Rising exports drove UK consulting industry growth in 2025
Outpacing the industry’s wider growth rate, the size of UK consulting’s export market is expanding. The latest research from the Management Consultancies Association suggests export earnings have risen by 9% in the last year – strengthening the UK consulting sector’s position as a global hub for consulting advice.
UK consulting has been locked into a slow growth cycle in recent years, with different assessments suggesting the industry’s collective revenue was either plateauing, or negative growth. After the 2020 lockdown period, consultants enjoyed an immediate rebound, which saw a brief glut in demand lead to major hiring campaigns – but in the years following, many of the largest firms have downsized their headcount, as clients once again postponed projects amid geopolitical uncertainty and rampant inflation.
According to the Management Consultancies Association’s Annual Industry Report 2026, however, the industry is set for stronger growth both at home and abroad, with firms forecasting a 6% increase in revenue in 2026 and 8% in 2027. Produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, the MCA used data from its member firms to estimate the health of the wider sector in 2025, too, and found that revenues expanded by 3% to a combined value of £21.8 billion.
The findings suggest the expected acceleration of growth will be powered by international demand. Exports now account for 31% of total consulting fee income, thanks to export earnings outpacing both domestic consulting revenues and the wider UK business services sector, seeing a 9% rise year-on-year. Europe and North America each contributed 10% to that, while APAC contributed 4%, the Middle East and Africa accounted for 3% and South America 2%. More than 60% of firms now generate revenue overseas, underlining the sector’s increasingly international perspective and its role as a key UK export industry.
Tamzen Isacsson, CEO of the MCA, said, “Britain’s world-beating consulting industry continues to demonstrate its global strength, with export growth outpacing the wider economy and reinforcing our position as a trusted partner to clients worldwide… Britain urgently needs to get back to growth, and if the sense of momentum propelling our industry forward can permeate the wider economy, essential work on large-scale infrastructure projects, technology upgrades and vital enhancements to public services can commence. Our industry has an important role to play in countering the narrative of negativity and pessimism that hinders decision-making confidence and long-term planning.”
The findings are an improvement on 2024’s figures, when the MCA estimated flat growth – seeing revenues lag around the £20.4 billion mark. In 2025, it estimates this rose by 3% to £21.8 billion.
The positive outlook is supported by strong confidence across the breadth of the sector, with 88% of firms expecting to grow in 2026 and almost all firms anticipating growth the following year. Large firms dominated consulting activity in 2025, generating 77% of total fee income, while medium-sized firms accounted for 20% and small firms made up the remaining 3%.
MCA member firms hired more than 5,400 new staff in 2025, with graduate recruitment rising by 10% and apprentice hiring increasing by 31% on a like-for-like basis. At the same time, there has been a clear shift towards experienced professionals, who now account for 37% of new hires, reflecting the growing complexity of client demand and the need for specialist expertise, particularly in areas such as AI, data and digital change as well as cyber threats.
The consulting sector continues to make a significant economic contribution across the UK, with 347 offices located outside London. The MCA Annual Industry Report 2026 also highlights continued investment in talent and professional development, with consultants receiving an average of seven days of training in 2025, and smaller firms providing even higher levels at 7.8 days per employee. This focus on skills is further reflected in the growth of the Chartered Management Consultant Accreditation (ChMC), with over 2,800 consultants now Chartered, a 55% increase over the past year.
Speaking on the findings, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves commented, “Britain’s consulting sector is a world-class export success story, and these figures show exactly why the UK is the destination of choice for businesses and investors seeking trusted expertise. This industry is demonstrating that British services are competitive, credible and in demand across the globe. Through our industrial strategy, closer relationship with the EU and landmark trade deals, this government is backing sectors like consulting because they are central to growing our economy - helping businesses adopt AI, delivering the infrastructure and digital transformation our public services need, and flying the flag for British standards worldwide.”
