On Thursday 7th July Integration formally demonstrated its commitment to Consulting Excellence through the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), latest initiative. The MCA is a representative body for UK based management consultancy firms. The initiative promotes high standards in three important pillars for any management consulting company of worth. Those pillars are; ethical behaviour, client service and value, and professional development. At a ceremony in London, Martin Wing, Partner at Integration Consulting, signed a declaration of commitment to the adoption of the three pillars and the supporting principles of consulting excellence.

With a membership boasting around 60% of the UK consulting market, the MCA acts as the voice of the industry, promoting credibility and initiating engagement with different stakeholders; government bodies, consultancy buyers and the member firms. As part of the MCA since February 2015, Integration is positioned in the UK as a consultancy that helps set the high standards of the industry.

The importance of Consulting Excellence

The Consulting Excellence framework is comprised of 9 principles to guide consulting firms in exemplar practice. It has been trademarked in the UK, and is only available for use by member firms of the MCA.

What is so striking about these principles, is their alignment with Integration’s own. How we apply our company values act as a powerful differential between us and a large part of the consulting market. Our professionals embody our culture of respect, honesty and collaboration and look at every experience as a learning opportunity, constantly striving for self-development.

The Consulting Excellence guide is seeking to implement the same transparency, respect and cooperation within the wider industry and build trust with stakeholders with a long term vision. With the strong culture and behavioural code perhaps Integration has a head start.

The 9 Consulting Excellence principles are grouped into 3 pillars: Ethical Behaviour, Client Service & Value, and Professional Development:

Ethical behaviour
1. We are responsible and good citizens
2. We conduct our business ethically
3. We foster an ethical culture

Client service and value
4. We provide excellent consulting services which deliver the outcomes clients seek and need
5. We are transparent with clients and respond to their concerns
6. We always strive to improve the value we can deliver to our clients

Professional Development
7. We undertake training and professional development planning each year
8. We promote strong core consulting capabilities and specialisms in our consultants and teams
9. We support our employees’ career progression, professional development and welfare

In Summary: By signing our commitment to these principles we will ensure that we live by them and consult by them! These principles represent the ticket of entry to participate with credibility in the UK Consulting market. Integration will continue to go beyond these minimum standards. Through these and other activities we hope our partnership with the MCA will continue to flourish and we will continue to build our presence in the UK consulting market.