5 Stats That Reveal How the UK Consulting Industry is Evolving in 2025

This article is being published in conjunction with International Services Week (September 8-12, 2025), a global, industry-wide initiative led by Certinia to celebrate and advance the services community. Learn more and get involved at www.ServicesWeek.com.

Is the UK consulting industry at a crossroads? A recent report, the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) Member Survey 2025, suggests so. 

The consulting industry is facing a period of transformation, navigating economic headwinds while embracing new opportunities. The data reveals shifts in everything from talent and compensation to technology and market strategy. As leaders, it’s our job to understand these trends and prepare for what’s next — and to help you make sense of it.

Here are five data points from the report that tell the story of an industry in transition.

1. AI is the biggest area of growth. A stunning 66% of consultants believe that AI will be the biggest growth area for the industry in the next 12 months. This belief is widespread, not limited to a niche. Companies are backing that belief with capital. For large firms, this means an average planned investment of nearly £5 million over the next two years. It’s a clear sign that AI has become a core part of business strategy, and firms that don't adapt will struggle.

2. Flexible work is now more important than pay. For the first time in six years, flexible working conditions have overtaken compensation as the top driver of job satisfaction for consultants. This is a significant shift in priorities. While pay still matters, this data is a strong signal that employees now place a premium on a healthy work-life balance and control over their schedules. For a services firm, this means operationalising flexibility, not just talking about it.

3. Small and medium-sized firms are more optimistic about performance. In 2024, a year of flat overall growth for the industry, SMEs were more likely to feel they exceeded expectations than their larger counterparts. A notable 77% of SME leaders reported that their growth either met or exceeded expectations, compared to 71% of larger firms. This suggests that smaller, more agile firms might be better equipped to navigate economic headwinds. Their focused expertise and ability to pivot quickly likely give them an edge over larger, more complex organisations.

4. The talent pool is diversifying. The number of young consultants coming from Russell Group universities has plummeted from 73% in 2011 to just 30% today. This is a good development. It shows a conscious effort by the industry to broaden its talent pipeline and improve social mobility. A diverse workforce leads to a diversity of thought, which is exactly what clients need to solve their most challenging problems.

5. Offshoring is a significant strategy for cost control. Roughly 36% of large consulting firms and 25% of SMEs expect offshoring to have a significant impact on their business over the next 1-2 years. This trend is a clear response to economic pressures and a need for greater cost management. This new operational model presents a fresh set of challenges in how we manage projects, talent, and culture across distributed teams.

The MCA survey data confirms a pivotal moment for the UK consulting industry. The future belongs to firms that can balance technological innovation with a people-centric approach. Success will require leaders to build a foundation of certainty from the ground up, empowering teams with the right tools and culture to deliver with agility and confidence. The time to act is now.

To continue this conversation and gain more insights on navigating these changes, explore the events and thought leadership from International Services Week, a global initiative dedicated to advancing the services community. Find out more at ServicesWeek.com.