M·E·L Research’s 40th anniversary: Celebrating 40 Years of Purposeful Insight
This year marks the 40th anniversary of M·E·L Research! In 1985, three postgraduates from Aston University’s Environmental Studies Unit took a leap of faith and moved into a modest 200sq ft office in Aston Science Park. With a £10,000 start-up grant from West Midlands Cooperative Finance, they formed Midland Environment Limited, a cooperative company with a mission to improve the world around them through evidence, research, and curiosity.
Their first project? Measuring ambient noise around factories in the Black Country for Walsall MBC. A small start, but a big idea was born.
Fast forward 40 years, and that fledgling enterprise is now us, M·E·L Research, a nationally respected, values-led market, social and behavioural research consultancy, working with major clients to create lasting social value.
Who We Are Today
We specialise in social, behavioural insight, tackling the questions others avoid and reaching the audiences others overlook. Our vision is to make a positive difference to organisations, employees, customers, and wider society.
At our core is a belief that insight can drive change, but not just in policy or service design, in people’s lives. That belief guides who we work with, how we work, and why we exist.
Our philosophy is simple: collaborate, listen, transform.
We work in partnership with our clients to co-create research and evaluation that lead to real-world impact. Our people, who are driven by passion, curiosity, and empathy, are at the heart of this mission.
We believe that research and evaluation should reflect the diversity of society, challenge assumptions, and elevate voices that are too often ignored. That’s why we prioritise seldom-heard audiences, sensitive topics, and social justice-led work.
Hear from the M·E·L Research team about what they think makes M·E·L Research special:
Milestones That Shaped Us
Our journey has been shaped by bold decisions, innovative partnerships, and a lot of learning along the way:
1985 – Inception. Our journey began and ‘Midland Environment Limited’ is born.
1987 – We win our first major contract with the Department of the Environment, worth £100,000 over three years. For us, it felt like winning the lottery.
1993 – We restructure, bringing in two external shareholder directors. With them came investment and fresh thinking — and a major rebrand. Midland Environment Limited became M·E·L Research: Measurement. Evaluation. Learning.
2000s – We grow, hire, and train new leadership, navigating the ups and downs of the credit crunch and austerity while staying true to our mission.
2015 – A new era begins as Karen Etheridge (Managing Director) and Ching-Yi (Jenny) Chen (Finance & Operations Director) take the helm through a successful management buyout, ensuring continuity and innovation as the business founder steps back.
2020 – We navigated the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, embracing remote working and winning several research projects into the impacts of COVID-19, such as: Public Health Wales, Buckinghamshire Council and Hackney Council, plus more.
2025 – In 2025, Karen and Jenny mark their 10th year of ownership, and the company turns 40. With a team of 100 amazing people, the company continues to reach new heights.
Our Commitment to Social Value
M·E·L Research has always believed that business should be a force for good.
We are led by a CSR team drawn from all levels of the business
Our People, Our Culture
From our very first hires, Manjit and Harry (via the old Manpower Service Commission scheme!), we’ve believed in growing our own. Over the years, we’ve built a team of over 100 dedicated, mission-driven experts who genuinely care about making a difference.
We listen to our staff, support their development, and champion their ideas because that’s how real change happens. Whether they’re designing innovative methodologies, supporting clients through complex research challenges, or volunteering in their communities, our people are our greatest strength.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
At a time when trust in institutions is fragile and inequalities persist, the role of ethical, empathetic research is more important than ever. Our work is about championing seldom heard voices, influencing positive policy, and supporting change where it matters most.
As we celebrate our 40th year, we’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we’re even more excited about what’s next.
To every client, colleague, partner, and friend who has been part of our journey: thank you. You’ve helped us shape not just a business, but a purpose-driven legacy.
Here’s to the next 40 years of M·E·L Research and beyond!
M·E·L Research is pleased to welcome four new colleagues to our growing team, strengthening our research and evaluation expertise as we continue to expand our services and support clients.
The appointments of Laura Karban, Associate Director; Bethan Jewsbury, Senior Evaluation Managers; and Chloe Parker, Research Manager, alongside Rhoslyn Davies, who joins us on a short-term basis to provide additional senior evaluation support, bring a wealth of experience across social research, evaluation, public policy…
It was an absolute honour to attend the Women’s Health Conference in London this week, bringing together clinicians, policymakers, campaigners and others passionate about improving women’s health.
As a researcher specialising in women’s health social research, I was excited to have the opportunity to learn, be challenged and exchange ideas with people who share that passion. And I wasn’t disappointed.
There has (quite rightly) been a lot of discussion recently about the gender health gap. But some of the evidence shared…
We are pleased to be working with the MS Society on new health and care social research exploring how health and care services can better support people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and help reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
The health and care social research study will focus on opportunities for earlier intervention and more coordinated, preventative support, while recognising that hospital admission is sometimes clinically necessary. It will…
Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at Collections Inside & Out, a symposium hosted at National Trust Chirk Castle & Garden, bringing together people working across gardens, horticulture, heritage, collections and interpretation.
I was, perhaps, a slight interloper among so many people with deep horticultural expertise but every presentation was incredibly interesting and I learned a lot – and broadly managed to follow the general flow of what was being said (still not 100% au fait with taxa…
We’re pleased to share that our Commercial Director, Elliot Simmonds, will be speaking at the Collections Inside & Out symposium at National Trust Chirk Castle & Garden on 24 September 2026. Bringing together professionals working across heritage collections, gardens and landscapes, the symposium will explore the relationship between indoor and outdoor heritage and the opportunities created by thinking about them as part of a connected visitor experience.
Elliot’s session, “Integrating Indoor…
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.
M·E·L Research joined the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) at the House of Lords this week for the launch of a new report exploring the experiences of dyslexic young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET).
Tamsin Maries, Senior Research Manager, and Elliot Simmonds, Commercial Manager, represented M·E·L Research at the event…
New UK-wide research from M·E·L Research’s SPARK report shows improving mental health indicators alongside continuing exposure to suicide, widespread lifetime suicidal thoughts and significant gaps in practical knowledge.
Suicide prevention depends on understanding not only how many people are affected, but also how confident the public feel about recognising risk, starting difficult conversations and finding appropriate support. The Spring 2026 SPARK report from M·E·L Research brings these issues together, providing a detailed picture of attitudes…
