Focal Research has worked in market intelligence since 1991. Today we are best known for our work in GB social housing, where we track the landlords, structures, stock, contacts, contracts and supplier relationships that shape the market.
Our value comes from continuity and judgement. Social housing organisations merge, rename, transfer stock, create group structures, change maintenance models and move work between internal teams, ALMOs, contractors and frameworks. Years in the sector help us understand which changes matter commercially, and which are just noise.
PREEMPT is built around that judgement. It is not data for data’s sake. We focus on the parts of the market that help suppliers decide where to invest relationship time: who owns the stock, who influences decisions, what work is already contracted, when change may be possible, and whether a landlord is likely to be worth pursuing.
Focal’s view is that social housing is a relationship market. Suppliers need to understand the landlord before procurement starts. That belief shapes how we research, organise and maintain PREEMPT.