The Sunday Times has announced its annual ranking of the best places to work in the UK. Among the companies listed are 17 consulting firms from across the country.
Now in its fourth year, the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 is voted for via a survey of more than 200,000 staff. Powered by employee engagement experts WorkL, the complete list spans 25 industry sectors across the UK, including tiny charities, specialist law firms, multinational fast-food chains, utility giants, and everything in between.
Included in this year’s ranking is a cohort of 17 consulting firms. Showcasing the innovative approach the sector often takes to staff welfare and empowerment, they range from niche boutiques, to global audit and advisory networks.
Menzies
With 1,011 UK staff, the business advisory and accountancy firm is headquartered in London and has offices throughout the country. Offerings include the Menzies Academy – which offers a range of face-to-face, virtual and e-learning programmes to help them progress in their careers – and benefits including hybrid working, private medical insurance, and volunteering opportunities help staff feel engages and impactful.
HaysMac
A London-headquartered accountancy and tax advisory firm, the 600-strong company was named diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) champion of the year at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards in 2025. Led by Natasha Frangos, the partner-owned firm nurtures the technical expertise and leadership and interpersonal skills of its team, while benefits include discretionary and non-discretionary bonuses, spot bonuses, gym discounts, an annual life event day and monthly wellbeing workshops.
Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC)
The 180 staff of the safety, engineering and risk management consultancy benefit from its success, as ARC is employee-owned. ARC has eight offices in the UK and Australia, provides an unlimited training budget, paid study leave, a mentoring scheme and opportunities for international travel. Maternity and paternity leave has been enhanced after feedback and other benefits include a share scheme, 38 days holiday and annual travel insurance.
Afiniti Consultants
With 49 staff, the London headquartered change management consultancy has an office in the US too – offering its team virtual and flexible working and international travel opportunities. As well as training via a digital skills hub, it offers staff the chance to connect with a sense of purpose via social events, fitness challenges and fundraising activities, including a virtual charity walk from London to Ukraine.
Cavendish Consulting
Based in London with outposts across the UK and Ireland, the PR, public affairs and communications consultancy boasts 150 staff, who have access to mental health first aiders, an employee assistance programme. Beyond this, the Your Wellbeing initiative offers private healthcare through Vitality, discounted gym memberships, free annual health checks and a 12-month Headspace subscription.
Deecon Consulting
A London firm which is growing fast, 15 of its 55 staff joined last year. To keep pace with the expansion, the firm has a rebooted mentorship programme, formal training and a busy social calendar including culture-sharing picnics and fundraising runs for charity. People can work abroad for 10 days a year and there is private medical, dental and optical cover, plus annual pay and bonus reviews. The company also offers female staff self-defence classes.
Herd Consulting
The 45 employees at Herd Consulting may similarly be on the rise soon – with the firm reporting that it has a waiting list of 100 people ready to join. The Sheffield-based consultancy offers a £1,000 annual learning budget, remote-first working and health support including specialist cancer care. When not on a client project, employees are encouraged to volunteer for the RSPCA, while dogs are welcome at work.
IMPOWER Consulting
The recognition is based on feedback from IMPOWER’s own employees, with the organisation scoring ‘excellent’ across all six areas of employee engagement, including wellbeing, empowerment, pride and job satisfaction. Benefits for the 87 employees range from comprehensive health and dental care to an employee assistance programme. Results were particularly strong in areas relating to pride, job satisfaction and wellbeing, highlighting the sense of purpose and fulfilment felt by employees across the business.
Sean Hanson, CEO of IMPOWER, said, “We are incredibly proud to have been named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026. What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it is based on the views of our people. At IMPOWER, we have always believed that creating the right environment for our people is fundamental to delivering real impact. The work we do with public services is complex and important, and it is only possible because of the talented, committed people who make up our team.”
Penta Consulting
With 58 staff in the UK, the consultancy offers company trips abroad, and high performer lunches at well-known London restaurants among its staff perks. Annual performance and mid-year check-ins ensure the 58 employees keep developing professionally. Staff enjoy flexible working arrangements, ad hoc company-wide team lunches, bougie coffee facilities and gym discounts.
Pulse Consult
Based in Nottingham, with 91 employees in offices across the UK, Switzerland and the US, Pulse Consult specialises in construction advisory work, and is Investors in People gold-accredited. Benefits include a profit-share bonus, a long-term bonus fund, private healthcare and professional membership fees.
Seven Consultancy
An independent real estate and business consultant, Seven has 53 employees in its London office. To help them move forward in their careers, they have access to an in-house business and personal coach, while The Seven Academy helps with upskilling across 15 competencies. Perks include hybrid working, private health insurance and annual bonuses.
Trident Building Consultancy
Trident, which has eight offices across England and Scotland, offers apprenticeships and a graduate programme along with an agile working policy that means the 75 employees can choose when and where they work. Team-building days, social gatherings and volunteering events build strong bonds among colleagues and benefits include company-wide profit share, private healthcare and an electric car scheme.
Opus Business Advisory Group
With a team of 157 staff, the Milton Keynes-headquartered consultancy enjoyed significant growth last year, and established an executive committee to ensure it maintains its positive and inclusive culture. This includes reviewing ideas from staff, while benefits include flexible working hours, hybrid working with three days in the office, private healthcare, a new electric vehicle scheme and cost-of-living support initiatives.
TC Group (TC SEM)
With bases in Leicester, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Southampton, TC Group has more than 150 team members. The firm provides them with opportunities to progress include internal training, study leave and a successful apprenticeship programme, which has included many early apprentices progressing into senior roles.
GenNorth
GenNorth’s 17 employees in Leeds and Stockton-on-Tees enjoy flexible working being embedded into all aspects of the firm. Employees can work from home, do flexible hours, and enjoy “unlimited holiday”. They can also make use of enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Benefits include private healthcare and income protection and there are bonuses of up to 10 per cent for big contracts, plus a recruitment referral of £2,500.
Square 4 Partners
The team of 30 at specialist financial services consultancy Square 4 Partners also enjoy flexible work, within an open-door, speak-up environment. Boosting staff engagement are two annual whole-company getaways, as well as wellness initiatives and team celebrations.
Visku
With 27 employees, the supply chain consultancy works with its employees to define goals that align with their personal development and business priorities. Staff enjoy an expenses card, their birthday off, a private healthcare scheme and wellbeing benefits including access to a virtual GP and a funeral concierge.
A statement from Visku said, “Culture is not a slide deck, a Christmas party or ‘pizza Fridays’ – it has to stay as a living, breathing entity. Being recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 is an incredible milestone, but for us, it’s also motivation to keep improving, keep listening and keep building a business where great people genuinely want to stay and grow.”
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