More than 330 finalists, clients, judges and industry leaders gathered at Westminster Abbey’s historic Cloisters for the biggest ever MCA Awards 2026 Finalists Reception, sponsored by KPMG. Set within one of the UK’s most recognisable landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reception brought together representatives from consulting firms of all sizes, leading client organisations, government officials and the media to celebrate this year’s finalists ahead of the MCA Awards ceremony in October at the Grosvenor House Hotel.
Dating largely from the 13th to 15th centuries, the Cloisters have stood at the centre of Westminster Abbey for hundreds of years. Against a backdrop of the medieval stone arches and a site closely associated with some of the most significant moments in the nation’s history, consultants and clients came together to celebrate achievements that are helping organisations tackle complex challenges, drive economic growth, strengthen public services and improve lives.
In another record year for entries, forty‑five small, medium and large consultancy firms have reached the finalist stage for the MCA Awards 2026 across both project and individual categories. SMEs represent 60% of all finalists, and the individual categories reflect strong diversity, with 57% of finalists being women and 26% from ethnic minority backgrounds. Many young consultants who are finalists in the Rising Star, Young Consultant of the Year and Apprentice of the Year categories also attended the reception highlighting the strength of the next generation joining the sector. It comes as the latest MCA Annual Industry Report 2026 revealed a 10% increase in graduate recruitment and apprentice hiring up 31% year on year.
From improving border security to helping families reduce energy bills, strengthening cyber resilience and unlocking the potential of new technologies, this year’s MCA Awards finalists are delivering work that affects millions of people across the globe every day with many focusing on resilience, defence and security during these uncertain times. Their achievements demonstrate the reach of consulting across the UK and beyond, helping organisations solve complex problems, improve essential public services, boost productivity and respond to some of the biggest economic and societal challenges of our time. Alongside these projects, the Awards celebrate the exceptional individuals whose expertise, judgement and leadership turn ambition into results.
In her speech at the reception, Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association, said:
“We live in pretty doom-laden times. As a country, we can be very quick to criticise and much slower to celebrate. When something goes wrong, we’re on it like a tonne of bricks. When something goes right, we tend to shrug and move on. We hear the phrase “broken Britain” far more than we hear “brilliant Britain”. It’s as if we assume that the things that do go well simply happen automatically. That public services work. That businesses grow. That infrastructure gets built. That difficult problems somehow solve themselves.
“Yet behind every successful project, every improved service, every innovation brought to life, there are people making it happen. People like our finalists. So much of what works in our country is the result of people doing difficult things well – often without much recognition. And that is why I think the MCA Awards are about recognition. Recognition for the people who make things happen. Recognition for the expertise, creativity and sheer hard work that too often goes unnoticed. And recognition for an industry that can be misunderstood.”
Callum Licence, Group Head of Advisory, KPMG UK &Switzerland, added:
“Making the finalist list of the MCA Awards says something – about the quality of the work, the impact we’ve had and, importantly, what clients think about what we’ve achieved together.
We talk a lot in consulting about outcomes and impact. But ultimately, the sectors reputation is built on whether clients believe we can make a difference when it matters. And external recognition like this genuinely counts.”
Each year, the MCA Awards proudly support a charity partner and this year are pleased to be working with the British Red Cross to help support the Emergency Floods in Nepal. The International Federation of the Red Cross [IFRC] estimates that up to 93,000 people may have been affected by these floods. Donations can help people access essential support to help rebuild from this disaster in Nepal and other crises around the world. You can learn more about their work here
More information on the awards, including the MCA Awards 2027, is at www.mca.org.uk/awards