What Public First does

Public First is a UK-based polling and research consultancy founded in 2016 that designs and conducts custom public opinion surveys, economic modeling, and policy research for corporate, governmental, media, and non-profit clients. The firm operates globally with active survey programs across 15 or more countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Singapore, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nigeria, with individual polls reaching sample sizes of up to 18,000 or more respondents. Its core methodology combines traditional opinion polling with sector-specific economic and policy analysis covering topics such as AI adoption and regulation, electoral politics, digital economy growth, vaccine manufacturing policy, and public health preparedness.

The firm's revenue model is professional services based, generating income through project-based commissioned research contracts rather than productized software or subscription offerings. Named clients include major technology companies (Microsoft, Google, Meta, Anthropic), tier-one media organizations (POLITICO, The New York Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg, Reuters), and policy-oriented institutions (Tony Blair Institute, Center for Data Innovation, Charities Aid Foundation, CCIA). Public First distributes outputs both directly to commissioning clients and through media publication partnerships that amplify reach and build brand credibility. The firm has also moved beyond pure research into political infrastructure via Public First Action, a super PAC that received a $20 million investment from Anthropic to support candidates favoring AI safety regulation, representing one of the largest single political investments by an AI company.

Name

Public First

Legal name

Public First

Website

https://publicfirst.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public First is a UK-based polling and research consultancy that conducts custom surveys and policy research for major media outlets, technology companies, and government bodies across 15+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Opinion Research & Polling Consultancy

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Syndicated Market Research (Panels, Omnibus, Tracker Studies) (MPAAALAB), Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Opinion polling services
• Public affairs research
• Policy consulting services
• Economic modeling research
• Market research consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Eaton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Research Services: Public First conducts custom polling and research commissioned by corporate clients, government bodies, NGOs, and media organizations. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for survey design, data collection, and analysis.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Public First is a UK-based research and polling consultancy that designs, conducts, and analyzes custom public opinion surveys and economic research for corporate, government, and media clients. The firm runs commissioned polling projects (sample sizes from 2,000 to 18,000+ respondents) and economic modeling studies across 15+ countries, covering topics such as AI adoption, political attitudes, public health, and the digital economy, and publishes findings through major media partners and direct client delivery.

Product overview

Public First is a UK-based research and polling consultancy that conducts surveys and publishes research reports on various topics including AI, politics, business electrification, and public opinion. The company operates as a research services firm rather than a software product company, providing polling data and analytical insights to clients including news organizations, government bodies, and corporations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commissioned Polling & Survey Research Custom public opinion survey design, data collection, and analysis delivered to corporate, government, NGO, and media clients; covers topics such as politics, AI, economics, public health, and digital policy across single-country and multinational studies.
• Economic Modeling & Policy Research Quantitative economic impact modeling and policy scenario analysis commissioned by technology companies and policy institutes, including studies such as AI's potential £510 billion contribution to UK GDP by 2035 and the £5 billion cost of reduced vaccine manufacturing support during a flu pandemic.
• Public Sector AI Adoption Index Cross-country benchmarking index of AI adoption among public sector employees, surveying 3,335 public servants across 10 countries, with Saudi Arabia ranking first globally.
• Media Polling Partnerships (e.g., POLITICO, The New York Times) Conducted surveys published by major media partners including POLITICO and The New York Times, covering election polls, policy polls, and public opinion research on AI, politics, economics, and public health.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,000+ respondents surveyed in major global polls
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Center for Data InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Public First to produce the Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026, surveying public servants across 10 countries on AI adoption patterns.
• POLITICOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing polling partnership where Public First conducts surveys published by POLITICO, including election polls, policy polls, and public opinion research on topics including AI, politics, economics, and public health.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YouGov: YouGov is a UK-headquartered global market research and polling firm that conducts large-scale opinion surveys across 50+ countries and serves corporate, media, and government clients. It is the most direct competitor to Public First in syndicated polling, commissioned research, and published media partnerships.
• Survation: Survation is a UK polling and market research firm known for political polling for major UK broadcasters and publications, and for commissioned research for corporate and public-sector clients. It is a direct UK-headquartered peer with similar political and corporate polling work.
• Opinium: Opinium is a UK-based research consultancy providing custom research, brand tracking, and political polling to brands, media, and public-sector clients. It is a direct mid-sized UK peer with overlapping client types and a similar commissioned-research model.
• JL Partners: JL Partners is a UK-based polling and strategic communications firm that conducts political polling and corporate research, frequently cited in major UK media. It is a direct peer competing for the same political and corporate polling mandates.
• Focaldata: Focaldata is a UK-based research technology and polling firm that combines survey research with proprietary data products for corporate and public-sector clients. It competes directly for commissioned public opinion and policy research mandates.
• Redfield & Wilton Strategies: Redfield & Wilton Strategies is a UK-US polling and research firm conducting political polling and corporate research for international clients. It is a direct peer competing for cross-Atlantic political and corporate polling work.

Broad incumbents

• Ipsos UK: Ipsos is one of the largest global market research and public opinion firms, with deep UK operations spanning political polling for broadcasters, commercial research, and public-sector work. It is a broad incumbent competing for many of the same corporate, public-sector, and media clients as Public First.
• Kantar UK: Kantar is a global market research and analytics firm with significant UK operations in brand tracking, consumer insights, and public opinion. It competes with Public First for corporate research budgets, particularly from large multinational clients.
• Savanta: Savanta is a UK-based market research and insights firm serving corporate and public-sector clients with custom research, brand tracking, and political polling. It is a mid-sized broad incumbent overlapping with Public First's commissioned research offering.

Emerging players

• Morning Consult: Morning Consult is a US-based global decision intelligence company conducting high-velocity opinion polling, market research, and economic analysis across many countries. It is a fast-growing emerging player that competes with Public First for global, multi-country commissioned research mandates, especially from Big Tech.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-first

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public First