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MRS and BMRA Plan Spring Merger
The Councils of the UK's Market Research Society (MRS) and British Market Research Association (BMRA) announced yesterday their unanimous support for proposals to integrate BMRA services into MRS, with effect from April 2006.
Talks have been going on over two years, with specific plans developed by teams from the two organisations over the last six months. The proposed integration is due to be put to a vote of BMRA's membership in early 2006. According to the MRS, the move is designed to deliver 'not only unification of services but also unity of purpose for the market research sector'.
Last year, the associations - together with the Association of Users of Research Agencies (AURA) - announced that they were working on detailed proposals for the creation of 'a single federated structure reflecting the needs of the whole MR sector'. The proposals recognised the need for a unified voice for the industry, better external representation, and better use of resources.
BMRA members consist of companies rather than individuals, while MRS membership has traditionally been open to individuals. The recent development of the MRS Company Partner scheme, which allows companies to affiliate themselves with the organisation, has seen the distinction blur. Earlier this year, Ipsos chose to leave the BMRA in favour of the MRS Company Partner scheme.
The two organisations are online at www.mrs.org.uk and www.bmra.org.uk.
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