RS and mruk Form Public Sector 'Powerhouse'

In the UK, Cello-owned agencies RS Consulting and mruk are to work in closer partnership, creating what they describe as a 'research powerhouse' for the public sector. Both brands will continue to operate separately.

Simultaneously, the new partnership has announced its first major win, for HM Treasury - a nationwide project that will feed directly into Treasury strategy.

Founded in 1984, RS has historically traded under two brands, RS Consulting and Consensus Research, and covers a range of sectors including technology, financial services, public sector, not-for-profit, B2B and FMCG; while mruk, established about the same time, has conducted market and social research primarily for public sector clients.

However, mruk recently announced the closure of its operations in Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff and Newcastle, losing ninety per cent of its staff including MD Jim Law, following public sector budget reductions.

The newly aligned firms say that with the government's emphasis on switching spending from the state to the private sector or voluntary/community providers, their consultants are primed to help clients understand how this transition affects them.

'Both before and after the election, we have been very successful in attracting significant public sector contracts,' explains Chris Stead, Joint MD of RS Consulting. 'This partnership gives RS a much greater regional reach, combining the two businesses' skill sets, and enabling us to provide a significantly greater range of services to the public sector.'

Rachel Cope, who has taken on leadership of mruk, says that the partnership offers 'powerful chemistries' - in terms of the skills offered through its team of central government policy, regulation and local government researchers.

Web sites: www.cellogroup.co.uk , www.rsconsulting.com , www.consensus-research.com and www.mruk.co.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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