Apprentice management consultants help businesses solve challenges, create value, maximise growth, and improve corporate performance. They utilise their business abilities to provide unbiased advice and information while assisting an organisation in developing any unique talents it may lack.
You’ll be primarily concerned with a corporation’s strategy, structure, management, and operations. Your role is to investigate options for the organisation, propose modifications, and advise on additional resources to implement solutions.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- meet clients to discuss what they need
- carry out research to gain an understanding of the client’s business
- interview managers, staff and customers
- collect and analyse data and prepare reports
- identify and investigate issues and plan how to tackle them
- highlight areas for improvement
- create computer models to test possible business solutions
- present recommendations to the client
- agree a course of action with the client
- provide ongoing support to the client.
Salary
- Starting salaries for apprentice consultants can be in the region of £25,000 to £30,000 with large firms. However, smaller consultancies may offer lower levels of pay and salaries do vary greatly depending on the location, type and size of consultancy.
- With around three to five years’ experience, it’s possible for management consultants to earn up to £50,000.
- At senior level, with significant experience, it’s possible to earn up to £125,000. This is especially true if profit share and performance bonus schemes are available.
- After considerable experience, management consultants can work on a consultancy basis, charging a considerable day rate or project fee.
Working hours
Consultancy work may be demanding, with long hours outside 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. essential for significant projects and meeting deadlines. On the other hand, your hours will be defined by the company and the kind of assignment.
Companies are emphasising work/life balance by offering family-friendly benefits such as flexible working, part-time employment, working from home, and increasing maternity and paternity leave. In addition, some employers encourage career pauses or secondments in different jobs or outside the company.
Working environment
You could work in an office or at a client’s business.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice management consultant include:
- Level 4 Junior Management Consultant – Entry requirements for this level include 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. This qualification will take 24 months to complete.
Skills
On a management consultant apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- excellent verbal communication skills
- business management skills
- analytical thinking skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to use your initiative
- customer service skills
- the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
- the ability to work well with others
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications.
Employers
Management consultancy firms are the main employers. These can be divided into the following areas:
- Generalists
- Strategy consultants
- Human resource consultants
- Information technology consultancy firms
- Financial consultants
- Outsourcing consultancies
- Niche firms.
Professional development
Depending on the size and kind of consulting organisation, the type of training given may differ. Large organisations often have a structured training programme with a complete induction approach that includes an overview of the organisation, structure, and specialised roles. An expert consultant will usually advise you. In smaller firms, you may get most of your training on the job, and you will be expected to learn as you go.
Professional qualifications may be earned while working, and the CMI provides appropriate prizes. The Level 7 Professional Consulting qualification is available in three levels: award, certificate, and diploma. It is designed for those who want to develop their strategic skills in the consulting profession.
You may proceed to the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) certification, which is achieved via a competency-based assessment system and provides verification that you have fulfilled a certain level. To complete the award, you must be a CMI member or fellow. More information is available at CMI – Qualifications.
Postgraduate qualifications for management consultants are accessible and may be obtained while working with your company’s support. Although the MBA is popular among management consultants, there are other Masters programmes available in relevant business fields.
The MCA offers training, workshops, and seminars to consultants of all levels, from junior consultants to partners, on topics ranging from preparing a business proposal to high-level presentation skills.
Career prospects
Within three years, you should be able to move to the senior consultant or manager position. You will be responsible for managing teams and planning and developing solutions and projects at this level.
It is also possible to work in project management, specialising in a specific industry, to become an expert in that subject.
When you reach the level of senior consultant or manager, you may be promoted to partner or director of a company, where you will generate new business, build client relationships, and oversee the firm’s strategic growth.