The state of consulting in the UK: 50+ stats every consultant should know

Consulting in the UK sits at a crossroads. Revenues nearly doubled in five years, but the pace is slowing. Global markets keep expanding, while at home, demand is flattening and competition is sharper. Clients want digital transformation, net zero delivery, and sharper execution. For consultants, the challenge is clear: adapt fast, specialize where demand is strongest, and be ready to chase growth beyond the UK.

Global market size and growth

• The global management consulting market is valued at USD 510.6bn in 2025 and forecast to reach USD 897.4bn by 2034, at a CAGR of 6.56%. Global demand is expanding steadily. Growth abroad may offset slower conditions at home, particularly in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
• Global management consulting reached $334.5bn in 2025 (from $257.4bn in 2021) and is projected to hit $564.9bn by 2033 (CAGR 6.77%). Global demand keeps rising. International mandates can cushion any flat spots at home.
• The market reached USD 475.4bn in 2024 before climbing past USD 500bn in 2025. This confirms steady global momentum. Even if domestic growth is flat, international clients may still invest heavily in advisory services.
• Consulting & integration services were worth US$366.24bn in 2023 and are set to reach US$485.89bn by 2028 (CAGR 5.82%); cumulative 2023–2028 spend: US$2,557.92bn. Healthy, broad-based growth. Treat 2024–2028 as a capacity game - bank capability now to catch the updraft.
• Europe remains the largest market, while Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing. Proximity to Europe remains a strength, but firms with the capacity to operate in the Asia-Pacific market could tap faster returns.

UK market size and growth

• UK consulting revenues nearly doubled from £10.56bn in 2018 to £20.4bn in 2023. The sector recorded double-digit growth in 2023, driven by digital transformation and energy/net zero projects. This proves the sector’s resilience and adaptability. Firms with depth in technology and sustainability will remain well placed as demand continues to shift.
• The UK consulting market grew 4.7% in 2023, reaching £15.2bn. Growth is set to flatten to 0% in 2024. The market is moving from expansion to stagnation. Firms will need to compete harder for the same pool of work, making differentiation vital.
• The UK consulting market contracted by 3.4% in 2024, bringing its total value down to £15bn. This contraction is a reminder that demand can be cyclical. The challenge in 2025 will be to capture growth as spending rebounds, particularly in areas tied to client pain points.
• Exports rose by £3bn over five years and now account for 28% of overall revenue. International markets are increasingly important. Building cross-border capability could be key to capturing this growth, particularly as demand for UK expertise remains high.

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Client priorities & spending outlook

• 59% of senior leaders say they must upgrade their technology as soon as possible to stay competitive. This signals a strong appetite for digital transformation projects. Firms that can translate tech investments into measurable business outcomes will find plenty of doors open.
• Clients are preparing to spend more on consulting in 2025 to address short-staffing and gaps in experience. Demand will favor firms that can act as a substitute for missing skills and leadership bandwidth. Positioning as a partner who brings both expertise and delivery capacity could be decisive.
• Senior leaders expect consulting prices to fall, though they are willing to pay more for genuine expertise and strong account management. Price pressure is intensifying, but clients will still pay a premium for trusted advisers. Building long-term relationships could offset the squeeze on day rates.
• Clients are set to commission smaller, more tactical pieces of work. Big multi-year programs may be harder to land. Winning in 2024 could mean packaging solutions into compact, high-impact engagements.

Technology & structural demand drivers

• Digital transformation, cybersecurity, and net zero remain the leading drivers of consulting growth. Demand in these areas is structural, not cyclical. Building expertise here will underpin long-term relevance.
• Analytics, cloud, AI, and machine learning are transforming consulting services. Consultants increasingly use predictive tools to speed up decision-making and deliver sharper insights. Embracing these tools is a must. Clients expect advisory firms to match their own pace of digital adoption.
• IBM launched “Consulting Advantage” in 2024, an AI-powered services platform with digital assistants and proprietary methods. Tech-driven consulting models are scaling fast. Competing will require investing in platforms or partnering with firms that already have them.
• Systems design and integration feature centrally in the forecast, with Microsoft, SAP, and Salesforce listed among leading players alongside BCG and Deloitte. The line between strategy and tech execution keeps thinning. Tight alliances with hyperscalers and SaaS giants will help you stay in the room.

Service segmentation

• Service split includes strategy, operations, financial advisory, HR, IT & digital transformation, and marketing & sales. Strategy leads in 2025 and is expected to keep that lead. Clients still want north-star guidance, but they expect execution discipline alongside it.

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• Strategy consulting dominated the market in 2024 and is expected to maintain leadership. Demand for strategic guidance is resilient. Firms that combine forward-looking insight with practical delivery will win client trust.
• Operations consulting, HR, finance, and technology services are also core segments. Clients increasingly want specialists who can connect operational efficiency with digital and workforce challenges.
• Top solution areas called out: education & training services, security consulting, and systems design & integration. Client priorities point to cyber, skill uplift, and complex integration. Package training with build-and-run to lock in stickier accounts.

Industry segmentation

• IT and telecommunications are expected to dominate consulting demand. These industries are undergoing rapid digital transformation and rely heavily on consultants for cloud, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. Tech and telecoms are fertile ground. Deep sector knowledge will be rewarded, especially as regulation grows more complex.
• Manufacturing was the largest vertical in 2023 with a 9.4% share; information technology ranked next. Blend ops know-how with digital depth - industrial clients are buying tech outcomes tied to throughput and quality.
• Energy is the fastest-growing vertical to 2028, with an estimated CAGR of 7.77%. For UK consultants, energy transition work is accelerating. Position around grid modernization, asset digitization, and decarbonization programs.
• Financial services is flagged for fast expansion through the period. Sharpen propositions around cost take-out, risk, data, and core platform change.
• Other sectors with rising demand include healthcare, hospitality, media, real estate, BFSI, government, and energy. Diversification is key. Sector expertise beyond the traditional corporate base may become a differentiator.
• Key buying sectors cited include retail banking, insurance, government, healthcare, transport & logistics, construction, utilities, media, and pharmaceuticals. Keep offers modular by sector. Regulated industries will reward firms that pair compliance fluency with delivery pace.
• Key buyer groups cited: financial services; healthcare & life sciences; energy & utilities; manufacturing & industrial; technology; media & telecom; retail & consumer; public sector; travel, transport & logistics. Lean into sector depth. Regulated industries and tech-heavy corporates are likely to keep spending steadily.

Enterprise size & SME demand

• There were 358m SMEs worldwide in 2024, up from 322m in 2021. SME growth worldwide fuels demand for advisory services. Even smaller consultancies can position themselves as agile partners for this segment.

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• Consulting demand among SMEs is rising, with banks and consulting firms partnering to provide management advice. Partnerships with financial institutions or trade bodies could open the SME door domestically and abroad.
• Demand spans large, medium, and small enterprises; SMEs remain a major growth engine globally. Shape modular, outcomes-oriented packages for mid-market buyers without losing margin discipline.

Geography & growth corridors

UK regional footprint

• The industry supports 50,000 jobs across the UK in 2023, up 66% from 30,000 in 2018. Job numbers dipped slightly from 2022, though attrition remains low. Expansion outside the capital opens up new career paths and signals stronger regional demand.
• More jobs were created outside London than in the capital, with 52% of new hires based in regional offices. Regional hubs are becoming strategic centers of talent and client delivery.
• The number of offices outside London rose to 312. Regional presence is now part of the growth model, enabling firms to be closer to clients and diversify recruitment pools.

Global revenues by region

• Share of 2025 revenue by region: North America 37.62%, Europe 26.60%, Asia-Pacific 23.20%, South America 5.19%, Middle East 4.50%, Africa 2.89%. Europe remains a large pool, but APAC’s momentum is the story to watch for medium-term growth.
• Asia-Pacific led in 2023 with a 34.8% share; North America held 30.0%; Western Europe 18.2%; the rest combined 17.0%. Europe is smaller than APAC and North America, so cross-border plans matter. Anchor in the UK/EU, then lean into APAC partnerships for scale.

Country & regional detail

• United Kingdom revenue: $14.39bn in 2025, rising to $21.82bn by 2033 (CAGR ~5.34%). The home market grows steadily - pair UK depth with selective overseas expansion for balance.
• North America grows from $125.84bn (2025) to $199.98bn (2033), CAGR ~5.96%; the US holds 73.46% of the region in 2025. The US remains the prize. Partnering or setting up a beachhead can unlock scale.
• Europe rises from $88.98bn (2025) to $145.75bn (2033), CAGR ~6.36%; 2025 country shares: Germany 20.96%, UK 16.17%, France 13.90%, Italy 9.64%, Spain 6.98%. Germany and France anchor continental spend, so craft plays that speak to their regulatory and industrial priorities.
• Germany: $18.65bn (2025) → $29.24bn (2033), CAGR ~5.78%. France: $12.37bn → $18.66bn, CAGR ~5.27%. Spain: $6.21bn → $11.49bn, CAGR ~7.99%. Iberia shows a strong pace while Germany offers depth and stable budgets.
• Asia-Pacific climbs from $77.60bn (2025) to $146.88bn (2033), CAGR ~8.30%; 2025 country mix: China 34.67%, Japan 18.57%, India 12.86%, South Korea 8.83%, Australia 7.96%. APAC is the fast lane. India and China show a strong pace; target alliances to navigate local conditions.
• Within APAC, China accounted for 31.9% of regional spend in 2023. For UK consultants: APAC strategy needs China literacy plus hedges. Think of India, Southeast Asia, and Australia as complementary corridors.
• APAC pace-setters by CAGR to 2033: Rest of APAC ~11.08%, India ~9.52%, South East Asia ~8.45%, China ~8.80%. Target growth corridors. India for digital build-outs, SEA for expansion plays.
• South America, the Middle East, and Africa together account for ~12.6% in 2025, with healthy CAGRs (7.28%, 7.35%, 5.92% respectively) through 2033. Pick your spots as energy, infrastructure, and public-sector modernization tend to lead here.
• Middle East bright spots by CAGR: Qatar ~8.69%, Turkey ~7.70%, Saudi Arabia ~7.59%. Energy transition, giga-projects, and government programs remain fertile ground.

Market dynamics: drivers, risks & opportunities

• Drivers: cloud, AI automation, digital change, remote work, sustainability. Pair AI and data with measurable business results; sustainability lenses are now table stakes in boardrooms.
• Shortage of skilled workers and rising wages are restraining adoption, particularly in developing markets. Talent scarcity drives costs higher. Investment in training and retention will be essential to stay competitive.
• Competition from independent consultants and boutiques is intensifying, squeezing margins for larger firms. The independent market is a double-edged sword - a threat to pricing, but also a chance to collaborate or subcontract in niche areas.
• Geopolitical uncertainty, protectionism, and the risk of AI replacing some advisory functions add further headwinds. Resilience will mean diversifying client bases and experimenting with hybrid human-AI delivery.
• Regulatory developments (Brexit, GDPR, US tax reform) are fuelling demand for specialist advice. Regulatory fluency remains a commercial advantage. Compliance-heavy industries will continue to seek trusted advisers.
• Opportunities: ESG and regulatory change; cross-border JVs and partnerships; tech-enabled delivery models. Invest in partnering muscles: local allies, industry consortia, and platform ecosystems.
• Independent consultancies now account for 10% of the UK’s USD 13bn consulting sector. The indie share is too large to ignore. Partnerships, networks, and ecosystems with independents could shape future delivery models.
• Globalization is fuelling joint ventures, acquisitions, and cross-border partnerships. Teaming up with overseas partners could open new sectors and hedge against domestic stagnation.
• Recent deals include Accenture acquiring Partners in Performance, and Japanese Layers Consulting partnering with Dutch Berenscott. Consolidation and partnerships are accelerating. The market rewards firms that can combine reach with depth.

Workforce & talent

• Training and development increased by 12% across the industry, with total training days also rising in 2023. Firms are investing heavily in high-tech skills. Staying ahead means committing to continuous upskilling, especially in AI, cyber, and sustainability.
• Nearly a third of partners are women (31%), up from 28% in 2022 and a 10% advance since 2018. Leadership is becoming more gender balanced, though progress is gradual. Firms with stronger female representation may find a competitive edge in attracting clients and talent.
• Black representation at the senior and partner levels remains stuck at 1% for the fourth consecutive year. This lack of movement is a clear challenge. Industry credibility on diversity will hinge on addressing such persistent gaps.
• LGBTQ+ representation rose from 4% to 7% in 2023, while 6% of employees live with a disability and 4% with neurodiversity conditions. These figures show growing openness and better data collection. Clients increasingly expect firms to reflect wider society, so visibility matters.

Competitive landscape

• Named players across tiers include McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY, Accenture, plus a long tail of challengers. Differentiation rests on sector sharpness, IP-led methods, and account stewardship - not scale alone.
• Named leaders include BCG, Deloitte, SAP, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Expect mixed teams on bids - strategy houses with platform vendors. Bring sector IP and clear governance to avoid being boxed out by larger consortia.

To wrap up

The UK consulting sector is resilient, but not immune to cycles. Growth will come from international mandates, tech-driven delivery, and deep sector plays. Firms that can pair credibility at home with reach abroad will stay relevant. For every consultant, the message is simple: know the numbers, spot the shifts, and position yourself where clients are willing to spend.