CHARTERED MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT ACCREDITATION (ChMC) CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS WITH NEW RESEARCH SHOWING STRONG CLIENT ENDORSEMENT

78% clients surveyed say they would be more inclined to hire consultants who are Chartered
Clients cite higher professional standards, trust and credibility as the key strengths of Chartered consultants
ChMC community reaches nearly 5,000 consultants with over 2,500 people holding the accreditation

The Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) Accreditation, delivered by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in partnership with the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), has marked its fifth anniversary with record-breaking growth and strong endorsement from clients.

Independent research commissioned by the MCA and conducted by Savanta highlights the growing importance of Chartered status in an increasingly competitive consulting market. More than three quarters (77%) of clients surveyed said it’s important consultants hold Chartered status and 78% said they would be more inclined to hire a firm whose consultants are Chartered. Clients pointed to the higher professional standards associated with Chartered consultants (43%), the trust and credibility it brings (43%), and a strong ethical framework and adherence to a code of conduct (39%) as the most valued benefits.1

Since its launch in 2021, the ChMC community has grown to nearly 5,000 consultants, with more than 2,500 holding full Chartered status. Nearly 50 MCA member firms have now committed to offering ChMC accreditation to their teams, reflecting its establishment as the benchmark for management consultancy in the UK.

A recent event celebrating ChMC was attended by more than 150 guests, including clients and consultants, who heard addresses from Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE, Minister for Digital Economy, and Marco Amitrano, Senior Partner for PwC UK and Middle East.

Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE, Minister of Digital Economy, said:

“I am pleased to mark the five-year anniversary of the Chartered Management Consultant Accreditation and to recognise the progress the consultancy sector has made in delivering it. With a strong global reputation in professional and business services (PBS), the UK government has made PBS a central pillar of its modern industrial policy for the first time, recognising consultancy as a key frontier sector essential to driving long term economic growth.

“This anniversary is an important moment for the sector. The introduction of Chartered status has provided a structured way for consultants to demonstrate experience and professional capability, and it is encouraging to see how widely the accreditation has been taken up.”

Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the MCA, added:

“This research demonstrates a powerful endorsement from clients who are clearly stating that Chartered status matters and gives them confidence in who they are hiring. Clients use consultants as trusted advisors on work that is complex, high risk and mission critical and quite rightly they want reassurance on standards, ethics and capability. The Chartered Management Consultant accreditation provides that reassurance and clients are actively choosing it.”

Ann Francke, Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), added:

“This research confirms a pivotal shift: clients now explicitly recognise and value the Chartered award as the definitive hallmark of trust, ethics, and professional excellence. With nearly 80% of clients now prioritising Chartered status, it is clear that ChMC has become an essential benchmark for any consultant looking to win and retain client confidence.”

The Chartered Management Consultant Accreditation is recognised as the sole professional standard for management consultants in the UK, acknowledging the highest levels of competence, professionalism, and ethical practice. ChMC acts as a mark of quality assurance for consultancy services, demonstrating a consultant’s expertise and proficiency in the industry. Uniquely, it is the only internationally recognised professional management consulting accreditation, specifically developed to validate the skills and professionalism of management consultants. As the number of Chartered Management Consultants rises, the UK consultancy sector is steadily moving towards establishing a new benchmark of industry excellence.

For further information, visit Chartered Management Consultant Accreditation – MCA

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Notes to Editors