1,000 chartered management consultants accredited
Ahead of the new year, the UK's consultancy sector has reached a significant milestone, with 1,000 of its professionals having now received official chartered status. Kayleigh Wong of IBM is the 1,000th consultant to have passed through the accreditation process, since it was launched by the Chartered Management Institute and the Management Consultancies Association.
Since 2017, the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) and Chartered Management Institution (CMI) have steadily been working to roll out the Chartered Management Consultant Award (ChMC). As firms recognise it as a differentiating mark of quality that can help assure current and future clients of their offering, thousands of consultants have commenced their journey to obtain chartered status – while earlier in 2023, half of the industry’s leading firms were reported as enlisting experienced professionals for the process.
Amid this rapid growth, the ChMC has hit a major milestone – with the news that Kayleigh Wong has become the 1,000th UK-based consultant to obtain chartered status. Wong, who has been with IBM since 2018, specialises in cloud and financial services, and began her ChMC journey earlier in 2023.
Wong said, “This accolade indicates to our clients the professional standards I have met and demonstrates the quality of IBM consultants. The process allowed me to reflect on my achievements and learnings to date and built my confidence knowing I had the required skills and competencies as a management consultant. The accreditation is recognition of my abilities and experience to date, its valued by our clients and a differentiator and hallmark of quality. I look forward to building my career further as a Chartered Management Consultant.”
There are many more landmarks on the horizon for the ChMC, too. With over 50 MCA member firms having committed to offering the ChMC accreditation to their teams, 4,000 individuals are actively pursuing this accreditation, emphasising the industry's dedication to professionalism and expertise in consulting.
Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the MCA, said, "Reaching this milestone of 1,000 chartered management consultants demonstrates the remarkable dedication of both consulting firms and individuals to uphold excellence in their practice. The ChMC Accreditation symbolises the highest professional standards, emphasising our commitment to delivering exceptional value to clients.”
At the same time, the ChMC accreditation is much more than a quality assurance mark for their services. An majority of participants also see it as a way to enshrine positive attitudes and ethics within the consulting industry. To that end, the latest CMI ChMC Evaluation Survey 2023, aimed at assessing ChMCs who have obtained the accreditation, found that reveals 96% affirming its role in emphasising integrity and commitment to ethics. Additionally, 87% of surveyed chartered consultants expressed increased self-awareness, and 85% noted improved self-confidence.
Ann Francke, CEO of the CMI, added, "The ChMC Accreditation has proven to be a game-changer, not only in raising industry standards but also in inspiring a new wave of professionalism among consultants. The achievement of 1,000 ChMCs marks a significant moment, underscoring our commitment to delivering excellence in consultancy services and ensuring clients receive the highest expertise and value. ChMC has emerged as a pivotal force, elevating professionalism and setting higher industry standards, and we are delighted to be part of this journey."
