Sectors

EPR has undertaken a large number of studies relating to sustainability issues including:

• zero carbon homes – see ‘latest news’ for more details
• renewable energy
• conventional fuels
• air conditioning systems
• metering
• energy efficiency and SAP ratings
• sound insulation in housing
• energy consultancy
• the Energy Efficiency Best Practice publications

EPR is one of the leading research agencies working in the water industry with unrivalled experience over 20 years, a period which has seen the market develop from public sector monopoly to full competition. The depth of our involvement has allowed us to develop a detailed understanding not only of the working of the industry but also of the needs and expectations of its customers. We have also undertaken research in other utility sectors, gas electricity and telecoms, in both business and domestic markets

Research topics have included:

• customer satisfaction research, tracking and adhoc
• complaints handling
• metering and meter reading
• strategic planning and Ofwat periodic reviews
• guaranteed standards and regulatory matters
• advertising and marketing
• pricing and billing
• water quality issues such as taste and hardness

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EPR has some 20 year's experience of the building and construction industry. Topics have ranged from heritage building skills, used on buildings dating from before 1919, through to the forthcoming new generation of zero carbon homes, due to come into force in the UK in 2016.

Other projects have covered:

• HIPs and searches
• attitudes of new home buyers and factors affecting decision making
• product performance & development
• warranties and claims handling
• standards & regulations
• workforce training
• health & safety
• customer satisfaction
• publications & information

Respondents have included builders, contractors, architects, surveyors, consulting engineers, Housing Associations, facilities managers together with recent and prospective house buyers.

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EPR has extensive experience in the heritage sector from a number of viewpoints. We have worked for the National Trust on such topics as visitor satisfaction, perceptions of overseas visitors, publications including the Handbook and development of services such as the catering offer.

Another aspect of our work is research into the demand for and supply of heritage building craft skills. In 2006/7 EPR undertook the study: ‘Assessing the Need, Meeting the Challenge’ for a consortium comprising the National Heritage Training Group, ConstructionSkills and Cadw. This was designed to quantify the demand for traditional craft skills such as lime plastering, and also to review the supply side and training requirements. To see the summary report click here.

EPR is now conducting a similar study across Ireland for a consortium including CITB Northern Ireland and the Office of Public Works in the Republic of Ireland.

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Migration is a key issue in the UK with impact on all aspects of life and work.

Recent work by EPR in this field includes:

• research among economic migrants, primarily from the accession states, working in the construction industry to establish training needs. This included interviews with employers and training providers and also with migrant, in some cases using bi-lingual interviewers
• a study to establish the potential for a social enterprise employment agency, designed to place trained engineers who are refugees in the UK

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