Choosing a recruitment partner can feel a bit daunting.
There’s a lot riding on it, after all. At Angelfish Fieldwork, we’ve spent years helping researchers find real people with real opinions – because getting the right participants can make or break a project.
That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide to the 10 questions you should be asking any research recruitment agency before kicking off a project – and, more importantly, how we answer each one.
From data protection to diversity, pricing to purpose – we’re here to give you honest, jargon-free answers, so you know exactly what to expect.
1. How do you keep my project and participant data safe?
Angelfish Answers:
We take data protection incredibly seriously. We’re a GDPR-compliant, Cyber Essentials-certified, and MRS Company Partner agency, which means your project data – and participants' personal information – is in safe hands.
We’ve also signed the MRS Fair Data and Inclusion Pledges and operate under the RAS accreditation scheme, which ensures robust privacy and ethical standards across everything we do.
Need full transparency? Check out our Privacy Policy and the Angelfish Opinions Personal Information Policy for respondents.
2. How do you actually recruit people?
Angelfish Answers:
We use a tailored, multi-method approach to find the perfect participants – from our ever-growing in-house community to social media outreach, referrals, and more. And we don’t just stop at a screener – every participant is personally validated by phone to make sure they’re genuinely a good fit.
Our team is RAS-accredited and full of friendly, experienced recruiters who know how to find real people with real stories – not just survey responders.
3. What are your industry credentials and values?
Angelfish Answers:
We’re proud to be:
- An MRS Company Partner
- AQR Recruiter Accredited
- Cyber Essentials certified
- Signatories of the MRS Inclusion, Fair Data and Global Data Quality pledges
But more than that, we live and breathe our values every day – through our Believe Mantra. Inspired by Ted Lasso, it’s about being your best self, embracing the uncomfortable, leading by example and more.
We also host Monthly Musings to keep pushing our knowledge and stay ahead of industry trends.
4. Who can you reach – and how diverse is your community?
Angelfish Answers:
Our community is broad, diverse, and always growing. As of Summer 2025, we have over 35,000 members – from Gen Z to Baby Boomers, with nearly a 50/50 split of parents and non-parents.
We recruit across all UK regions and ethnic groups, and around 21% of our community live with a health condition or impairment – so inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword, it’s something we put into practice.
See our latest stats.
5. What exactly is included in your costs?
Angelfish Answers:
We’re transparent about our pricing – and our packages are packed with value. As standard, you’ll get:
- Screener writing support (opt-in)
- Personal validation of every participant
- Ongoing project management
- Regular communication with the team
- Incentive management (opt-in)
We don’t do hidden extras – just clear, upfront support. Want the full breakdown? Read this blog.
6. How do I know I can trust you?
Angelfish Answers:
Founded in 2011, we’ve worked with hundreds of happy clients and countless repeat projects. We build relationships based on trust, transparency and (genuinely!) being nice people to work with.
Don’t just take our word for it:
“Everything went like clockwork, particularly given the tight turnaround and spec. Recruits were great – very suitable in terms of the desired audience. It was evident everyone had been well briefed and joined calls prepared.”
Read more client stories.
7. How do you make sure the right people turn up?
Angelfish Answers:
Great recruitment isn’t just about finding the right people – it’s about making sure they show up, too. That’s why we:
- Confirm participants via email
- Reconfirm via call or text 24–48 hours before
- Replace dropouts early
- Offer fair, appropriate incentives
- Build rapport through real human conversations
It’s not rocket science – just the result of years of experience and care.
8. Can you recruit for specific sectors or needs?
Angelfish Answers:
Absolutely. From consumer health to tech, retail and beyond – we’ve recruited for everything from medical device UX testing to mobile gaming habits.
We also work with accessibility in mind – so if you need respondents with specific conditions, behaviours or demographics, we can help.
Check out some of our specialist areas.
9. How do you deal with project challenges?
Angelfish Answers:
We’re honest, agile, and always communicative. From an upfront call where we talk through expectations, to weekly updates (or more often if needed), we keep you in the loop.
And if anything unexpected pops up, we’re not afraid to pick up the phone, rejig timelines, or come up with a plan B fast. Our PMs are hands-on, responsive and genuinely care about getting it right.
10. What makes you different from other agencies?
Angelfish Answers:
We’re not just a research recruitment agency. We’re a people-first, values-led team with:
- A RAS-accredited team
- A strong ethical backbone
- Transparent processes and no jargon
- A proven record of high-quality, hard-to-reach recruitment
We believe in collaboration, kindness and a job well done – and that shines through in every project.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a recruitment partner shouldn’t feel risky. If you’re planning your next project and want a team who’s got your back – from first brief to final debrief – we’d love to chat.
Get in touch with us here or read more about our participant recruitment approach.
Further reading on participant recruitment
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