{
  "id": 19650476,
  "title": "Consultancy leads UK growth as AI appetite surges amongst businesses",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/consultancy-leads-uk-growth-as-ai-appetite-surges-amongst-businesses",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-11-12T12:41:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/consultancy-leads-uk-growth-as-ai-appetite-surges-amongst-businesses/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Consultancy services played a significant role in driving UK economic growth during the third quarter, as firms increased their demand for AI and technology-related services. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 0.7% growth in the economy between July and October, with the consultancy and computer programming industries being the top contributors to GDP growth in 2026. The information and communications sector saw a 2.1% increase in the third quarter, with consultancy, computer programming, and related activities growing by 4.4%.\n\nTamzen Isacsson, chief executive of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), highlighted the importance of consulting to the UK economy, stating that client demand for digital transformation, AI, and cyber security advisory services has driven a 6% increase in fee income this year. AI is increasingly becoming a significant growth area, as organizations move beyond experimentation and seek practical support to deploy the technology effectively and achieve measurable benefits.\n\nDean Hughes, head of consulting and digital at MHA, noted that the firm has seen organizations across various sectors investing in technology, data, and AI solutions, with advisers helping them implement and manage the risks associated with the technology. The past quarter has been the busiest for MHA's consulting and digital service line.\n\nAccountancy and legal sector revenues also experienced a significant rebound in the third quarter. The ONS reported accounting industry revenues rising by 13% in September to £4.25bn, up from £3.75bn in August. Julie Matheson, accounting industry regulatory partner at Kingsley Napley, attributed this growth to the broader positive performance of the UK economy, despite ongoing challenges such as the Iran situation, rising inflation, interest rates, and the impact of AI on business models. Similarly, the legal industry saw revenues increase by 15.5% in September to £5.35bn, up from £4.63bn in August, according to the ONS' monthly business survey.",
  "summary": "Consultancy services were one of the biggest drivers of UK economic growth in the third quarter, driven by rising demand from firms for AI and tech-related services. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported the economy grew 0.7 per cent between July and October, with the consultancy and computer programming industries, and related activities being [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Consultancy services contributed to 0.7% UK economic growth in Q3 2026.",
    "AI and technology services saw 4.4% growth in consultancy industry.",
    "Client demand for digital transformation, AI, and cyber security drove 6% fee income increase."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}