Richard Gush
Freelance Qualitative Research Consultant · :Sense
A senior qualitative researcher helping brands understand people — and what to do about it. Over two decades of agency experience, now working independently as a flexible, expert pair of hands for insight teams.
What I do
Brand strategy & development
Audits, positioning, segmentation, migration, comms.
Customer understanding
Audiences, journeys, personas, behaviour change.
Sensory & experiential research
Perception, experience mapping, contextual understanding.
Innovation & design
Concept development, product and pack testing.
Organisational insight
Employee engagement, stakeholder research.
Sectors
Financial services
Alcoholic beverages
Confectionery
Food & snacking
Hot & cold beverages
Personal care
Pet care
Consumer electronics
Telecommunications
Media
Retail
Automotive
Social & charity
Skills
Discussion guide design
Moderation
Focus groups
Depth interviews
Ethnography
Online communities
Analysis & reporting
Workshops
Debriefs
Client management
Storytelling
Research design
Proposal writing
Experience
2017 — Present
Research Sense · Gloucestershire
Director
Leading domestic and international strategic qualitative research across brand strategy, behaviour change, sensory and experiential research, and innovation. Recent focus: understanding human experience from a holistic, multi-disciplinary perspective.
2015 — 2017
Hall & Partners · London
Partner, OpenMind
Set up and led OpenMind, a new specialist qualitative and brand strategy division within the UK business. Worked closely with the global CEO as leader, seller, and doer to develop the offer and set the team's vision and direction.
2014 — 2015
Research Sense · London
Freelance Qualitative Researcher
Embedded into leading London agencies across a range of strategic challenges — writing proposals, conducting fieldwork, leading analysis, and delivering findings as part of client teams.
2012 — 2014
Sundance · London
Project Director
Developed moderation and analysis skills at an agency specialising in international strategic brand and communication projects, primarily FMCG. Led large-scale national and international brand, campaign, concept, and segmentation work.
2010 — 2011
Basis Research · London
Associate Director
Managing local and international fieldwork, focus groups, depth interviews, and online communities. Managed key client relationships, motivated project teams, and delivered debriefs to senior audiences.
2007 — 2010
TNS Research International · London
Consultant, Specialist Markets Qualitative
Designing and delivering qualitative projects to meet client objectives, working closely with quantitative teams to deliver integrated proposals and debriefs.
2006 — 2007
TNS Global · London
Graduate Trainee
Four three-month rotations across Financial & Professional Services, Consumer, Media, and Technology sectors.
Education
BA (Hons) Sociology & Social Anthropology
University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
2005
BA Social Dynamics
University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
2002 — 2004
Awards & memberships
MRS — Advanced Certificate; Advanced Qualitative Practitioner
AQR — Advanced Moderation; Foundation Course
The ICG — Member, Independent Consultants Group