FAQS

Everyone is welcome and we actively encourage people from all walks of life to sign up. The more diverse our panel, the better the research we can deliver. If you’re under 18, you’re still welcome to register, but please be aware that we’ll need a parent or guardian’s consent before you can take part in most studies.

Completely free, always. If anyone ever asks you to pay to register with Zest, that’s not us. Please report it.

Absolutely no experience needed. If you have taken part in research before, just be aware that many studies have an exclusion period, meaning you may need to wait a set amount of time before participating again. We’ll always let you know when this applies.

You can update your profile at any time via your account settings.

Of course. You can leave the panel at any time via [insert link] or by emailing info@zestfieldwork.co.uk – no questions asked.

We launch multiple studies every week, and you’ll receive an email for each one you qualify for based on your profile. If you’d prefer to browse at your own pace rather than receive emails, you can update your contact preferences in your profile settings or explore current opportunities here: [insert opportunities link]

Each study has specific qualifying criteria that goes beyond your basic profile so it’s unlikely you’ll qualify for everything. That’s completely normal. We launch new studies every week, so keep your profile up to date and we’ll get you involved as soon as the right opportunity comes along.

Always. There’s no pressure to apply for anything that doesn’t feel right for you. And if you do apply and then change your mind, you can withdraw at any time, though we’d really appreciate as much notice as possible so we can find a replacement in time.

Please let us know as soon as possible and the earlier the better, so we have the best chance of finding a replacement. We’ll update your record so it doesn’t affect your participation history. Life happens, and we completely understand.

Some studies are filmed and/or audio recorded. We’ll always tell you upfront if this is the case and explain exactly what the recordings will be used for – typically for note-taking purposes so that moderators can revisit conversations to make sure nothing gets missed. You’ll know before you commit.

For most online studies, all you need is a laptop, desktop, or tablet with a camera, microphone, and a stable internet connection. Beyond that just your thoughts, opinions, and experiences. Those are the important bit.

Your safety is our priority. For any study involving taste testing or food and drink products, we provide a full list of ingredients and allergens at the recruitment stage. If you have an allergy or intolerance to anything on that list, you simply won’t be included in that study — no awkwardness, no pressure. For other health conditions relevant to a specific study, we’ll always ask the right questions upfront so nothing catches anyone off guard.

Once you’ve completed your participation, you’ll receive a payment email with instructions on how to claim your incentive via [Ayda/Tremendous — add link]. Funds typically land the same day. No chasing required.

If your payment hasn’t arrived within the timeframe we’ve given you, please get in touch with your Zest contact directly or email info@zestfieldwork.co.uk — we’ll sort it out as quickly as possible.

We take data privacy seriously and handle all personal information in line with UK GDPR. In short — your data is used only to match you to relevant studies, communicate with you about participation, and process your incentives. It is never sold to third parties. For full details, please see our Privacy Policy: [insert link]

It depends on the study. In some cases, the brand commissioning the research may attend or view sessions. In others, only summarised or anonymised responses are shared. Wherever your individual responses need to be shared with anyone outside of Zest, we will always tell you explicitly, explain how they’ll be used, and ask for your agreement before doing so.

Get in touch with your Zest project manager straight away, or email info@zestfieldwork.co.uk and we’ll resolve it quickly — whether that means a replacement, a workaround, or something else depending on the study.

Not always — and we’ll always be upfront about this before the study begins. Many of the products we test are prototypes or pre-launch items that need to be returned at the end of the trial. Where products are already commercially available, you’ll often get to keep them. Either way, we’ll confirm exactly what happens before you commit — and if products do need to come back, we handle all the collection logistics at no cost to you.

That’s completely fine — and genuinely useful. Not every product works for every person, and honest feedback in either direction is exactly what our clients need. If you find a product isn’t working for you, we may follow up to understand a bit more about why — but there’s no expectation of positive reviews. Just your honest experience. That’s all we ever ask for.