NRS social grade is a classification system used in the UK based on occupation. It categorizes people into 5 social grades based on their job: A (higher managerial), B (intermediate managerial), C1 (supervisory), C2 (skilled manual), and D/E (semi-skilled/unskilled manual). The system has been used for over 50 years by research and media industries to understand social classes, especially for consumer targeting. The Insight Value Group also developed a social values scale with 7 groups defined by their characteristics and outlooks including self-actualisers, innovators, esteem seekers, and disconnected.

1. NRS social grade definitions<br />NRS stands for National Readership Survey (NRS Ltd). The NRS social grade definitions have been in use for decades, ostensibly for audience profiling and targeting by the media, publishing and advertising sectors, and have become established as a generic reference series for classifying and describing social classes, especially for consumer targeting and consumer market research. It’s a more useful reference than upper class, middle class and working class when you’re talking about the representation of class in a contemporary based drama. Upper, working and middle class is suitable for discussion of period/ costume dramas like Cranford.<br />social gradesocial statusoccupationAupper middle classhigher managerial, administrative or professionalBmiddle classintermediate managerial, administrative or professionalC1lower middle classsupervisory or clerical, junior managerial, administrative or professionalC2skilled working classskilled manual workersDworking classsemi and unskilled manual workersEthose at lowest level of subsistencestate pensioners or widows (no other earner), casual or lowest grade workers<br /> <br />Social grade is a classification system based on occupation. <br />It was developed for use on the NRS, and for over 50 years NRS has been the research industry’s source of social grade data.<br />The classifications are as follows: <br /> % of population (NRS 2008) AHigher managerial, administrative and professional4BIntermediate managerial, administrative and professional23C1Supervisory, clerical and junior managerial, administrative and professional29C2Skilled manual workers21DSemi-skilled and unskilled manual workers15EState pensioners, casual and lowest grade workers, unemployed with state benefits only 8<br />The NRS interview includes detailed questions about the occupation of the Chief Income Earner (CIE) to establish social grade. Questions include not just what the CIE’s job is, but details such as their qualifications and the number of people they are responsible for. <br />The household is classified according to the CIE’s occupation, but social grade data are also available for the respondent themselves (if they are not the CIE). <br />Income is not part of the social grade classification. However there is a strong correlation between income and social grade as the following chart shows. <br />Insight social value groups (uk)<br />The insight Value Group Ltd carried out a vast study of UK social values and change, and upon its findings established this social value scale. This is the Insight Value Group scale, which claims to be an accurate representation of the groups that exist in the UK today.<br /> social value groupcharacteristicsself actualisersfocused on people and relationships, individualistic and creative, enthusiastically exploring change, 'in a framework of non-prescriptive consideration for others' innovatorsself-confident risk-takers, seeking new and different things, setting their own targets to achieveesteem seekersacquisitive and materialistic, aspiring to what they see are symbols of success, including things and experiencesstriversattaching importance to image and status, as a means of enabling acceptance by their peer group, at the same time holding onto traditional valuescontented conformerswanting to be 'normal', so follow the herd, accepting of their circumstances, they are contented and comfortable in the security of their own makingtraditionalistsaverse to risk, guided by traditional behaviours and values, quiet and reserved, hanging back and blending in with the crowddisconnecteddetached and resentful, embittered and apathetic, tending to live in the 'ever-present now'<br />