---
title: "Small Consultancies, Big Moves: Who’s Winning Client Trust Now"
description: The 2025 Altaris Awards spotlight small UK consultancies achieving rapid growth, client trust and sustainable impact in business and health sectors
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-07-05T17:22:42.000Z
updated: 2026-04-01T12:06:18.837Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/small-consultancies-big-moves-who-s-winning-client-trust-now
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/id1ywa1wpx0-1.jpg
categories: Business
content_type: Spotlight
region: United Kingdom
publication: Sovereign Magazine
---

The 2025 Altaris Business Consultancy Awards have thrown up some surprises. While established firms still dominate many categories, a clutch of [smaller and newer consultancies](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/icons-with-consequence-when-visual-branding-delivers-real-business-results-and-when-it-flops) have claimed major prizes – raising questions about what exactly these upstarts are doing to win client trust so quickly.

The winners list reads like a who’s who of firms you might not have heard of five years ago. Ivy Malik Coaching, founded just eight years ago, took the Rising Star Award. The Honeybee Group Ltd snagged Best Newcomer Consultancy. NEW Options Ltd claimed the top prize – Consultancy of the Year – despite being a relatively small player in the market.

## The New Guard Making Waves

These aren’t your typical McKinsey or Deloitte operations. Ivy Malik Coaching, founded in 2017, focuses specifically on helping creatives and coaches ‘charge more and sell with ease while avoiding burnout’, according to its website. The Honeybee Group Ltd positions itself as [a B2B performance marketing consultancy](https://thehoneybeegroup.co.uk/) with what it calls an ‘organised and precise approach’ to paid media.

NEW Options Ltd, despite winning Consultancy of the Year, operates in a completely different space – [health sector development consultancy](https://options.co.uk/) focused on improving health outcomes for women and girls in low-income countries. Founded in 1992, it’s actually one of the older winners, but its international focus and specialised expertise set it apart from traditional business consultancies.

Environalgae picked up the Most Innovative Business Solutions award, though details about the company’s background remain limited. What’s clear is that [these firms are being recognised not for their size](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/web-traffic-is-cheap-trust-is-expensive-why-expert-brands-are-rethinking-their-sites) or brand recognition, but for something else entirely.

## What Actually Gets You Noticed

The awards criteria offer some clues. According to the press release, winners demonstrate ‘outstanding achievement, innovation and impact within the consultancy sector’ with judges looking for ‘meaningful contributions to client success, sustainable growth and business transformation’.

That’s still corporate speak, but dig deeper into what these firms actually do and patterns emerge. The Honeybee Group Ltd’s focus on B2B performance marketing addresses a specific pain point – many consultancies promise digital transformation but few deliver measurable results in paid media. NEW Options Ltd’s three-decade track record in health sector development suggests deep expertise rather than broad promises.

The judging appears to favour firms that can demonstrate [concrete client outcomes](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/trial-grants-on-farm-data-for-ag-input-makers-winners-and-runners-up-alike) rather than impressive client lists. [Trust credentials gain fresh relevance](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/trust-credentials-gain-fresh-relevance-in-digital-marketing-sector-for-2025) in today’s market, where [the sector nearly doubled in five years](https://www.mca.org.uk/press-releases/uk-consulting-sector-nearly-doubles-in-five-years-with-growth-of-11-in-2023-and-strong-export-demand) but is now facing slower growth as clients become more selective about spending.

## Speed and Specificity Beat Scale

For business leaders hiring consultants, the awards reveal some practical shifts worth noting. The recognition of newer firms suggests clients are increasingly willing to work with smaller operations that can move quickly and deliver [specific expertise rather than broad strategic advice](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/from-science-to-sea-how-hatch-blue-picks-start-ups-that-might-actually-scale).

Leadership Through Data’s Rapid Expansion Award hints at another trend – firms that can demonstrate measurable growth quickly. In a market where [growth is expected to slow to 6.4% in 2025](https://www.consultancy.uk/news/39227/uk-consultants-anticipate-slower-growth-in-2025-amid-market-headwinds), rapid expansion becomes a differentiator.

The sustainability focus is also telling. Context Europe took Best Sustainability and ESG Consultancy, while Environalgae was a finalist in the same category. This isn’t just box-ticking – it reflects real demand from clients who need practical help with ESG compliance and sustainability work rather than high-level strategy documents. [B Corp certification drives revenue growth](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/how-b-corp-certification-drives-revenue-growth-and-sustainability-standards-for-uk-digital-ag) as businesses look for credible sustainability partners.

## The Trust Factor

What’s particularly interesting is how these smaller consultancies are building credibility without the traditional markers of establishment success. Ivy Malik Coaching’s focus on helping creatives suggests a deep understanding of a specific market segment. The Honeybee Group Ltd’s emphasis on ‘collaboration and trust’ points to a different client relationship model.

The press release notes that this year’s winners demonstrate ‘adaptability, client collaboration and progressive thinking’ – qualities that matter more when you can’t rely on brand recognition alone. [Workplace culture drives retention and growth](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/australian-tech-firms-prioritise-workplace-culture-to-drive-retention-and-growth) for many firms, but these consultancies are building trust through different means.

These firms appear to be winning work by being more responsive and [more willing to be held accountable for specific outcomes](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/why-small-business-success-now-depends-stories-not-sales).

## What This Means for Business Owners

If you’re looking to hire consultants, the awards suggest some practical considerations. Size isn’t necessarily an indicator of capability – some of the most useful solutions are coming from smaller, more focused firms. Speed of results matters more than impressive case studies from household names.

The recognition of firms like NEW Options Ltd, with its three-decade track record in a highly specialised area, suggests that deep sector expertise often trumps broad strategic consulting. For business owners, this might mean looking for consultants who understand [your specific industry challenges](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/goldman-sachs-crowns-america-s-most-exceptional-entrepreneurs-at-2025-summit) rather than those who promise to solve everything.

For business owners positioning their own firms, the awards highlight the value of demonstrable expertise over marketing promises. The winners aren’t the best-marketed consultancies – they’re the ones that can point to specific client outcomes and measurable results. [UK tech founders drive record growth](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/uk-tech-founders-drive-record-1-million-plus-growth-ventures-in-2025) by focusing on results rather than rhetoric.

The 2025 Altaris Awards won’t reshape the consultancy world overnight, but they do reveal where client trust is flowing. Smaller firms are winning by being faster, more specific and more accountable. Whether that’s a temporary trend or a permanent shift remains to be seen, but the message for 2025 is clear: clients want results, not promises.