What Message House does

Message House is a UK-based research and communications consultancy that delivers bespoke message testing, narrative development, brand positioning, audience segmentation, crisis communications, and product innovation testing for enterprise, government, and non-profit clients. Founded in 2013/2014 by Matt Carter and headquartered in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, the firm combines qualitative methods (focus groups, depth interviews) with quantitative techniques (surveys, audience segmentation) to test how communications land with target audiences. Notable clients include Sky, LEGO Foundation, National Trust, Phoenix Group, Public Health England, and the John Smith Centre, with the firm conducting research globally in markets including the UK, Europe, the US, China, India, and South America.

The firm's service architecture rests on four core offerings: Message Testing and Narrative Development, Brand Positioning and Audience Segmentation, Issues Mapping and Crisis Communications, and New Product Innovations and Testing. Underlying methodology includes a proprietary visual 'message highlighting' technique used in focus groups to isolate effective proof points, and a seven-year longitudinal research program on 'longevity language' — how organizations communicate about longer lifespans — that functions as a defensible thought-leadership asset.

Commercially, Message House operates a pure professional-services, project-based revenue model with bespoke engagements scoped per client and no public pricing. Distribution is entirely direct via reputation, referrals, and content marketing (blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, downloadable research reports). In November 2024, the firm was acquired by US-headquartered integrated public affairs agency Bully Pulpit International (BPI), joining BPI's Insights team; the firm transitioned to the BPI brand in early 2025 and now operates as 'Message House BPI' within a group of 325+ professionals across six countries and 12 offices.

Name

Message House

Legal name

Message House Ltd

Website

https://message-house.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Message House is a UK-based research and communications consultancy that delivers bespoke message testing, narrative development, brand positioning, and crisis communications services to enterprise, government, and non-profit clients across the UK and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Communications Research Consultancy

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Survey, Panel & Fieldwork Services (BPAHALAJ)

Keywords

• Message testing research
• Communications consultancy
• Narrative development services
• Audience segmentation research
• Crisis communications consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkhamsted

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research and Communications Consultancy: Message House generates revenue by delivering bespoke research and strategic communications consultancy services to clients, including message testing, brand positioning, audience segmentation, crisis communications, and product innovation testing. Engagements are project-based and tailored to client needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Message House is a research and communications consultancy that helps enterprise clients test, develop, and refine their messaging and narratives for brand, corporate, and political campaigns. It delivers four integrated core services — Message Testing and Narrative Development, Brand Positioning and Audience Segmentation, Issues Mapping and Crisis Communications, and New Product Innovations and Testing — using qualitative and quantitative research techniques to produce actionable communications insights.

Product overview

Message House BPI is an award-winning research and communications consultancy offering a unified suite of research services. The core offerings consist of Message Testing and Narrative Development, Brand Positioning and Audience Segmentation, Issues Mapping and Crisis Communications, and New Product Innovations and Testing. These services are delivered using both qualitative (focus groups, depth interviews) and quantitative research techniques to help clients improve the effectiveness of their communications whether for campaigns, brand positioning, crisis management, or new product launches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Message Testing and Narrative Development Core research service that tests and develops messaging narratives for clients across campaigns, brands, and political communications using qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Designed for enterprise brands, government bodies, and political organizations.
• Brand Positioning and Audience Segmentation Research service that helps clients understand their brand positioning and segment audiences to improve communication effectiveness with different stakeholder groups. Targeted at enterprise and non-profit clients seeking to sharpen brand messaging.
• Issues Mapping and Crisis Communications Strategic communications consulting that maps issues landscapes and prepares crisis communication strategies for clients managing reputational challenges. Aimed at organizations needing rapid, evidence-based crisis response support.
• New Product Innovations and Testing Research service that tests and validates new product concepts, innovations, and marketing communications with target audiences before launch. Delivered via qualitative focus groups and quantitative testing for consumer and enterprise brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% of UK public could name examples of brands doing the right thing during the Coronavirus crisis, demonstrating effective research methodology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bully Pulpit International (BPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2024Bully Pulpit International acquired Message House in November 2024 alongside Seven Hills. Message House joined BPI's Insights team, creating an integrated policymaker and elite research offering across the US, Europe, and globally. Message House transitioned to the BPI brand in early 2025. UK becomes BPI's largest European market and second biggest globally with London housing approximately 70 team members. BPI is an integrated public affairs agency with over 325 communications, creative, measurement, and media professionals across six countries and 12 offices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YouGov: Global public opinion and market research firm with a UK base, offering custom research, brand tracking, and communications research. Competes on the same enterprise and public-affairs messages and audience-understanding briefs but with proprietary syndicated panels and at substantially larger scale.
• FleishmanHillard: Global integrated communications and public relations agency with a strong research and insights function and a strong crisis communications offering. Comparable as a broader incumbent covering message testing, crisis communications, and audience research as part of a wider multi-discipline service portfolio.
• Kantar: Global data, insights and consulting firm with deep brand and communications research offerings including message testing, brand tracking, and audience segmentation. A broad incumbent competing on the same enterprise RFPs while operating a much larger scale and panel infrastructure.
• Bully Pulpit International (BPI): Integrated US-headquartered public affairs agency with 325+ professionals across communications, creative, measurement and media. Now the parent of Message House, operating Message House as its Insights team across the US, UK, and Europe. Comparable as a strategic acquirer providing cross-sell into broader communications, creative, and media services.
• Ipsos (Ipsos MORI): Global market research and consulting firm with a strong UK public affairs and communications research practice. Comparable because Associate Director Helen Stephens was a former Director at Ipsos MORI, and the firm competes for many of the same enterprise, government, and communications-research briefs across a much broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Public First: UK-based research and strategy consultancy working with brands, governments, and political organisations on public opinion, message testing, and campaign strategy. Directly comparable as a UK-rooted boutique targeting similar enterprise, government, and political clients with bespoke qualitative and quantitative research.
• Savanta: UK and global market research consultancy offering qualitative and quantitative research, communications research, and brand and communications tracking. Comparable on research methodology, communications research emphasis, and mid-market to enterprise client base in the UK.
• Opinium: UK-based market research and insights consultancy serving brands, media, and public sector clients with bespoke research, message testing, and brand tracking. Comparable as a mid-sized UK research boutique offering similar project-based, advisory engagements.
• PSB Research: US-headquartered research and strategy consultancy focused on messaging, narrative, and political communications research. Comparable because Message House's Managing Director Kelly Pinder was a former Senior Director here, and the firms share a core proposition of using qualitative and quantitative research to test messages for campaigns and brands.
• BritainThinks: UK-based insight and strategy consultancy specialising in public engagement, message testing, and narrative research for brands, charities, and policymakers. Closely overlapping on methodology (qualitative + quantitative), client base (enterprise + government + charity), and explicit focus on testing communications effectiveness.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/message_house
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/message-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Message House