 

Graeme Cade of Circle Research won newcomer of the year and fineline market research won best new agency. 

“Nowhere has the range of amazing work that research helps to support been more evident than in the breadth of entries we have received this year and of course in our winners tonight," said Jane Frost, CEO of MRS.

“It’s clear that across numerous sectors – from charities and government to media and business – research continues to aid understanding and inform decision-making in what is an increasingly uncertain world. As we celebrate another successful year and look to the future, it’s clear that the research sector has the tools and talent we need to inform even better decisions in 2017.”

"With MRS celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, these awards are proof positive of an organisation – and a sector – that has depth and breadth, and is more relevant than ever," said Crispin Beale and Danny Russell,  co-chairs of the MRS main board.

The full list of winners can be found here.