Consultant Engineering Services in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
London, United Kingdom
Last Updated: September 2024
SIC M71.120Revenue
£69.8bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
£X.Xbn
Employees
433k
Businesses
55,491
Wages
£XX.Xbn
Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry analysis
Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is projected to dip at a compound annual rate of 0.5% to £69.8 billion, including a 1.5% growth in 2024-25. However, this is mainly the result of a sharp drop in revenue in 2020-21, as consultant engineering demand slumped amid depressed business investment and subdued construction activity during COVID-19. Nevertheless, strong infrastructure construction activity, including electricity and telecommunications infrastructure construction, has underpinned industry revenue. In addition, government capital spending has been increasing, as highlighted by the approval of large infrastructure projects, boosting infrastructure construction and driving demand for consultant engineers.
Trends and Insights
- Infrastructure construction fuels revenue growth. The UK government's investment in large infrastructure projects and telecommunications has significantly boosted the demand for consultant engineering services, driving revenue expansion in the sector.
- Industrial engineering consulting has faced economic challenges. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and rising inflation hampered industrial production activity and eroded business confidence, hindering demand for these services.
- The South East has a tech and transport appeal. The South East's significant tech presence and transport network make it a prime location for engineering consultancy firms. Its proximity to London and international gateways offer lucrative opportunities for operations and infrastructure projects.
- Competition intensifies in the fragmented engineering consultancy sector. With numerous small-scale operators vying for market share, price wars have escalated, squeezing profit margins and pushing firms to deliver services at competitive rates.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £69.8bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Infrastructure construction momentum has boosted revenue expansion
- The government has committed significant infrastructure spending in the Build Back Better plan from March 2021, with £600 billion of gross public sector investment over five years to help the economy recover from the pandemic.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Telecommunications infrastructure construction activity growth will fuel demand
- The continued expansion of 4G and 5G networks will propel the need for advanced telecommunications infrastructure, driving requirements for consultant engineering services to aid these country-wide projects.
Biggest companies in the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc | 1,581.1 | |
WSP UK Ltd | 918.1 | |
Mott MacDonald Group Ltd | 548.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Industrial engineering consulting, Scientific and technical consulting and Other engineering activities . Industrial engineering consulting is the largest segment of the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Industrial engineering consulting has been hampered by eroded business confidence
- Engineering consultants apply physical laws and engineering principles when designing machines, materials, instruments, structures and systems used in industrial production.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Commercial Building Construction in the UK
- Management Consultants in the UK
- Architectural Activities in the UK
- Technical Testing & Analysis in the UK
International industries
- Global Engineering Services
- Engineering Services in the US
- Building Inspectors in the US
- Geophysical Services in the US
- Surveying & Mapping Services in the US
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Firms in this industry apply engineering principles to the design, development and use of machines, materials, instruments, structures, processes and systems. This includes designing industrial processes, providing surveying and mapping services and designing, managing and consulting on the construction of buildings and infrastructure.
What's included in this industry?
Industrial engineering Scientific and technicalCivil engineering Hydraulic engineering Traffic engineering Projects elaboration and realisationCompanies
SNC-Lavalin Group IncWSP UK LtdMott MacDonald Group LtdPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN COMPUTER-AIDED MANUFACTURINGCOMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERINGIndustry Code
SIC 71.12 - Consultant Engineering Services in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Infrastructure construction fuels revenue growth. The UK government's investment in large infrastructure projects and telecommunications has significantly boosted the demand ...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Industrial engineering consulting has faced economic challenges. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and rising inflation hampered industrial production activity and eroded business ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The South East has a tech and transport appeal. The South East's significant tech presence and transport network make it a prime location for engineering consultancy firms. I...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition intensifies in the fragmented engineering consultancy sector. With numerous small-scale operators vying for market share, price wars have escalated, squeezing pro...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The industry is highly fragmented. Despite the presence of several large multinational firms, including WSP UK and Mott MacDonald, operators have small market shares.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of WSP UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Mott MacDonald Group Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for SNC-Lavalin Group Inc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for WSP UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Mott MacDonald Group Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Building Regulations enforce minimum quality standards in construction. This impacts the Consultant engineering services industry by ensuring they adhere to legal require...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The industry's average profit margin fluctuates amid economic headwinds. Despite profitability recovering due to the economy’s reopening and uptick in demand, soaring inflati...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £69.8bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 55,491 businesses in the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 6.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK market in United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Consultant Engineering Services market in United Kingdom are SNC-Lavalin Group Inc, WSP UK Ltd and Mott MacDonald Group Ltd
What does the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Industrial engineering and Scientific and technical are part of the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK in United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.
How competitive is the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Consultant Engineering Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
