The ICAEW has recruited researchers to ask members about their current sentiment for the institute and its strategy.

The institute has hired Gracechurch Consulting research to gauge attitudes and requirements of ICAEW members.

It is well known for using member research over major issues such as attitudes towards online tax filing. It also courted controversy by spending over £1.4m on consultancy Media Strategy to promote its failed plan to merge with CIPFA in 2005, which also included member research.

The ICAEW would not reveal how many members had been targeted to take part in the research.‘The results are confidential and are used to improve what we do as well as help identify new services and products which our members want,’ said a spokeswoman.