The quantity surveying profession has historically regarded research as an arcane and largely irrelevant indulgence pursued by academics. There is now an increasing recognition that research has an important role to perform in the enhancement of the performance of the profession. The paper reports on a research project undertaken in order to establish perceptions of industry-based research as held by: Clients; Consultants and contractors; Incipient construction graduates. Principal conclusions indicate that: Clients are influenced by evidence of research commitment when appointing consultants and contractors; Consultants and contractors are not convinced that research constitutes a valid employment of productive resources; Incipient construction graduates are seeking intellectually fulfilling employment, and are prepared to compromise income in order to achieve this. Recommendations are proposed to the effect that consultants and contractors should exploit the latent mutual interest of clients and incipient graduates in order to achieve commercial competitive advantage. It is observed that there exists, for both consultants and contractors, a significant marketing unique selling proposition, by investing in highly motivated, research-orientated novice employees, empowered to undertake client-focused research projects.