MCA CEO Tamzen Isacsson on the consulting industry’s outlook for 2026
With Christmas Day’s entertainment schedule now stuffed with a multitude of rival addresses, the UK monarchy no longer holds monopoly on festive insight. Asked for her take on the last year, Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the Management Consultancies Association, has offered Consultancy.uk readers an end-of-year message on behalf of the industry’s representative body.
For 2026, MCA Member firms are signalling increased confidence, and many anticipate a steady rise in demand for consulting services, outperforming the growth rate of the rest of the economy. This is welcome news after flat growth the last couple of years and leaders reported it had been a busy close to the end of 2025.
The strongest opportunities will continue to centre on digital and technology services and members highlight that clients are prioritising productivity efficiency, cost reduction and transformation projects. There is a real sense of momentum coming back into the market and firms are ensuring the right specialist skills are in place in the UK and overseas to service demand and ensure they have competitive offerings. Digital innovation and AI continue to be major drivers of future growth.
Firms themselves are preparing for significant investment in AI capabilities, expecting it to reshape delivery models and unlock efficiency gains. As consulting firms adapt to evolving client expectations, they are also exploring innovative approaches to problem-solving and service delivery, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.
By embracing innovation and maintaining a strong focus on both client and employee needs, the sector is well positioned for sustained success in the year to come. In an increasingly complex and volatile global economy the outlook for our sector looks cautiously optimistic.
