UK consulting apprenticeships rise amid talent diversification drive
The number of apprentices, trainees and school leavers joining the consulting sector has risen past 1,000 people. The news presents major opportunities for professionals to access the industry, without needing to go through higher education.
National Apprenticeship Week 2024 is the 17th annual edition of the UK’s celebration of apprenticeships. The week brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 is “Skills for Life” and aims to encourage everyone to consider how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and employers to develop a workforce with future ready skills.
The consulting industry is one of the leading destinations for young professionals – be it following higher education, or after leaving school – as it offers opportunities for new entrants to quickly build their knowledge, networks and skillsets. Reflecting this, the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) has released figures which show the number of apprenticeships its member-firms offer has risen dramatically in the last year.
The MCA, which is the trade association for management consultancy firms in the UK, found that as of its 2023 industry report, 1,675 apprentices were currently in programmes with its affiliated consultancies. This is a dramatic increase from the 795 in 2022 – and almost 1,000 more than the number of apprentices, school leavers and trainees entering the firms in 2020.
Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the Management Consultancies Association, commented, “The consulting industry is continuing its drive to recruit diverse young talent from across the UK irrespective of whether they have a traditional degree or not and it’s encouraging to see the number apprenticeship schemes increasing. As client demand continues to drive growth, the industry remains an attractive career option with world class training and development as well as professional recognition with the Chartered Management Consultant Accreditation (ChMC).”
The MCA’s research also reveals that the consulting industry continues to be more accessible to talent from a varied mix of backgrounds. The portion of young consultants who attended a Russell Group university is now 35%, compared to a peak of 73% in 2011. At the same time, only 5% of joiners were graduates from Oxbridge, compared to 7% who said they did not attend university at all – boosting the social-mobility credentials of the sector.
Olivia Sullivan is one of the many young professionals who has been able to use the consulting sector as a means to kickstart her career. A degree apprentice with MCA-member Arup, she was named Apprentice of the Year at the MCA Awards 2023. While studying at school and sixth form, she wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to do, but “knew that the traditional university route” didn’t appeal to her. With A-Level choices of economics, business and sociology teaching her the basics of the business world and the wider economic climate, she realised that the consulting world appealed to her as a practical means to grow her knowledge instead.
Speaking on the opportunities offered in the sector, Sullivan said, “I would say to someone considering a career in consulting that it is an excellent sector to work in. It offers many development opportunities due to it being so vast and covering so many industries. This means that as your career develops, you can specialise in particular areas you feel you can add the most value. The consulting sector is one that is rapidly growing, and whilst technological advancements are shaping the way we work, the human side of consulting will never be replaced.”
