Consultancy sector drives UK growth as AI demand rises

Consultancy services emerged as a primary driver of United Kingdom economic expansion in the third quarter, propelled by increasing corporate demand for artificial intelligence and technology-related expertise. The Office for National Statistics reported that the broader economy grew by 0.7 per cent between July and October. Within this period, the consultancy and computer programming industries, along with related activities, were identified as the largest contributor to gross domestic product growth for 2026. The information and communications sector as a whole expanded by 2.1 per cent, while the specific consultancy and programming sub-sectors recorded a 4.4 per cent increase.

Tamzen Isacsson, chief executive of the Management Consultancies Association, stated that the statistics highlight the significant contribution of the consulting profession to the national economy. She noted that recent data from leading firms indicates strong growth in fee income, with a six per cent increase forecast for the current year. This growth is largely attributed to client requirements for digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and cyber security advisory services. Isacsson explained that artificial intelligence has become a major growth area as organisations move beyond experimental phases and seek practical support to deploy the technology effectively and achieve measurable benefits.

Industry leaders have corroborated these trends, noting a surge in client activity. Dean Hughes, head of consulting and digital at the London-listed advisory group MHA, observed that organisations across various sectors are investing in technology, data, and AI solutions. He noted that clients are engaging advisers to assist with implementation and risk management, describing the recent quarter as the busiest for the firm’s consulting and digital service line. This momentum extended to other professional services, with both the legal and accountancy sectors experiencing significant revenue increases. Accounting industry revenues rose by 13 per cent in September to 4.25 billion pounds, recovering from a lower figure in August. Meanwhile, the legal industry saw revenues spike by 15.5 per cent in September to 5.35 billion pounds, up from 4.63 billion pounds in the previous month.