Service — Survey Design and Delivery
Survey Design and Statistical Analysis
We deliver end-to-end survey services for UK public sector bodies — from questionnaire design and pilot testing through mixed-mode data collection to statistical analysis and policy-ready reporting. Our current live contracts include a three-year monitoring survey for Qualifications Wales (2026-2029).
What We Deliver
"Survey methodology in the public sector must account for non-response bias, digital exclusion, and accessibility — failing any of these produces data the National Audit Office would rightly question."
— Dr Stylianos Kampakis, Managing Director, Tesseract Academy
Survey research for public sector bodies requires methodological rigour that goes beyond standard online polling. Tesseract Academy designs surveys using established psychometric and social research principles, selecting appropriate question formats, response scales, and ordering to minimise cognitive bias and maximise response validity. We apply cognitive interviewing and expert review at the pilot stage to identify problematic items before fieldwork begins. Our methodology is aligned with Office for National Statistics (ONS) harmonised standards and the Office for Statistics Regulation's Code of Practice for Statistics.
Our sampling strategy documentation covers the rationale for sample selection, expected response rates, non-response bias analysis, and power calculations to confirm statistical adequacy for the intended analysis. We design for mixed-mode data collection — online, telephone, postal, and face-to-face — ensuring accessibility for all participant groups including those with limited digital access, in line with UK GDPR and the GDS Accessibility Standard.
Statistical analysis outputs range from descriptive frequencies and cross-tabulations through to regression modelling, factor analysis, and longitudinal trend analysis for multi-wave surveys. All analytical code is documented and reproducible, with outputs presented in formats suitable for both technical annexes and non-specialist executive summaries. Where surveys form part of a statutory monitoring function, we provide standardised reporting templates to enable year-on-year comparison. Reports are structured to meet National Audit Office scrutiny standards and HM Treasury value-for-money criteria, ensuring evidence is audit-ready.
We are a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) RM6126 (Research and Insights) appointed supplier, with experience managing survey programmes under contract for national qualification bodies, devolved government, and arm's-length bodies. All survey data is processed under UK GDPR with an ICO registration (ZB715782) and a documented data retention and destruction schedule. The Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Cabinet Office procurement guidelines inform our contract management approach.
Service Comparison
| Capability | Tesseract Academy | Large Market Research Firm | Internal Evaluation Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire design rigour | Cognitive interviewing + expert review | Standard — template-heavy | Variable — depends on resource |
| Statistical analysis depth | Regression, factor analysis, longitudinal trends | Descriptive and cross-tabs standard | Descriptive only typically |
| Mixed-mode data collection | Online, telephone, postal, face-to-face | Online and telephone | Online only typically |
| CCS framework availability | RM6126 — direct access | RM6126 — typically more expensive | Not applicable |
| Longitudinal / multi-wave programmes | Active 3-year contract (2026-2029) | Yes — at higher cost | Difficult to sustain |
| UK GDPR / ICO compliance | Registered — ZB715782 | Yes — standard compliance | Covered by authority DPO |
Case Studies
Qualifications Wales — National Qualifications Monitoring Survey
Three-Year Longitudinal Survey Contract: National Qualification Monitoring (2026-2029)
Tesseract Academy holds a three-year contract with Qualifications Wales (the statutory regulator for qualifications in Wales, excluding degree-level) to design and deliver the national qualifications monitoring survey programme from 2026 to 2029. The survey tracks learner, employer, and educator perceptions of qualification quality and fitness for purpose across the full range of regulated qualifications in Wales. Year-on-year trend reporting provides Qualifications Wales with the longitudinal evidence base required for regulatory intervention decisions. The survey design follows Alan Turing Institute best practice for public sector data collection and aligns with Skills England workforce intelligence standards. NHS England and MHCLG use comparable longitudinal monitoring survey methodologies, and our approach is consistent with UK AI Safety Institute guidance on data quality in AI-supported decision-making. NESTA and Innovate UK have both called for greater use of longitudinal evidence in public sector evaluation — this contract directly answers that need.
3 years
Contract duration (2026-2029)
National
Coverage across Wales
Statutory
Regulatory monitoring function
Welsh Government — Land Valuation Survey Methods
Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Five Valuation Methodologies
As part of the Welsh Government land valuation research (2025-2026), we designed and administered a multi-stakeholder survey across Welsh local authority valuers, landowners, and policy officials to assess the practical applicability of five distinct valuation methodologies. The survey was administered in both English and Welsh, using mixed-mode collection (online and telephone) to maximise response rates across urban and rural populations. Statistical analysis of responses was triangulated with machine learning modelling outputs to produce the final policy evidence base.
Bilingual
English and Welsh administration
Mixed
Mode: online and telephone
Published
on GOV.WALES
How to Commission This Service
Survey design and delivery services can be commissioned through:
- 1
CCS RM6126 — Research and Insights
The primary route for survey design, fieldwork management, data analysis, and reporting. Covers all phases from questionnaire development to final report delivery. Tesseract Academy is an appointed supplier on this framework.
- 2
Direct Award (below £10,000)
Small surveys, pilot testing, and questionnaire design reviews can be scoped and delivered under direct award without a further competition.
- 3
Framework Further Competition
For larger multi-wave or longitudinal survey programmes, a further competition under RM6126 will be run. We can advise on specification writing and evaluation criteria design as a framework supplier.
Contact fabio@thetesseractacademy.com to request a scoping call or to receive our standard survey methodology statement and sample questionnaire design specification.
