Our team

Teamwork generates more output in terms of ideas and action, and on this premise, Abacus Insight has been created to offer clients a wide range of skills to serve their research, and ultimately organisation goals.

We work closely with specialists who bring skills in strategy, marketing, business development, sales and creative design expertise in assisting clients to formulate and implement actions plans as a result from research findings.

We have an in-house qualitative group, offering recruitment as well as full-service projects, and we have specialist mystery shoppers with experience in an extremely wide range of tasks.

Jill Carter

Each market research project has unique objectives and needs an approach that is tailored to the client’s business goals and philosophy. My research experience spans a wide variety of markets, a range of techniques and continues to prompt creative thinking.

I draw my experience from:

• A degree in Deep and Rational Thought (Philosophy) and
  Understanding People (Psychology)
• Two years with a high-profile international research agency
• Twenty years developing my own business from a one-woman band to a full service company with its own field force and CATI telephone unit
• Four years as an independent consultant working with high-profile clients including the British Heart Foundation, Deloitte, Hewlett Packard, Horsham District Council, RBS Insurance and West Sussex County Council as well as smaller, growing organisations

Outside of research, I have an eclectic taste in books and music, ring church bells, walk the dog and enjoy creative play and laughter with my little grandchildren.

Alan Brooks

I specialise in evaluating the outcomes of a research project and advising clients on the implications for strategy within their organisation. For clients who want this extra level in their research project, our team can also devise a tactical plan for implementation, assisting with the delivery of the plan if needed.

I draw my experience from:

• A sound theoretical marketing background as a fellow of the Chartered Institute
  of Marketing
• Ten year’s “blue-chip” marketing experience with Unilever and United Biscuits
• A thorough understanding of the professional services and consulting market through running my own business, as a Board – member of an Accountancy LLP and having been UK head of marketing for PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Corporate Recovery / Advisory practices
• Working as Director of SME support organisation Sussex Enterprise, which gave me a deep understanding of the challenges faced both by young and fast-growing businesses, and by organisations in the not-for-profit and Government-funded arenas

As an avid Southampton FC supporter, I'm a glutton for hard work (some might say punishment!). When I'm not in the terrace, I try to learn something new. Currently that means golf on my own - horses with my wife Michelle - or trying to recall long-forgotten maths and Latin lessons with my daughter Ellie!

Alison Wickens

With over 10 years experience in the Creative Industry, I specialise in providing an effective creative solution to the marketing initiative presented. Myself and my team offer creative conceptualising across all mediums, design and artwork for print, retouching, web design, 3D animation and model-making, and motion graphics.

Working closely to the marketing plan, we ensure that the creative brief is not only met, but seek to exceed the expectations of the client with tailored creative that produces results. Market research provides an invaluable insight into market trends, which in turn results in a much more finely tuned marketing plan and
overall creative solution.

To find out more, or to discuss a potential research requirement, please contact Jill Carter