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As councils are faced with having to do more with much less, as budgets are tightened and resources cut – working smarter, not harder, can help organisations to really understand the priorities and concerns of their residents.

The amount of data sources, research methods and analytical tools out there are numerous and ever-evolving while making informed decisions is crucial to staying innovative and meeting customer and resident needs.

Catch up on demand as we are joined by the team at Surrey County Council and delve into the process of setting up a dedicated team focused on harnessing the power of research, data, and evidence to drive strategic decisions.

During this session, you will learn about:

The creation of Surrey County Council’s Resident Intelligence Unit: Discover the journey behind creating a specialised team that focuses on generating actionable insights based on research and data insights. We’ll share the strategic considerations, challenges, and successes that shaped the team’s formation.
The role of research in decision-making: Understand how comprehensive research forms the backbone of effective decision-making. We’ll explore how gathering and analysing relevant data can provide a clear direction and mitigate risks when launching new initiatives or revising existing strategies.
Building a strong evidence base: We’ll discuss best practices for establishing a solid evidence base that informs policy, strategy, and operations, ensuring that decisions are rooted in facts rather than assumptions.
Surrey County Council

With a background in market research, Katherine has joined Surrey County Council as the head of the newly formed Resident Intelligence Unit (RIU). The RIU is tasked with ensuring that all residents’ views are front and centre in shaping and delivering policy, and that our engagements are resident-centric, and insight-led.

Surrey County Council

Abigail joined SCC in 2020, and has worked her way up to now lead the Research Team within the Resident Intelligence Unit (RIU). The Research team, is made up of a small number of Social and Market researchers, with a remit to support Research activity across the council, from design through to implementation.

Surrey County Council

Michael is an experienced political communications manager with a history of working in journalism, local government and Parliament. Having worked in local government communications since 2014, he is currently Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement at Surrey County Council.

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