Consultants optimistic about future despite dip in rates

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Consultants optimistic about future despite dip in rates

Posted Mar 16, 2010

The results of Skillfair's 5th annual rate survey has been released, showing that consultants are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future, despite a short-term dip in rates.

The average rate recorded from 1500 consultants who responded to the 2010 survey was £525, down 8% on last year's £565.

The general order or rates against specialism have remained very similar to 2009, although financial consultants and consultants in the retail industry have suffered for obvious reasons.

The top five specialisms (by rate commanded by consultants) are: change management, coaching, telecoms, human resources, and IT management.

As a result of the downturn, many organisations have openly asked consultants to work for free or cut rates to help them weather the storm. Over 60% of survey respondents have been asked to work for free (or at a rate they consider too low) over the last year, according to Skillfair.

In terms of the general state of the economy, the respondents to this survey were very optimistic about the future. An impressive 93% expect revenue to stay the same or increase next year and a substantial portion are expecting strong growth in 2010.

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