Business services, the management of change and regional development in the UK: A corporate client perspective

The expansion of business services in the UK since 1981 is reviewed in relation to general patterns of corporate management control. The results of a survey of strategic expertise exchange between consultancies and managers of major companies are presented. Consultancies are employed most by large, growing, decentralized service corporations in southern England and by those already experienced in change management. The reasons for the employment of different types of consultancy in corporate change are also examined. Clients emphasize their control over consultancies but are also increasingly dependent on them. Consultancy growth marks a developing social division of 'elite' management labour which has significance for rates of economic restructuring and the continuing focusing of control functions in southern England