Who we are and what we do
We are the UK’s largest independent provider of research, assessment and information services for education, training and children’s services. Our work enables policy makers and practitioners to make better, more informed decisions, drawing on sound evidence and accurate information.
Our clients include UK government departments and agencies at both national and local levels, who benefit from our full range of expert and professional services including access to international networks and data sources. We also invest NFER’s own resources to fund research and development activities that we believe will have a positive impact on society and improve the services we offer our clients.
Purpose
To make a difference to learners of all ages, especially to the lives of children and young people. We will do this by ensuring that our work improves the practice and increases the understanding of those who work with and for learners
Values
Our values inform and underline our goals.
More on our values >>>
Vision and business goals
Our top 3 business goals for the period to 2010 are:
- We will be the UK’s research and assessment organisation of first choice for those who wish to make a positive difference for young learners
- We will grow by 18% in real terms over 3 years, and ensure that there is a healthy annual surplus for reinvestment in the Foundation’s own research programme and its future development
- At the same time staff will confirm that NFER is a great place to work
Strategy
Our strategies for achieving these goals are:
- Continuing to win and deliver excellent projects across a wide range of aspects of education
- Expanding our education base in two key directions - to include strategic aspects of the UK children’s services research market and to become a leading provider of e-assessment products and expertise
- Increasing the impact of our own and others’ research on practice and policy
- Securing new clients with an interest in young people’s development and ensure that existing clients take up the full range of NFER services of relevance to them
- Recruiting, retaining, developing and rewarding well-motivated and skilled staff
More on our strategy >>>
