Who we are

We believe social research has the power to make life better

For over 50 years, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has been generating evidence that uncovers the reality of people’s lives in the UK. We engage with and listen to the public, ensuring their voice and experience helps to shape the decisions and services that affect their lives.

Research excellence is the foundation of what we do – and it always has been. We are home to the brightest minds in social research. Working across a broad range of methods and sectors, we push boundaries and embrace cutting-edge approaches in our quest to unearth rigorous evidence about the society we live in.

We partner with governments, NGOs, charities and other organisations to drive understanding – helping them to make sound decisions that shape society. From climate change to health, we bring the public voice to the heart of debates around some of the biggest issues of our time.

We ask the right questions, of the right people, in the right way

Social research needs careful and sensitive interviewing by specialists. Our field force are the very best at what they do. We also have nurses working for us who are able to collect clinical and biomedical data.

Our work relies on giving everybody a voice, and that means finding ways of engaging challenging or under-represented groups. We are seen as the leaders in this field, and you can find out more about our policy expertise and innovative methods.