UK Researchers Expecting Bumpy Ride

UK researchers' confidence for the year ahead has dipped, with more predicting a deterioration in the sector's financial health than an improvement, according to RSM's latest Research Professionals' survey.

In wave 13 of the study, conducted among 268 UK-based researchers last November/December, just 16% of respondents said they expected the financial health of the sector to improve in the next twelve months, while 29% said they expect it to get worse.

Despite the negative feeling, the reported rate of growth in 'revenues/spend' across the industry was 1.9% in the previous 12 months, compared with 1.7% reported in May 2012. RSM says that the data has been fairly flat over the last two years - reported growth was 2.9% in December 2011 and 2.2% in April 2011.

Forecast growth for 'revenues/spend' in the next 12 months is 5%, similar to the 5.1% forecast in May 2012.

Website: www.rsmresearch.com .