M·E·L Research recognised for outstanding contribution to social value and ethical research
M·E·L Research has been named the winner of the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Value & Ethical Research 2026 at the UK Enterprise Awards.
The award recognises the values that shape both the work we choose to undertake and the way we deliver it. From building trauma-informed practices into our research to improving inclusion and reinvesting in the communities around us, social responsibility is part of how we operate every day.
For us, ethical research is about more than meeting professional standards because it means thinking carefully about who is involved, whose voices may be missing and how the research process might affect the people taking part. It also means considering the wider impact we can make as an employer, partner and business.
Embedding trauma-informed practice
Research often asks people to discuss sensitive, personal or distressing experiences. A responsible approach must recognise the emotional impact this can have on participants, researchers and everyone involved in the work.
Our trauma-informed research practices are shaped by the principles of safety, trust, choice, collaboration, culture and empowerment. These principles inform how we design our methodologies, communicate with participants and support our research teams.
In practice, this can mean giving participants greater control over how they take part, using sensitive and accessible language, putting appropriate safeguarding procedures in place and providing sources of support where research content may be upsetting. We also recognise the potential impact on our own researchers and build staff care and clear boundaries into project delivery.
This approach helps reduce the risk of causing further harm, while creating the conditions for people to speak openly and share their experiences in a way that feels safe. As well as being the right thing to do, this leads to more thoughtful, honest and useful research.
Turning our commitment to social value into action
We believe businesses have a responsibility to contribute to society, support their communities and reduce their environmental impact.
Our commitment to social value is reflected in practical, measurable actions. We donate 5% of our net profits to charitable causes each year and give every employee two days of paid volunteering leave to support causes that matter to them.
Some of the M·E·L Research team on their volunteer day
We are a Real Living Wage Employer, conduct pro bono research and provide our Research with a Purpose pro bono omnibus service twice a year. This gives charities and organisations working for social good access to research that can strengthen their evidence, inform their work and help them make a greater difference.
We have also signed the MRS Climate Pledge and the Armed Forces Covenant pledge, and have a 12-person corporate social responsibility team made up of colleagues from across M·E·L Research. This helps ensure that our social value activity reflects the interests, ideas and experiences of people throughout the business.
Just as importantly, we are selective about the projects we take on. We choose to work with organisations that are contributing to positive social change and focus much of our research on complex issues and communities whose experiences can too easily be overlooked.
Inclusive research does not happen simply by inviting people to take part. It requires active thought about the barriers different communities may face, how research materials are designed and whether the chosen methods genuinely allow everyone to contribute.
We consider inclusion throughout the research process, from sampling and recruitment through to fieldwork, analysis and reporting. This includes recognising intersectionality, working in partnership with communities, using participatory approaches where appropriate and being transparent about who is represented within the evidence.
We are particularly proud of research that gives seldom-heard and minoritised communities the opportunity to influence the policies and services that affect them. By bringing a broader range of experiences into the evidence, we can help our clients make better-informed and more equitable decisions.
And we apply the same principles within our own organisation! M·E·L Research is a majority women and ethnic minority-owned company, offers flexible working, and provides access to mental health support. We do not offer unpaid internships, and we continue to monitor representation, pay and inclusion across the business.
We also recognise that there will always be more to learn and that EDI cannot be treated as a completed task or a tick-box exercise. We realise true EDI requires continued reflection, honesty and a willingness to improve.
Recognition of a collective effort
Winning this UK Enterprise Award is a proud moment for everyone at M·E·L Research because it recognises the care our team puts into making research safe, inclusive and worthwhile, as well as the contribution colleagues make beyond their day-to-day roles.
Most importantly, the award strengthens our determination to keep improving. Ethical research and social value are ongoing commitments, and we will continue looking for ways to make our work, our workplace and our wider impact better.
We would like to thank everyone across M·E·L Research, along with our clients, partners and research participants, who helps us put these values into practice.
Need support with your own social research?
Whether you’re a public body, charity, or organisation looking to understand your audience, evaluate impact, or inform future strategies, we’re here to help.
Get in touch with the M·E·L Research team today via our ‘Get in touch’ form below to see how our expert researchers can support your goals. Alternatively, you can email the team at info@melresearch.co.uk.
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