The deal will see Qa Research retain its name, continue to operate in York and be led by the existing senior management team.

Qa Research joins EMB Group’s other research agencies, Blue Marble Research and Pye Tait Consulting, and brings the number of people working in the research division of the business to more than 60.

In a statement, Qa Research said the sale represented an opportunity to become part of a larger group of companies and benefit from the group’s infrastructure, while continuing to operate as a stand-alone business.

Richard Bryan, managing director at Qa Research, said: “Over the past few years, Qa has been growing steadily and we wanted to find a partner with the right systems and culture to underpin this growth. 

“As a business that is already engaged with many of our sectors and which understands how research agencies operate, EMB Group is a great fit for us. We’re excited to be part of the group and working alongside the other research teams.”

Danielle Gillett, chief executive at EMB Group, added: “Since entering the research market in early 2023, we have been steadily increasing our capability and the sectors we cover.

“Through their wide range of qualitative, quantitative and data collection services, Qa bring a new dimension to our offer, as well as strengthening our existing research and insight expertise and we’re delighted to welcome them to the group.”