M·E·L Research appoints Elliot Simmonds to the Board as Commercial Director
M·E·L Research is delighted to announce the appointment of Elliot Simmonds to its Board of Directors as Commercial Director.
Elliot has been a valued member of the M·E·L Research team since 2021, most recently serving as Client Solutions Director, where he has played a pivotal role in strengthening client relationships and delivering innovative, actionable research.
In his new role, Elliot will be responsible for developing and implementing M·E·L’s commercial strategy and leading the organisation’s sales and marketing functions. Working closely with the senior leadership team, he will help drive the company’s continued growth and ensure M·E·L Research remains at the forefront of evidence-based social research, insight and evaluation.
Managing Director, Karen Etheridge, said of his appointment:
“Since joining M·E·L Research, Elliot has played a pivotal role in expanding the breadth of work we do, driving innovation and being a positive leader within the team. We are delighted to welcome Elliot to our board and know he will have a positive impact in shaping the future direction of the business for many years to come.”
“It’s a real privilege to join the Board at M·E·L Research. Having been part of the organisation for a number of years, I’ve seen first-hand the dedication, curiosity and integrity that underpin our work. I’m excited to keep building on that foundation, strengthening our partnerships, exploring new areas we can support with our expertise, and continuing to deliver high-quality, impactful research and evaluation for our clients. At its heart, M·E·L Research is about making a positive difference for people and communities, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud to help lead.”
In addition to his role at M·E·L Research, Elliot serves as a Board Trustee of Creswell Crags, a museum and prehistoric gorge on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border that is on the UK’s long-list for UNESCO World Heritage Status. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and an active member of professional networks including the Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) and the Visitor Studies Group.
Elliot’s appointment reflects M·E·L Research’s ongoing commitment to combining research excellence with commercial innovation, ensuring the organisation remains a trusted, forward-thinking partner for clients across the UK and beyond.
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.
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…
