Business Consultant Analyst
Capita
My journey into consulting began when I joined Capita through the graduate scheme. I started after completing a master’s degree in international business management at Henley Business School, following my undergraduate studies in Business Management at Swansea University. At university, I was drawn to consulting because it offered challenge, variety, and continuous growth which is exactly what I was looking for in a career.
One of the biggest surprises about consulting has been the variety it brings, even within a single project. As a Business Analyst on a government programme, no two days are the same. While I expected consulting to be fast-paced, I was most struck by the responsibility and trust given early on. From understanding stakeholder needs to supporting requirements gathering and working with technical teams, the role demands both structure and adaptability. Seeing how many moving parts must align to deliver a public sector programme has been especially eye-opening.
A project highlight has been supporting process improvement and clarifying requirements on a government programme. By helping stakeholders articulate their needs clearly and translating those into structured requirements, I’ve been able to add value by improving shared understanding across teams. Even small improvements like clarifying handovers or reducing duplication can have a significant impact when working at scale, particularly in public services.
Collaboration sits at the heart of consulting, especially in a remote environment. Tools like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint or OneNote play a key role in enabling effective communication, workshops, and documentation. These tools help maintain momentum, transparency, and alignment, even when teams are spread out geographically. I’ve also begun using AI tools to support my work, particularly for structuring ideas, improving documentation clarity, and sense-checking outputs. Used responsibly, AI has become a helpful assistant that enhances my efficiency rather than replacing my judgement.
Consulting projects can be intense, so maintaining energy and balance is essential. I’ve learned the importance of setting boundaries, prioritising effectively, and making time to recharge outside of work. Seeing the impact of your work, especially on projects with a clear public purpose, helps you stay energised.
Creativity plays an important role here as well, whether that’s finding better ways to visualise processes, approaching stakeholder problems from fresh angles, or proposing more efficient ways of working.
Working in the public sector has heightened my awareness of sustainability and social value. While I haven’t led a dedicated sustainability project, I’ve been involved in discussions around efficiency, waste reduction, and long-term value. Public purpose motivates me because the work directly affects services people rely on, giving the role real meaning.
As I continue to develop in my career, I’m also focused on professional accreditation, including working towards Associate or Chartered Management Consultant status. This has encouraged me to reflect more deliberately on my impact, ethics and development, strengthening my approach to consulting.
For anyone considering consulting as a career, my advice would be simple: stay curious! Consulting will challenge you, stretch you, and push you outside your comfort zone, but also it will accelerate your learning and open doors you didn’t expect. If you enjoy problem-solving, collaboration and purposeful work, consulting is an incredibly rewarding path.