Cost of Opinion Polls and Surveys
across the UK

# Opinion Polls and Surveys - Trade Body Accreditation

The main regulatory bodies governing opinion polls and surveys in the UK are the Market Research Society (MRS), which is the professional body for the research industry and sets ethical and quality standards, and the British Polling Council (BPC), which specifically oversees political and social polling and requires transparency in methodology. Additionally, research providers may hold ISO 20252 certification, an international standard for market research service providers that covers quality management, data protection, and ethical practices. Some providers also comply with the Standards for Public Opinion Research (SPOR) framework or are members of the Advertising Association's Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Public Relations and Direct Marketing (CAP Code). Understanding which accreditation a provider holds is important because each carries different obligations regarding sampling methods, data handling, disclosure of findings, and protection against political bias or manipulation.

To verify a provider's credentials, you should check their membership status directly on the MRS or BPC websites, request their ISO 20252 certificate or ask for the certification body and expiry date, and ask for evidence of their quality assurance processes and complaint procedures. It matters because accredited providers have undergone independent assessment and have agreed to adhere to codes of conduct that typically include ethical guidelines, transparency about methodology, and compliance with data protection laws like the UK GDPR. An unaccredited provider may offer cheaper services, but without oversight there is greater risk of poor sampling, hidden bias, manipulated data presentation, or failure to protect respondent privacy. When commissioning research that will inform business decisions, public statements, or policy recommendations, accreditation provides assurance that findings are reliable and defensible.

Accredited providers generally charge 10 to 30 percent more than non-accredited competitors because they must invest in training, compliance monitoring, external audits, and liability insurance. While this premium may