Revenue from its Communications & Insight division increased 14% in the period to £30.6m (compared with £27m in H1 2015 ). Its headline PBIT increased 24% to £4m.

The company said the structural changes in the market research industry meant traditional methods were moving online, especially in data collection, and so its face-to-face fieldwork had declined leading to the closure of FieldworkUK.com.

Meanwhile its two significant product launches were: Reflected Life, a joint venture between ICM Unlimited and Marketing Sciences Unlimited, to measure and track digital behaviour across multiple devices; and The Real Adventure Unlimited launched RealData, which uses insight data and analytical innovations.

Creston’s Health division reported revenue of £9.7m (H1 2015: £10.3m) and headline PBIT of £1.6m (H1 2015: £1.7m), both down 6%.

Barrie Brien (pictured), group chief executive of Creston, said: “I am pleased with both revenue and headline PBIT being up 8% and a 5% growth in our dividend, despite the slower start to the first half. The Group also made good progress against its five-year strategy broadening its Unlimited offer through a mix of acquisitions, investments, start-ups and partnerships and this strategic progress is underpinning a continuing strong new business performance.”