While headlines often focus on economic uncertainty, the UK consulting industry is quietly powering ahead, with the market surging to £16.8 billion in fees billed in 2023 and projected to hit £20.1 billion by 2027.
Key Takeaways
- The UK management consulting market was valued at £14.5 billion in 2022, marking a 7.5% increase from the previous year
- UK consulting revenues reached £12.9 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2017-2021
- The overall UK professional services market, including consulting, grew to £152 billion in 2023, up 5.1% YoY
- UK consulting employment contributed to 1.2% of total UK jobs in 2023, with 450,000 professionals
- Number of management consultants in UK reached 120,000 in 2022, up 4.5% from 2021
- UK consulting firms employed 380,000 full-time equivalents in 2023
- Total revenue of top 10 UK consulting firms reached £9.8 billion in 2023
- Average profit margin for UK consulting firms: 18.2% in 2022
- PwC UK consulting revenue: £4.3 billion in FY2023, up 12%
- The Big Four firms hold 55% market share in UK consulting revenues in 2023
- McKinsey & Company UK market share: 7.2% in strategy consulting 2023
- Deloitte commands 15% of total UK consulting market in 2023
- 68% of UK consulting firms report increased AI adoption demand in 2024 surveys
- Sustainability consulting demand up 35% in UK from 2022-2023
- 45% of UK firms plan to outsource more to consultants post-2023 recession fears
The UK consulting industry is experiencing strong, steady growth driven by digital transformation.
Employment and Workforce
1UK consulting employment contributed to 1.2% of total UK jobs in 2023, with 450,000 professionals
Verified2Number of management consultants in UK reached 120,000 in 2022, up 4.5% from 2021
Verified3UK consulting firms employed 380,000 full-time equivalents in 2023
Verified425% of UK consulting workforce are women as of 2023
Directional5Average salary for UK management consultants: £65,000 in 2023
Single source615,000 new consulting jobs created in UK in 2023, growth rate 3.8%
Verified7UK consulting sector had 2.1% unemployment rate in 2023, below national average
Verified840% of UK consultants hold MBA degrees in 2023 survey
Verified9Partner-level consultants in UK Big Four firms: average 1,200 per firm in 2023
Directional10Remote working in UK consulting rose to 55% of workforce in 2023
Single source11UK consulting apprenticeships grew 18% to 5,200 in 2023
Verified12Diversity: 12% ethnic minorities in UK consulting workforce 2023
Verified13Average tenure for UK consultants: 3.2 years in 2023
Verified1428,000 freelancers in UK consulting market in 2023, up 22%
Directional15UK consulting firms with over 1,000 employees: 45 in 2023
Single source16Youth employment (under 30) in consulting: 35% of total workforce 2023
Verified17Consulting job vacancies in UK: 12,500 unfilled in Q4 2023
Verified18Big Four UK consulting staff: 65,000 total in 2023
Verified19Attrition rate in UK consulting: 14.5% annually in 2023
Directional20UK consulting firms' training spend: £1.2 billion in 2023
Single sourceEmployment and Workforce Interpretation
While consulting may only make up 1.2% of UK jobs, its influence is outsized, as evidenced by a booming, youthful, and well-paid workforce where high turnover, intense training, and a growing freelance army coexist with stubborn diversity gaps and more than half the professionals now working remotely.
Major Firms and Market Share
1The Big Four firms hold 55% market share in UK consulting revenues in 2023
Verified2McKinsey & Company UK market share: 7.2% in strategy consulting 2023
Verified3Deloitte commands 15% of total UK consulting market in 2023
Verified4PwC UK consulting market share: 14.8% in 2023 revenues
Directional5EY's share in UK advisory services: 12.5% in 2023
Single source6KPMG holds 11.3% of UK consulting market in 2023
Verified7Accenture UK market share in IT consulting: 18% in 2023
Verified8Capgemini UK presence: 9% market share in digital consulting 2023
Verified9BDO UK consulting arm market share: 2.1% overall in 2023
Directional10Oliver Wyman UK market share in financial services consulting: 8.5% 2023
Single source11Top 50 UK consulting firms generated 72% of total industry revenue in 2023
Verified12Strategy& (PwC) UK share: 4.2% in strategy segment 2023
Verified13Roland Berger UK market penetration: 1.8% in operations consulting 2023
Verified14Grant Thornton UK consulting share: 1.5% in mid-market 2023
Directional15AlixPartners UK restructuring market share: 22% in 2023
Single source16Number of UK consulting firms: over 25,000 registered in 2023
Verified17FTSE 100 clients represent 65% of revenues for top UK consultancies in 2023
Verified18IBM Consulting UK market share: 6.3% in tech services 2023
Verified19Atos UK share in outsourcing consulting: 7.1% 2023
Directional20Top 20 firms control 82% of UK strategy consulting market in 2023
Single sourceMajor Firms and Market Share Interpretation
The UK consulting landscape resembles a meticulously catered gala where the Big Four take more than half the buffet, a few strategic gatecrashers nab key platters, and over 25,000 hopeful guests are left politely sharing the remaining canapés.
Market Size and Growth
1The UK management consulting market was valued at £14.5 billion in 2022, marking a 7.5% increase from the previous year
Verified2UK consulting revenues reached £12.9 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2017-2021
Verified3The overall UK professional services market, including consulting, grew to £152 billion in 2023, up 5.1% YoY
Verified4UK strategy consulting segment expanded by 9.8% in 2022 to £3.2 billion
Directional5Total UK consulting market projected to hit £20.1 billion by 2027, with 6.3% CAGR from 2023-2027
Single source6In 2023, UK consulting industry saw 8.4% growth, fueled by post-pandemic recovery
Verified7UK IT consulting market valued at £8.7 billion in 2022, growing 10.2% YoY
Verified8Professional, scientific, and technical services sector (incl. consulting) contributed £92 billion to UK GVA in 2022
Verified9UK consulting market share in Europe stood at 12.5% in 2022, with £15.2 billion revenue
Directional10From 2020-2023, UK consulting grew at 5.7% CAGR despite COVID disruptions
Single source11UK management advisory services market reached £4.1 billion in 2023, up 6.8%
Verified12Overall UK consulting fees billed totaled £16.8 billion in 2023
Verified13UK consulting market expanded 11.3% in H1 2023 alone
Verified14Projected UK consulting market size for 2025: £18.9 billion
Directional15UK consulting industry GVA growth rate: 7.1% in 2022 vs. 2021
Single source16Europe-wide consulting growth at 6.2% in 2022, with UK leading at 8.1%
Verified17UK consulting market post-Brexit recovery: +9.2% growth in 2023
Verified18Digital consulting subset in UK grew to £5.4 billion in 2023, +12.5% YoY
Verified19UK consulting market concentration: top 10 firms hold 45% share in 2023
Directional20Annual growth forecast for UK consulting 2024-2028: 5.9% CAGR
Single sourceMarket Size and Growth Interpretation
Apparently, UK businesses spent over sixteen and a half billion pounds last year to be told they should probably do more digital stuff and maybe think about their strategy.
Revenue and Financial Performance
1Total revenue of top 10 UK consulting firms reached £9.8 billion in 2023
Verified2Average profit margin for UK consulting firms: 18.2% in 2022
Verified3PwC UK consulting revenue: £4.3 billion in FY2023, up 12%
Verified4Deloitte UK consulting billings: £3.9 billion in 2023
Directional5EY UK consulting revenue grew 11% to £2.8 billion in 2023
Single source6KPMG UK consulting fees: £2.4 billion in 2023, +9.5% YoY
Verified7Accenture UK revenue from consulting: £2.1 billion in FY2023
Verified8Average billing rate for UK partners: £1,200 per day in 2023
Verified9UK consulting EBITDA margins averaged 22.4% for top firms in 2022
Directional10M&A consulting fees in UK: £1.1 billion in 2023
Single source11Tax advisory consulting revenue in UK: £850 million in 2023, up 7%
Verified12Risk consulting segment revenue: £2.3 billion in UK 2023
Verified13UK consulting firms' total profits: £3.2 billion in 2022
Verified14Hourly billing rates for junior consultants in UK: £450 average in 2023
Directional15Sustainability consulting revenue in UK: £650 million in 2023, +25% growth
Single source16Public sector consulting contracts value: £4.5 billion in UK FY2023
Verified17Private equity consulting fees: £1.4 billion across UK firms in 2023
Verified18Tech implementation consulting revenue: £3.1 billion in 2023 UK
Verified19Overall UK consulting profitability index rose 5.2% in 2023
Directional20McKinsey UK revenue estimated at £1.2 billion in 2023
Single source21BCG UK consulting fees: £850 million in 2023, +10.5%
Verified22Bain UK revenue: £620 million in 2023
VerifiedRevenue and Financial Performance Interpretation
The UK consulting industry's £9.8 billion top-line is a masterclass in turning client anxiety into a 22.4% margin, proving that the most valuable advice is often on how to pay for the advice.
Trends, Challenges, and Future Outlook
168% of UK consulting firms report increased AI adoption demand in 2024 surveys
Verified2Sustainability consulting demand up 35% in UK from 2022-2023
Verified345% of UK firms plan to outsource more to consultants post-2023 recession fears
Verified4Cyber security consulting projects in UK rose 28% in 2023
Directional5Hybrid cloud adoption driving 22% of UK IT consulting spend in 2024 forecast
Single source6Regulatory compliance challenges affect 62% of UK consulting projects in 2023
Verified7Generative AI expected to transform 30% of consulting services by 2027 in UK
Verified8Net zero commitments boost ESG consulting by 41% in UK 2023
Verified9Talent shortage cited as top challenge by 71% of UK consulting leaders in 2023
Directional10Digital transformation projects comprise 55% of UK consulting pipeline in 2024
Single source11Inflation impacted 48% of UK consulting contracts with fee adjustments in 2023
Verified12Supply chain resilience consulting demand up 19% post-Ukraine crisis in UK
Verified1352% of UK consultants predict slower growth in 2024 due to economic uncertainty
Verified14Automation tools reducing junior consultant roles by 15% in UK firms 2023-2025
Directional15Public sector spend on consulting down 8% in UK FY2023 amid scrutiny
Single source16Health & life sciences consulting growth at 14% CAGR to 2028 in UK
Verified1737% of UK consulting deals now include success fees in 2023
Verified18Brexit-related consulting peaked then declined 25% by 2023 in UK
Verified19Future outlook: UK consulting to grow 7.2% in 2025 driven by tech
Directional20Mental health support initiatives adopted by 80% of large UK consultancies in 2023
Single sourceTrends, Challenges, and Future Outlook Interpretation
The UK consulting industry is frantically trying to save the world, secure it, and comply with its new rules, all while being short-staffed, squeezed by inflation, and nervously wondering if a robot will soon be doing its job.
Sources & References
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