Over 20 consulting firms named among UK’s best small companies to work for

The Sunday Times has unveiled its 2025 list of the best small companies to work for in the UK. More than 20 consulting firms made the prestigious career-focused ranking.

The UK consulting industry is dominated by a number of large players. These generalists tend to hoover up graduate talent in the months leading up to September, as young professionals look to continue their learning, while also picking up important working experience. But all too often, the opportunities offered by smaller firms are over-looked.

Small and mid-sized enterprises can offer access to the same level of expertise as larger firms – they are often founded by former partners of major firms, going into business for themselves – while also presenting the chance for staff to specialise in a niche. At the same time, a smaller headcount means new arrivals will benefit from a close-knit, supportive culture – while also most likely enjoying a better work-life balance than at a larger, less personal working environment.

Highlighting the best places to look for such an environment, The Times has released its 2025 list of small businesses that punch above their weight, when it comes to employee experience. And among the 202 SMEs, there are more than 20 consulting firms, which offer excellent opportunities for their staff to not only learn the ropes, but boost their wellbeing and forge life-long contacts.

Afiniti Consultants

London management consulting firm Afiniti offers a flexible working environment and generous holiday allowances for its team of 46. The firm keeps a mental-health first aider is on hand, while those who embrace the company’s values are celebrated with input from colleagues and clients. While staff can balance their professional and personal lives, merit promotions also recognise exceptional performance, with bonuses given.

aim

Dartford management consultancy aim prides itself on showcasing the team’s success with annual company days. Its “people-first” approach is fostered via wellbeing surveys and career development plans for its 21 employees, while mentorship, internal promotions and flexible working add to the company culture. Benefits also include competitive compensation, parental leave, and a volunteering day each year.

Argon International

Based in London, the management consultancy focuses on enabling its 18 employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Within the flat management structure at Argon International, there is the expectation that colleagues will take responsibility for their own workloads. So, remote working is allowed; and staff are encouraged to take training courses, while regular “lunch and learn” sessions are held. Employee benefits include uncapped leave, monthly commission-based bonuses for sales staff and health insurance.

Barker Langham

Cultural consulting specialist Barker Langham creates sustainable projects around the globe, became an employee-owned trust in 2024, meaning its 29 staff all stand to benefit financially from its success. Flexible working options for employees with the London firm include a work-from-anywhere policy and a shortened work week, known as the Barker Langham Long Weekend. Staff can also “bank” public holidays to use as and when they need them.

Beyond Blue

All 19 employees at this Edinburgh tech consultancy are empowered to influence the direction in which the business goes, regardless of rank. The company, which is fully remote, is proud to offer the kind of employee experience usually seen in larger organisations: a reflection of its people-centric philosophy that includes a generous total compensation package, and directors who use their networks to match colleagues with industry mentors. Benefits include the option to work abroad for five days annually, private healthcare and biannual bonuses.

BeyondFS

Financial crime consultancy BeyondFS helps its staff to thrive by providing breakfast in its London office on Mondays, while a daily lunch club aims to build a sense of togetherness. The 12 colleagues can enjoy a hybrid work week, and each has a dedicated development plan. Paid-for monthly socials are hosted, from karting to cookery classes, and there is an annual retreat abroad. Benefits include a £3,000 allowance to spend on what matters most.

Beyond Governance

Accredited by Investors in People, Beyond Governance is a boutique consultancy looks after its 16 staff with flexible working and time off in lieu as and when required. Based in Ware, Hertfordshire, it supports those working remotely with virtual health assessments from a physiotherapist to iron out any of the aches and pains associated with home offices. Regular in-person events and social gatherings ensure team morale stays high. Benefits include a bonus scheme and pension contributions of up to 4%.

BFY Group

Nottingham consultancy BFY Group sees its management go the extra mile to set their 44 employees up for success. Performance coaches help to enable rapid career progression while the flexible, autonomous work environment ensures staff can maintain a healthy work-life balance. Benefits include medical insurance, a bonus scheme and wellbeing support through the company’s partners.

C80 Group (now enevo)

At this fast-growing engineering, environmental and building consultancy in Birstall, West Yorkshire, it’s all about helping the 43 staff to thrive in any situation. It offers flexible hours, clear career paths and plenty of development opportunities to give every employee the chance to reach their full potential. The ability to buy and sell holiday allowance, plus healthcare cashback options and an employee assistance programme ensures everyone feels that their voice is heard.

Clearsulting

With 30 staff in its south London office and more than 300 across the globe, this digital finance consultant highlights teamwork as a core value. Weekly check-ins ensure employee welfare, while quarterly performance reviews and annual round tables put an emphasis on professional development. Initiatives such as a women’s group and a diversity, equity and inclusion council aim to make everyone feel included, while volunteer activities, from Earth Day clean-ups to toy collection drives for the holiday season, help the community at large.

Deecon Consulting

B Corp-certified Uxbridge business management company Deecon is committed to a people-focused culture that ensures its 43 employees feel valued. In support of a positive work-life balance, the company offers flexible working. A flat organisational model encourages openness and collaboration, and biannual surveys are conducted to seek employee feedback.

Economic Insight

The London-based economics consultancy boasts a mentoring programme, which has been established to empower the 21 staff to advance in their careers, and a culture of feedback is encouraged. Colleagues can access flexible working, and an enhanced parental leave policy supports family life, while personal time is protected with a policy not to contact colleagues between 7pm and 7am. Benefits include health insurance and free gym memberships.

Elsewhen

Staff can work elsewhere at Elsewhen, with a flexible-first approach meaning its 50 employees can do their jobs from home or the office. Regular social events and team meet-ups bring people together and a learning and development budget ensures they develop professionally. Elsewhen, which counts Spotify, Google and Soho House among its clients, organises an annual team trip and offers perks such as bonuses, private health insurance, 35 days’ holiday and a contribution towards gym membership.

etch Associates

This engineering consultancy, based in Wantage, Oxfordshire, helps staff carve out rewarding careers with high profile projects, monthly one-to-ones and opportunities for promotion. Benefits on offer to the 26 employees include a nine-day fortnight, a day off on their birthday, Christmas hampers and Pirkx Rise membership, which includes access to private GP appointments and gym discounts.

Etch

Flexibility and wellbeing are part of the winning formula at this digital consulting firm where employees choose their hours and work location. The Southampton-based business, which has worked with clients including British Airways, Maserati and Uber, organises wellness retreats, runs talks on topics from meditation to personal finance for staff. The B Corp also provides funding for training and skill building and champions positive change through charitable initiatives.

Goaco

Based in Ebbsfleet, this digital consultancy firm provides IT services across the public and private sector for clients including Crossrail, Reuters and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. The business, which also has offices in Sheffield, Dunoon and Dubai, helps the wellbeing of its 25 workers via the Pirkx benefits platform, including discounted gym membership, private health cover and shopping discounts.

Hadron Consulting

Founded in 2014 by a former director of Deloitte, Hadron offers specialist project management services for building developments throughout the UK, from Aberdeen Sports Village to Dover District Leisure Centre. Based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, it has a staff of 12 and aims to put client relationships and employees’ happiness at the forefront of every business decision. Besides competitive salaries and bonuses, it offers a strong benefit package and flexible working options.

Happy

Creating joy for its clients – and its 22 workers – is the aim of the game at this London workplace consultancy and learning provider, which recently became employee-owned. Full-time staff only need to work 80 per cent of their hours in order to earn 100 per cent of their salary, while 20 per cent of company profits are split between the staff and four per cent is donated to a charity of their choice. There is also a monthly excellence bonus, based on customer loyalty.

Herd Consulting

Each of the 18 employees at this management consultancy in Sheffield receives a £1,000 annual development fund to spend as they wish. The company places people at the heart of the business – and animals too, providing a dog-friendly office, paid pet bereavement leave and a flexible working policy that supports pet ownership. Benefits include paid days off work on birthdays, and a virtual GP service available seven days a week.

Initiate

A personal development programme, lunch and learns, mentorship schemes and internal mobility gives the 24 employees at this Northampton-based global health technology assessment consultancy, with plenty of opportunities to grow professionally. Initiate, which has offices in London and Zug in Switzerland, offers hybrid working and organises an annual team-building day. The staff-run wellbeing group organises a book club and various fun challenges. Three Privilege Days at Christmas, performance bonuses and a healthcare insurance scheme are among other benefits.

Jones Hargreaves

Social and sporting events, an all-colleague summer awayday and an annual fully funded four-day ski trip to Italy create a strong team culture among the 40 employees at this London commercial building, project and sustainability consultancy. The company, with clients throughout the UK and Europe, has seven offices and offers remote work options and unlimited annual leave. Net profit is reinvested in team members rather than being held by senior colleagues, ensuring there is no wage disparity.

Perform Partners

Development pathways provide personalised support for individual growth for the 23 workers at Leeds business consultancy Perform Partners. Flexible working and remote options are available and there is an employee assistance programme. Funds are allocated for professional certifications and leadership training, while benefits include medical cover and retail discounts through the company’s portal. Enhanced pay is offered for maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

Pillar

When it comes to adaptability, London-based project management consultancy Pillar goes one step further. As well as flexible hours, it offers its 14 staff the chance to work at 40 different locations, with team catch-ups on Monday morning and Wednesday lunchtime. Because project management can be stressful, it offers mentorship and mental-health support, but there is also the chance to let off steam. In the past 12 months, team-building breaks – planned by the younger members of staff – have included trips to Copenhagen and Bruges.

Risk & Policy Analysts

Benefits for team members at the Norwich employee-owned professional services consultants include 38 days annual leave. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements are offered, and family policies are continually improved to support the team of 44 at every stage of their lives. There is a five per cent employer pension contribution and staff get a day’s paid volunteering leave, together with private healthcare.

Rock Fall

Company awaydays with Rock Fall include working with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. The safety boot manufacturer, a second-generation family business in Alfreton, has a trained mental-health first aider on the staff, and management hold regular one-to-ones with each of the 46 employees. The company aims to have a positive influence in its community, and employees have held presentations at local schools on the benefits of using environmentally friendly materials to make footwear.

Seven

At real estate consultancy Seven an open-door policy helps to create a collaborative approach in the workplace. Hybrid working is offered to allow the 49 employees to work flexibly, and there is an option for a sabbatical programme. The fridge is stocked in the London office and lunch is provided every Monday for the weekly team meeting. Mental-health first aiders support the wellbeing programme, and employees are given two days a year to support charitable organisations.

Snap Analytics

Based in Bristol, Snap Analytics offers technical training courses, mentorship from personal development coaches and a new programme incorporating leadership, communication and client facing skills ensure staff stay on top of their game. The data analytics specialist encourages innovation and teamwork among its 46 employees. Flexible working options include hybrid, remote and in-office but company meetings, social gathering and clubs bring colleagues together. Perks include an annual bonus linked to company performance.

Tessiant

Unusually in this male-dominated industry of management consulting, the majority of the 20 employees are women. Staff at Tessiant can be mentored by external industry leaders or take on the role of a mentor under the Tessiant Mentoring Circle Programme. Founded in 2020 by Anna Barsby, Matt Neale and Alex Ball, the London-based firm offers flexible working options; meanwhile, lunch and learns, quarterly away days, charity fundraising and annual awards keep the team motivated.

Vested

Vested is a global marketing and communications consulting firm. Though based in London, its 18 UK employees can work from anywhere in the world and take unlimited time off, as well as dedicated rest days. They can also expect more than 30 hours of training per year, plus performance-related bonuses of up to 20 per cent, private healthcare and enhanced parental leave. After four years, they can take a three-month paid sabbatical or a three-week funded holiday.