The members of the MCA (Management Consultancies Association) today (7th July 2016) launched a new Consulting Excellence scheme that commits them to promoting high standards of ethical behaviour, value for clients and professional development.This new initiative comes at a time when public trust in the voice of business is low, with many voters choosing not to heed business warnings around the dangers of a Brexit vote in the EU Referendum.
In partnership with the Harvard Business Review, the MCA will be hosting a debate on Trust, ethics and reputation in business after the EU referendum this Thursday (7th July 2016) evening in London.
Howard Tollit, President of the MCA, said:
“Consulting Excellence marks a step change for the consulting industry. By working together, we will reinforce the expertise that underpins the best in consulting and create additional benefits for all our firms and clients.”
The launch of Consulting Excellence coincides with celebrations to mark the MCA’s 60th anniversary. The MCA anticipates that the scheme will become the recognised hallmark of excellence in the UK’s £10bn world-leading consulting industry, helping clients to purchase high quality consulting services and employees to opt for firms committed to ethics and value.
Consulting Excellence also confirms consulting’s status as a great profession, central to the UK’s ability to grow businesses and deliver valued public services.
Alan Leaman, CEO of the MCA, said:
“All our members are signing up to the nine Principles of Consulting Excellence. They will show how they live up to these Principles. Research with clients confirms their welcome for these commitments and the hallmark of quality they will represent.
“Consulting is changing rapidly, and this is recognised in our commitments to innovation and professional development. But there are also consulting constants: quality services, strong client relationships and objective advice.
“Consulting Excellence brings these together in ways that will help clients to make informed and better buying decisions, and both consultancies and clients to achieve the complex outcomes the modern economy requires.”
The nine Principles of Consulting Excellence are grouped under the three pillars of Ethical Behaviour, Client Service and Value, and Professional Development. As signatories to Consulting Excellence, MCA members firms commit themselves to adopt the Principles.
Ethical behaviour
1. We are responsible and good citizens
2 .We conduct our business ethically
3. We foster an ethical culture
Client service and value
4. We provide excellent consulting services which deliver the outcomes clients seek and need
5. We are transparent with clients and respond to their concerns
6. We always strive to improve the value we can deliver to our clients
Professional Development
7. We undertake training and professional development planning each year
8. We promote strong core consulting capabilities and specialisms in our consultants and teams
9. We support our employees’ career progression, professional development and welfare
Under Consulting Excellence:
- Consulting firms will show how they live up to these Principles in ways that suit their clients and specialisms.
- Firms will also produce a Consulting Excellence Declaration which will be published on the MCA website.
- The MCA will conduct two major annual surveys to support Consulting Excellence: one of consultants and a second of clients.
On low trust in business voice following the Brexit vote, Alan Leaman added:
“Business is under greater scrutiny than ever and trust in business is often low. Warnings over Brexit from business leaders were not heeded, and the public seems to have lost respect for many of the views expressed by experts.
So I am delighted that the consulting industry is taking this opportunity to get on the front foot by launching this positive initiative.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
- The MCA is the representative body for management consultancy firms in the UK. Its mission is to promote the value of management consultancy for the economy and society as a whole. The MCA’s member companies represent around 65 per cent of the UK consulting industry in fee income, employ around 38,000 consultants and work with over 90 of the top FTSE 100 companies and almost all parts of the public sector. The UK consulting industry is amongst the best in the world and a vital part of the business landscape. MCA members include global players such as the Big 4 Accounting Firms, Accenture and IBM as well as smaller specialist consulting firms.
- The consultant industry body, the Management Consultancies Association are hosting a debate at 30 Euston Square, London NW1 2FB Thursday 7th July 5pm-7pm, on trust in business (and politics) following the Brexit vote. Please contact sam@westminsterpa.com if you wish to attend. The debate is being hosted in partnership with Harvard Business Review, and Stephen Kinnock MP, and Ben Page of Ipsos MORI are on panel.This public conversation about trust in business, coincides with the MCA launching an initiative to build public trust in the consulting industry.
- The MCA CEO Alan Leaman is available for an interview before or after the event and/or he would be happy to provide a comment piece.