European consulting market worth well over over 70 billion euro - 1 November 2007 -

A report released today by FEACO, The European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations, reveals that the size of the European Management Consulting Market is now worth an estimated 74 billion Euro. This figure represents an average weighted increase of 10.7 %.

The new market definition which FEACO introduced in 2006 allows viewing the European MC Market from two perspectives: total sales or turnover from Consulting services only. Both analyses identify Germany as the largest market and the UK as the second market for consulting in Europe. France or Spain, which each represent about one third of one of these markets, ranks third, depending on the criterion used. Turnover from Consulting is higher in France than in Spain, whereas the total sales in Spain are higher than those in France.

  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Market Size € 46,5 bill € 47,5 bill € 48,5 bill € 61,6 bill € 74 bill
Growth Rate -2.0 % 3.5 % 3.7 % 14 % 10.7 %
Management Consulting Firms 57,000 58,000 60,000 53,500 55,000
Key Service Lines

IT: 28.5 %
OM: 28.2 %
Strategy: 19.9 %
Outsourcing: 12.7 %
HR: 10.7 %

IT: 28.19 %
OM: 26.9 %
Strategy: 17.4 %
Outsourcing: 17.4 %
HR: 10.2 %

 OM: 27.3 %
IT: 25.8 %
Outsourcing: 19.0 %
Strategy: 17.1 %
HR: 10.8 %		 BC/IT: 42.5 %
Outsourcing:20.9 %
Dev&Intgr: 19.0 %
IT: 12.3 %
Other: 5.4%

IT: 23 %
OM/BC: 33 %
Dev&Intgr : 19 %
Outsourcing: 19 %
Other: 6 %
Management Consulting Markets (Total Turnover in €bill)

UK:13.6
Germany:13.0
France:6.2
Netherlands:2.4
Spain:2.2

UK:14.8
Germany:13.1
France:5.6
Netherlands:2.6
Spain:2.0

 UK:14.2
Germany:13.3
France:5.9
Netherlands:2.8
Spain:2.0		 Business & IT Consulting
Germany:13.1
(total: 19.7)
UK: 9.2 (total: 18)
France: 3.3 (total:5.9)
Spain:1.6 (total: 6.9) Italy: 1.3 (total 2.0)

Germany:16.3
UK:14.2
France:5.8
Spain:5.8
Netherlands:3.1

Management Consulting now contributes 0.62% to European GDP. Most countries reported a steady growth of the MC market. Several countries reported double digit growth. Expectations for 2007 are even higher. The general trend is positive and optimistic. Only Portugal reported a market decline, but expects growth for 2007.

Consulting services (Business consulting and IT Consulting) accounted for 56% of the total turnover, Outsourcing for 19% and Development and Systems Integration for 19%. Within Business Consulting, the top two service lines are Organization/Operation Management (OM) and Strategy (SC).

Economic growth and stability were the main drivers for demand, as well as the realisation by European companies that, to be competitive in the European or the global market, they need to invest and develop.

Other drivers were the increased export to Eastern European countries, particularly for the bordering countries, and the accession to the EU, for those who joined recently.
The Industry, banking and public sector remain the driving sectors in most Eastern and Western European countries alike, accounting for 70% of the total turnover.

Experience, quality, professionalism and ethics are key elements for choosing a consultancy. There is a clear trend towards investment in new projects and more long-term projects. The steady growth in demand is causing a 'war for talent' on the market.

Reference : FEACO Market Information, 2007