Transforming Consultancy Services 

As a young and dynamic company, Mindbench is pioneering the effective use of on-demand talent for consulting companies. Founded in 2003, our associate network now comprises over 500 consultants with experience from across the consulting spectrum. We work with a number of top consultancies to complement their in-house teams and are currently expanding in a range of industries including financial services, retail, media and telecommunications.

Associate staffing: the “intelligent” consulting model

The past few years have born witness to a sizeable surge in the demand for experienced associate consultants. Many consultancy firms, including top brand strategy consultancies are discovering the benefits of associate staffing as an answer to volatility in the consultancy market and the increasing need for experienced specialists.

Our research suggests that more and more consultancy firms are modifying their staffing models, increasing their staff flexibility and expanding their talent pools by making greater use of associate consultants. In fact, in the June 2005 Mindbench study of 21 consulting firms, 70% of these firms said they expected to increase their use of associates from 2005 to 2006.

This associate trend is also proving very popular amongst consultants themselves with an increasing number of them discovering the merits of working freelance.

We estimate that there are around 60,000 management consultants working permanently with consultancy firms in the UK and around 10,000 independent or associate management consultants with previous experience in permanent consulting roles. Consultants are electing to work as associates because it offers them the opportunity to choose work that they are genuinely interested in.

Freelance consultants can specify where and when they want to work and can select the areas of consultancy which appeal to them. It also allows them a healthy “work-life” balance and the potential earnings although not guaranteed are comparable to, or higher, than those achievable as a permanent employee.

Mindbench manages the largest network of associate consultants in the UK as well as providing specialist permanent recruitment for the management consultancy industry. We look for candidates with previous experience of working for a consultancy firm and who have solid industry expertise. Industries we particularly focus on are: financial services, telecoms, retail/FMCG and the public sector.

We value our consultants as individuals and encourage their personal and leisure pursuits which range from marathon running to setting up a handbag design business.

We keep in regular contact with our consultants via monthly newsletters and through hosting frequent conferences and social events where they are given the opportunity to network in a relaxed environment and to keep up to date with the latest issues in the consultancy arena.

At Mindbench we match people to projects. It is ideal for our clients as they are offered quality assured candidates who meet the profile requirements for individual projects and, likewise, it appeals to consultants who will only be put forward for projects that they are genuinely interested in. As a result of this model, our consultants are motivated and enthusiastic about the work they undertake, an attitude which is beneficial both to themselves and to our clients.

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