Two business consultancies have joined forces to help Cumbrian firms move forward from the coronavirus crisis.

Kirsten Prosser Financial Insights Ltd, based in Lorton, and Zeitgeist Communication Ltd, in Keswick, are offering a joint service to advise small businesses.

They will offer the service under the initials BGC (Business Growth Consultants).

“In times of crisis such as the current one, leaders are stretched on all sides,” said Jutta Devenish, managing director of Zeitgeist Communication.

“They need to make changes on a daily basis and plan for a multitude of scenarios.

“This is where we can help.

"We will go through the whole process of what the business needs.

"Our particular expertise is in finance and marketing and we will look at the business model and how well placed that business is in terms of its finances and resilience.

"Have they put things in place for the future and also in terms of digital knowhow, have they thought about the digitalisation of their business?

"We will look at their vision for their business and align that to today."

She said although they had worked together before, the coronavirus crisis had spurred the formal collaboration.

"We both wanted to do something," she said.

"There is a lot of help out there for business, but some businesses want to be able to make a move now and they need something they can do rather than just applying for another grant."

They say they will offer their services to businesses at a reduced rate until the end of September as a means of supporting the local recovery from coronavirus.

“We work with business leaders who are ready to move forward now and know that the keys to recovery are sound finances, clear marketing strategies and resilient and agile business models and teams,” said Kirsten Prosser, director of Financial Insights.

“It is important to us that businesses have access to truly professional, independent advice and that they can pick up the phone and talk to us as an extended part of their leadership team.

“Business is all about people and in times like these it is important that we all work together.”

Miranda Kirschel, head of business and innovation for Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It is fantastic to see the two Cumbria-based businesses, Financial Insights and Zeitgeist Communication, pool their expertise and collaborate.

"It is this kind of entrepreneurial spirit and forward thinking, which will help businesses move forward.”