What CFE Research does

CFE Research is an independent, not-for-profit social research company (limited by guarantee) founded in 1997 and headquartered in Leicester, UK. As of 2025 it operates as a subsidiary of the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), the UK's largest independent social research charity, while retaining its distinct team, brand, and operating model. The firm delivers research and evaluation services across three specialist sectors: education, health and wellbeing, and workforce development, serving central government departments, public sector agencies, local authorities, regulators, national charities, philanthropic organisations, and education providers.

The company's core offering is a unified portfolio of mixed-methods research and evaluation services rather than a software product. Methodological capabilities span large-scale surveys and statistical analysis, in-depth interviews, focus groups, case studies, ethnographic research, longitudinal tracking, systems mapping, social network analysis, evidence and literature reviews, primary and secondary data analysis, co-production and co-design methods, trauma-informed approaches, and data visualisation including infographics and interactive dashboards. Notable evaluation methodologies include process and impact evaluation, quasi-experimental design delivered through partner relationships, and multi-year longitudinal programmes such as the nine-year Fulfilling Lives evaluation across 12 partnerships.

CFE generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts awarded by government, public sector, and charitable clients. Distribution is sales-led and direct, with no resellers or standardised pricing; engagement sizes range from rapid evidence reviews to multi-year national evaluations. Marketing relies on a public-facing resource library, LinkedIn presence, industry events, and direct relationship management. Operational scale is modest at 11–50 staff, and the firm holds ISO/IEC 27001 and Cyber Essentials certifications alongside MRS and HM Treasury Magenta Book compliance, which are procurement prerequisites in its core market.

Name

CFE Research

Legal name

CFE (Research and Consulting) Limited

Website

https://cfe.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CFE Research is an independent, not-for-profit social research company based in Leicester, UK, providing mixed-methods research and evaluation services to government departments, public sector agencies, local authorities, charities, and education providers across education, health, and workforce development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Research and Evaluation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Social research services
• Impact evaluation
• Policy research
• Evidence reviews
• Programme evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Evaluation Services: CFE Research delivers commissioned research and evaluation projects for government departments, public sector agencies, local authorities, regulators, and charities. Projects range from rapid evidence reviews to long-term evaluations spanning multiple years. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with public sector and charitable organisations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CFE Research is an independent social research company that delivers commissioned research and evaluation services for government departments, public sector agencies, local authorities, charities, and education providers. The firm conducts process and impact evaluations, qualitative and quantitative research, evidence and literature reviews, ethnographic studies, and primary and secondary data analysis. Deliverables are packaged with clear reporting, infographics, and interactive dashboards to inform policy and improve practice.

Product overview

CFE Research is an independent social research company offering a unified portfolio of research and evaluation services rather than a software product. The core offerings include process and impact evaluation, qualitative and quantitative research methods, evidence and literature reviews, ethnographic approaches, data analysis, infographics and visualisation, and interactive dashboards. Additional services encompass learning and engagement, peer-learning, co-production and co-design, trauma-informed approaches, and workshop facilitation. CFE operates across multiple specialist sectors including SEND in schools, addressing under-representation, school workforce, system change, physical activity and participation, leadership and volunteering, adult learning and skills, STEM, and multiple disadvantage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Process and Impact Evaluation Flexible process and impact evaluation services that answer key questions, explore challenges, and provide clear evidence for better decisions for government, charity, and education clients.
• Qualitative and Quantitative Research Rigorous research methods spanning large-scale surveys, statistical analysis, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and case studies to generate actionable insights for public sector and charitable clients.
• Evidence and Literature Reviews Comprehensive evidence synthesis and literature reviews that synthesise existing research to inform policy development and programme design for clients in government and the charitable sector.
• Learning and Engagement Services Peer-learning, co-production, co-design, trauma-informed approaches, and workshop and roundtable facilitation services that help clients translate research into practice and engage stakeholders and people with lived experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tracked over 4,000 participants across 12 partnerships in 9-year Fulfilling Lives evaluation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Centre for Social Research (NatCen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFE Research is a subsidiary of NatCen, the UK's largest independent social research charity. This relationship provides broader expertise across policy areas, enhanced capacity and infrastructure, and new collaboration opportunities while CFE maintains its distinct identity and team.
• ASK ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ASK Research for Department for Education commissioned explorative research on understanding inclusive workforce models in mainstream schools, involving analysis of school-level data and large-scale qualitative research.
• Cordis BrightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Cordis Bright for evaluation of the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme and Changing Futures programme evaluation with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
• University of SheffieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Sheffield for the national evaluation of the Fulfilling Lives programme and Changing Futures programme, providing academic rigour and research expertise in multiple disadvantage.
• Leeds Beckett University (Centre for Social Justice in Sport and Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Leeds Beckett University for the five-year evaluation of Sport England's Leading the Movement programme, combining leadership development expertise with equity, diversity and inclusion knowledge.
• National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NFER for the robust, mixed-methods evaluation of the Further Education Targeted Retention Incentives, combining theory-based evaluation with quasi-experimental design.
• London School of EconomicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with London School of Economics for the quantitative impact evaluation component of Skills Bootcamps programme assessment, providing econometric expertise.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Ipsos UK: Global research and consulting group with substantial UK public-sector practice. Comparable in delivering large-scale surveys, social research and impact evaluations for government and public bodies, but operates at far larger scale and across more sectors.
• Kantar Public (UK): Specialist public-sector research division of Kantar, with strong UK government and policy evaluation practice. Overlaps with CFE on social research, impact evaluation, and policy evidence generation, but offers broader commercial research and global reach.
• National Centre for Social Research (NatCen): Parent organisation of CFE Research and the UK's largest independent social research charity. Directly comparable in social research and evaluation services for government and third-sector clients, with a broader portfolio and substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• BMG Research: Independent UK social and market research agency serving government, charities and public bodies. Comparable in survey-led mixed-methods evaluation, public-sector framework work, and similar employee scale.
• Ecorys UK: Research and consulting company delivering policy evaluation, impact assessment and programme reviews for UK and EU public-sector clients. Comparable in evaluation methodology and public-sector client overlap, though typically operating on larger multi-country tenders.
• IFF Research: UK-headquartered independent social and market research agency working extensively with government, charities and foundations. Highly comparable in size, methodology mix, public/third-sector client base, and impact evaluation focus.
• Traverse (formerly OPM Group): Independent research and engagement consultancy working on policy, participation, and evaluation for UK public sector. Comparable in mixed-methods research, co-production and public/charity client base, with overlapping practice areas in social research.
• National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER): Independent UK research charity focused on education and children's services. Closely matches CFE's education-sector evaluation work, mixed-methods capability, and public/charitable commissioning model; partner on Skills Bootcamps evaluation.

Emerging players

• Bryson Purdon Social Research: Independent UK social research consultancy providing evaluation, qualitative and quantitative research for government and third-sector clients. Smaller-scale peer with directly overlapping methodology and client segments in social research and evaluation.
• WPI Economics: UK economics and policy research consultancy with public-sector clients. Comparable in delivering impact evaluations and policy research, though more quantitative/econometric-focused; complementary partner profile to CFE's mixed-methods practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfe-research-and-consulting-ltd
• Xx.com/cfe_ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 CFE Research