The Financial Times has released the 2025 edition of its UK’s Leading Management Consultants ranking. As well as lauding large firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, IBM Consulting and McKinsey & Company, it also listed a number of mid-market and boutique firms in terms of the quality and breadth of their services.
Despite a difficult year, the UK’s consulting market still managed to cater to crucial projects across the country’s public and private sector. Reflecting the perceived importance of consultants to organisations in the current crisis, the Financial Times (FT) and Statista have launched their annual industry benchmark, highlighting the top-performing consulting firms across 16 sectors and for 14 types of specialist work.
Compiling industry intelligence with client and consultant feedback, the seventh annual listing of the UK management consulting firms found that large, multi-faceted firms were those most often recommended by their clients and peers. Analysing the number of gold ratings attributed by the FT, two firms emerged as the clear front-runners of the evaluation. Accenture received a total of 24 gold ratings – with 13 in services, and 11 in expertise. Meanwhile, Deloitte totted up 10 golds across its expertise lines, and 13 in its services.
Source: Financial Times. Consultancy.uk analysis.
Fellow Big Four member PwC was the next most-awarded gold, with 12 across both categories, followed by rival KPMG on 10. While the top four was broadly unchanged from last year, however, the chasing pack has altered drastically. IBM Consulting was next with seven golds, but Bain & Company leapfrogged its MBB rivals to become the highest ranked strategy player – and the only other firm to pick up more than one gold rating.
Meanwhile, 13 other consulting firms received one gold rating. Rounding off the top table, they were: BAE Systems Applied Intelligence; Oaklin; Arup, AtkinsRéalis; McKinsey & Company; Baringa; EY; CF; Pearson Ham Group, Clarasys; Manifesto Growth Architects; Boston Consulting Group; and 3Keel.
Simon Miller, managing director at 3Keel, said of his firm’s listing, “It’s fantastic to receive a consecutive gold ranking for sustainability in 2025, and our seventh consecutive FT ranking. We are no longer a ‘small’ firm, and it’s heartening that we continue to be recognised by clients and peers for the quality of our work, which was one of the founding principles of 3Keel when we started the firm in 2013.”
Clarasys meanwhile picked up its gold rating in the public and social sector category. The selection came alongside 13 other silver and bronze awards for the employee-owned consultancy.
CEO Matt Cheung noted, “Winning these awards is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our consultants. Their commitment to delivering meaningful impact across industries is why our clients come to us. “But just as important is the determination of our clients. Their drive to improve, adapt, and push boundaries inspires us, and these honours reflect not just our work but the collaborative spirit that fuels real transformation.”
And while having a large, generalist network clearly paid dividends with regards to receiving the most gold ratings, however, the FT listing also highlighted the important contributions of mid-market, boutique and specialist firms to the strength of the market. Among the more than 170 other consultancies included was change management firm Project One, which picked up 13 silver or bronze nods – its most ever.
James O’Sullivan, CEO of Project One, commented, “A heartfelt thank you to all our customers and consultancy peers who recommended Project One. We’re honoured to retain our spot in the report for the sixth consecutive year, it’s a true testament to the quality and value our skilled change leaders deliver every day. Receiving 13 awards, including recognition in two new categories, highlights the strong recommendations in our core services and reflects our deep expertise in an ever-expanding list of sectors. I’m incredibly proud of this industry recognition and deeply grateful to everyone who supported us. Congratulations to our amazing team and to all the consultancies featured in the report!”
Mason Advisory was also among those recognised. Picking up plaudits in 11 different categories, the digital and technology consultancy picked up silver or bronzes including in the financial institutions, consumer goods and retail, public and social sector, travel transportation and logistics lists.
Paul Pugh, CEO at Mason Advisory, added, “This year, we have secured our best results yet in the report and being included is recognition from the whole industry and a huge honour for the business. To be featured for the seventh time and to have secured awards in eleven categories demonstrates the impact of the work our team delivers, our strong partnerships with our clients, our deep expertise, and our understanding of the market.”