Secondary Research Services

Secondary research, or desk research, provides a fast, cost-effective way to understand new market potential by evaluating competitors, channels, pricing, legislation, volumes and wider commercial trends. It delivers an insight-rich foundation for confident decision-making across market entry, investment planning and new product development.

Secondary Research?

What Is Secondary Research?

Secondary Market Research – also known as desk market research – involves the identification, analysis and collation of existing data from publicly accessible or paid sources.

It now also encompasses the systematic use of advanced AI-driven data sources that consolidate and synthesise global market intelligence in real time, enabling faster identification of patterns and opportunities across vast datasets.

This blend of intelligent automation and expert human interpretation delivers a deeper and more accurate view of the market.

Brandspeak typically undertakes secondary research for organisations needing market data to inform decision-making in relation to market entry or exit, investment allocation, new product or service development, distribution strategy, pricing strategy or grant applications.

The Benefits of Secondary Research

Secondary research is a fast, reliable and cost-effective way of gathering market insights.

Build A Reliable Evidence Base Quickly

Build A Reliable Evidence Base Quickly

Desk research consolidates diverse data sources to create a clear view of the market landscape—covering competitors, channels, pricing, regulation and macro trends. It provides rapid intelligence that supports early Stop/Go decisions and reduces dependence on assumption-driven planning.

Reduce Uncertainty And Inform Strategic Choices

Reduce Uncertainty And Inform Strategic Choices

Desk research highlights market size, growth, constraints and opportunity areas, helping organisations make well-grounded investment, expansion and development decisions. It eliminates blind spots early, ensuring subsequent primary research and commercial planning remain focused, efficient and evidence-based.

Accelerate Decision-Making At Lower Cost

Accelerate Decision-Making At Lower Cost

Secondary research delivers extensive insight without the time or resource demands of fieldwork. It provides fast access to consolidated intelligence that would otherwise take months to assemble, enabling teams to progress strategic discussions and commercial decisions more rapidly.

Secondary Research Methods

Brandspeak integrates AI-enhanced data discovery with manual sourcing from reports, databases, trade bodies, publications and government statistics. These approaches ensure insights are validated, contextualised and commercially relevant across diverse markets.

Secondary Research & Market Intelligence

Secondary Research & Market Intelligence

Identify market trends, competitor activity and category insights using desk research.

Brandspeak's Secondary Research Services

Brandspeak provides a comprehensive range of desk research services, including:

We evaluate competitor presence, positioning, portfolios, strategies and market share indicators.

This analysis identifies strengths, vulnerabilities and areas of saturation or whitespace, building a clear view of market structure and informing entry planning, proposition development and investment decisions across international markets.

We analyse published data, forecasts and sector-specific commentary to model market value, expected annual growth and forces shaping demand.

Outputs support business case development, resource allocation and long-term planning by clarifying both scale and trajectory.

We identify distribution models, channel options, compliance requirements and barriers to entry.

Insights help organisations avoid missteps, reduce early-stage risk and prioritise the most viable routes to market for successful expansion or product launch.

How to Get Your Insights

We support qualitative research in 40+ global markets, working with native-speaking moderators and trusted in-market partners to ensure cultural accuracy and insight quality. Wherever your audience is, we can reach them and deliver insight that drives better decisions.

Step One

Fill in the form and click submit.

Step Two

Our team will contact you within 24 hours.

Step Three

We learn about your needs and goals and how to achieve them.

Upload a Briefing Document or RFP

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Secondary Research.

Desk research uses existing information; primary research gathers new data firsthand. Desk research is faster and broader; primary research resolves gaps.
Most projects take 1–3 weeks, depending on markets and complexity.
Typically £5K–£20K, depending on scope and analytical depth.
Industry reports, government statistics, trade association data, company filings, specialist publications, databases, analyst notes and AI-intelligence platforms.
Market entry assessment, pricing reviews, competitor analysis, opportunity sizing, regulatory scanning and investment decisions.
Some data conflicts, gaps remain, and quality varies; expert validation is essential.
No. It forms the foundation; primary research verifies, clarifies and resolves inconsistencies.
AI accelerates discovery, identifies patterns and highlights gaps; human interpretation ensures commercial relevance.

Brandspeak in Numbers

As one of the UK's most experienced market research agencies, Brandspeak brings scale, consistency, and depth to every project.

3,000+

Focus Groups

25

Years

750+

Quantitative Studies

40

International Markets

1 Million+

Survey Participants

45

Languages Covered in Global Research

5,000+

Depth Interviews

Association for Qualitative Research (AQR)MRS Evidence Matters

Brandspeak is proud to be a member of both The Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) and The Market Research Society (MRS) — demonstrating our commitment to quality, ethical practice and industry-leading research standards.

Brandspeak Blogs

Read the latest trends, insights and best practices from the world of Market Research. Choose a topic below to read more.

Client Feedback

Lauren Williams

We worked with Brandspeak on a brand awareness project and we were extremely pleased with the quality of service and the process. They understood the complexity of the briefs and asked plenty of questions to make sure they fully understand the objectives. They interacted with all levels of people in our business and understood the differences within the market and suggested ways to tie the research together so it was still comparable. The results were delivered with easy to digest summaries that could be used across the business. We would highly recommend using them.

Lauren Williams

Sarah Twist – Marketing Manager

Very informative, easy to work with and a really friendly team. I would recommend Brandspeak to help any business grow. They are great quality for money, help niche sectors and present their findings in an understanding manner. They have provided a brand review, market review post-covid to ensure we are still up to date, along with two very valuable website reviews. Working with them for qualitative and quantities research has a been fantastic for us. Thank you for all your help!

Sarah Twist – Marketing Manager

Zanya Fahy

It's been an absolute pleasure to work with Brandspeak on our qualitative assessment of different ads across 5 EU markets. Throughout this project, Brandspeak have been expert, professional and so flexible with our requirements and timings. The research analysis that they provided us with was extremely valuable and insightful. I look forward to working with them again – highly recommend!

Zanya Fahy

Georgie Burks, Brand Marketing Lead

Great service from Brandspeak – highly recommend for thoughtful and detailed brand measurement and tracking.

Georgie Burks, Brand Marketing Lead

Brandspeak have been fantastic to work with. They are a very professional agency who really understand the importance of quality research. Their team were very responsive, knowledgeable and easy to work with and provided us with excellent insights.

Mark Wilson

Animal Friends Insurance

We wanted to understand how elements of our brand were perceived by consumers and identify opportunities where we could make improvements. Brandspeak clearly understood the brief and worked closely with us to develop a research approach that would answer our questions. The insight has been used to inform the development of our creative and also applied to other areas of our marketing communications. It was a pleasure to work with Brandspeak.

Strategy & Insight Manager | Animal Friends Insurance

Tönnjes

Brandspeak helped us with getting invaluable market insights! They showed great flexibility and professionalism throughout the entire process and provided us exactly with the results we needed. I would recommend working with Brandspeak to anyone and anytime.

Tom Suberg

From the moment I contacted Brandspeak I can't thank Jeremy and his team enough. Offering a professional approach they took the time and effort to make the whole process easy and effortless. I highly recommend Brandspeak and look forward to working with them again in the future.

Verity Kimber

From their initial proposal they displayed an understanding of financial services and a clarity of thinking that made them stand out. Since then they have consistently delivered to demanding timescales. But what really sets them apart are their actionable and business focused recommendations which give them the credibility to influence senior internal stakeholders. I have really enjoyed working with them and look forward to doing so again.

Leading life and pensions provider

It is always a pleasure – and a relief! – to work with researchers who get the whole thing – effortlessly... a heartfelt thanks.

DLKW

Work with Brandspeak

With offices in London, Bristol, and Birmingham – and partners across the world – we provide global reach with local expertise. Our team is ready to discuss your business challenge and show you what's possible with the right insights.

Get in Touch

London

+44 (0) 203 858 0052

1st Floor, 239 Kensington High St, London W8 6SN

Bristol

+44 (0) 1174 07 0187

2430 / 2440 The Quadrant, Aztec W, Bristol BS32 4AQ

Birmingham

+44 (0) 121 314 4647

The Lewis Building, Bull St, Birmingham B4 6AF