Every year we produce a snapshot of opinion in Britain today, looking at customers’ lives in terms of attitudes towards service and main economic indicators. The survey is now in Year 7, and based on 1,000 adult interviews each wave.

I have to report that the April 2011 survey contained very little to cheer about – I guess many of you will not be surprised. Various surveys report on consumer confidence levels and most have been pretty negative, especially when comparing growth prospects in the UK with France and Germany. Despite some upturn during May (Bank Holidays and Royal Wedding impacts), it’s likely that our survey reflects more accurately the longer term challenges still widely faced. You can read some of the detail elsewhere on this site here.

An example of the significant pervasive pessimism is that when asked how household disposable income had changed in the last 12 months, 57% felt it had gone down whilst only 13% felt their situation had improved.  This gap has in fact grown 11% wider in the last 12 months, rather than closed up at all. Those hardest pressed are families and adults aged 35-55. The same negative sentiment is reflected by other important survey measures, such as perceptions of how much we are saving and levels of job security. On all measures, perceptions are more negative than 12 months previously.

Given these pressures it is not surprising to find that over half said they had used cheaper brands and outlets more often in recent months. The emphasis is very heavily on value in Britain today. This means that price comparison websites are all the more powerful as channels and influencers. But at the same time people need an escape, and will pay for good service. A consistent surprise on this survey has been the 2:1 majority who reject the idea that companies can cut service right back, if only they can lower their prices.

So in summary, customers do want really decent levels of service protected, and will reward this effort with loyalty. At the same time, products and services need to work especially hard to communicate the extra value they provide for their customers, above and beyond the competition.

Coverage of Government cuts remains high on our daily media schedules, as it becomes apparent just how deeply changes will impact every day life. As with so many publicly funded services (education, health…),  how we pay for policing and how much we expect of policing are complex questions.

As with other aspects of welfare, the degree to which other agencies (parents; schools; youth groups…) talk about and help control anti-social behaviour has brought heated debate. It connects directly (again) to ‘The Big Society’ discussion we hear so much about.  But these topics become much more difficult as you debate them with different groups in depth, as was very apparent to me this summer in our Thames Valley policing project (see Projects/Public Engagement). For example, one person’s ASB is another’s ‘free and liberal society’.

Prompted by this field of research, today we are launching ‘Policing in Britain’ – a survey of up to date attitudes and experiences towards policing at the local level. We are selling a report to police forces and others who need the detail, but will also publish the headline story on this site in mid-December. Please check back then for main results! Taken from our recent mailer, here is what the survey will cover:

‘Policing in Britain’ survey from ASR

Based on our successful recent projects for Surrey and Thames Valley police authorities ASR, in partnership with Research Now, is conducting this new survey to explore attitudes amongst the British public to policing priorities and funding.

The online survey will interview 1,000 adults aged 16+ across Britain.  This is a very cost effective way of keeping your finger on the pulse and monitoring variation in attitudes by region and demographic group.

In more detail, this new survey will explore:

• Frequency of contact with the police in the last year, and victim of crime
• Importance rating and ranking of 18 stated policing priorities
• Top policing priorities, in your own words
• Information gained about local policing issues and channels used
• Responsibility for tackling anti-social behaviour x different groups; how handled
• Impact on quality of life of actual crime, and the fear of crime
• How the public feel they could be safer in their communities
• Perceptions of increased or decreased crime locally in last 2 years
• How well are police performing in the area
• Attitudes towards wider policing issues affecting Britain
• Preferences for where policing could gain extra funding to meet budget shortfalls
• Views on governance: Authorities vs. Commissioners; impact on confidence
• All results compared by demographics, community type and region/force area

Our detailed statistical e-report will contain all survey results compared by all main demographic sub groups, including force area, region and ethnic group. A separate written e-report will make use of 20 summary charts and commentary.

I read today that the coalition has asked Lord Young to become its next Enterprise Tzar, with a remit to cut red tape for small businesses. David Cameron wants “nothing less than a wholesale change in attitude” from government towards small business.

Déjà vu? With regard to how the state buys stuff, both recent Governments have had a stated policy of opening up the tender system, for all goods and services, to allow a more level playing field for SMEs. Labour ordered The Glover Report in 2008 to investigate and advise on this process. Quotas have been advised and set, and progress seemed possible. But nothing of real substance seems to change. Why?

I suggest that the major hurdle is a systematic risk-averse culture. This is not a personal grudge or single observation. Since 2007 it’s been my privilege to Chair the Independent Consultants Group – a thriving network of about 400 smaller market research suppliers. I frequently hear members say that entering the first stage of bidding for government work is simply just not worth the effort. The criteria for qualification appear to be, perversely:

- FIRST: Does the supplier have substantial professional indemnity, employer’s liability and public liability insurance? (This condition rarely varies by size and type of contract. Virtually no private sector client sets such conditions)
- Are there effective working, environmental, health & safety, equal opportunities and other policies in place? (Many not applicable to small or single person firms)
- Lowest price
- FINALLY: Creative ideas and track record in the relevant area; which individuals will carry out the work & what is their experience?

As a major voice for smaller independent consultancies, we had hoped that the ICG’s detailed mid 2009 submissions to Glover might carry some weight. I say hope, because we never received acknowledgement of receipt, let alone any indication of outcome.

On the face of it, the www.supply2.gov.uk website, ‘the national lower-value contract opportunity portal’, encourages smaller supplier tendering and is welcome. The reality is different. For consultancy work, bids will be so many that very crude criteria has to be used to automate short-list selection, using measures of high level of insurance or minimum turnover size. There simply is not the mechanism or resource in place to make any considered, qualitative judgement.

So despite government initiatives to encourage the public sector to support SMEs, their efforts are often harming the very people they are meant to support. Websites and seminars are available to help SMEs through the minefield of completing and submitting Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs). This has boosted contract applications, but the dice remains very heavily weighted against SMEs making it through to shortlists, because of the above criteria and mindset.

Depressingly, some of the brightest ideas and talent seem destined to never see the light of day in the public sector, and one fears that systematic barriers will remain intact. One can only hope that Lord Young forges a more effective path through the red mist.