The two brands will continue to operate and offer their own “distinct offering” to clients, but will now have “the added support and reinforcement of the sister company”, Cello said.

News of the partnership comes after MRUK announced it was making 29 of its staff redundant, keeping just three. Managing director Jim Law is to depart at the end of his contract next year, with regional director Rachel Cope set to take the reins. Cello said in a September statement that it is looking to step back from the “historically stable, but low margin area” of public sector research.

Benefits of the partnership, Cello said, include strength in combined leadership and an “increased bandwidth” through the combination of RS Consulting’s public policy expertise and MRUK’s interviewer network and regional expertise.

The combined companies have also announced their first contract win, awarded by the Treasury, which they describe as “a nationwide project that will feed directly into HM Treasury strategy”.

MRUK’s Rachel Cope (pictured) said: “There are some powerful chemistries within this new partnership, both in terms of personnel [and] in the blend of skills that the new joined-up offering provides. We’re thrilled to have HM Treasury on board as the first client for this new partnership, and the combined new business pipeline is very strong indeed.”

RS Consulting’s joint managing director Chris Stead added: “What this partnership now gives RS is 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.”