3 out of 4 Management Consultants Educated in State Schools

The Management Consultancies Association surveyed members of the Young MCA, the organisation’s group for consultants with up to 5 years experience, in response to a call for evidence by the Cabinet Office’s Panel on Fair Access to the Professions.

The survey also found that nearly 85% of these consultants agree that the consulting industry is open to all on merit, regardless of background. Almost 90% stated that they had not encountered any financial obstacles to pursuing a career in consulting.  

Alan Leaman, Chief Executive of the MCA commented:

“These results are encouraging and confirm that entry to the consulting industry is based on merit, regardless of background.  This makes sense, since consulting firms depend on the quality and expertise of their staff to win business and serve their clients.”

An analysis of the universities attended by these consultants found strong results for Bristol, Durham, Nottingham and University College London.

Many respondents argued that the industry’s focus on talent and the absence of the need to gain expensive professional qualifications prior to employment make the industry particularly attractive.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

Table showing most commonly attended universities of junior management consultants:

Position    University
1      Bristol
2=    Durham
2=    Nottingham
2=    UCL
5=    Birmingham
5=    Leeds
5=    Loughborough
5=    Oxford
5=    Warwick
10=    Cambridge
10=    Imperial College
10=    UMIST
   

For more information, please contact:

Hilary Downes
Press Officer
Management Consultancies Association
Tel: 020 7321 4810
Email: hilary.downes@mca.org.uk
David Pippett
Director
DWP Public Relations
Tel: 01225 833745 / Mobile: 07899 798197
Email: david@dwppublicrelations.co.uk

About the Management Consultancies Association
The MCA was formed in 1956 to represent the consultancy industry to its clients, the media and government.  Management consultancy is an increasingly important industry for the UK economy with management consultancy revenues for 2007 estimated at around £8bn.  MCA members represent around 70% of the UK consulting sector, employ around 30,000 consultants and work with most of the FTSE100 and all government departments. Eight of the top ten UK-based consulting firms (by consulting fee income) are members.        

The MCA supports its member firms with a range of services including events, publications, interest groups and public relations. The Association also works with its members to attract the top talent into the industry. The MCA provides advice on the selection and use of management consultants and is the main source of data on the UK market.
www.mca.org.uk

About the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions
The Panel on Fair Access to the Professions was announced on the 13th January 2009 and is chaired by Rt Hon Alan Milburn MP. The Panel will look at the processes and structures that govern recruitment into key professions, and identify actions that the professions, supported by government where relevant, could undertake to improve access into professions. The Panel will run until summer 2009 supported by a secretariat based in the Cabinet Office.

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