Ascent Professional Services

AI is rapidly reshaping procurement and the role of sourcing teams is evolving fast. Leading organisations are now using AI to move beyond cost-cutting, towards real strategic value. Think smarter supplier selection, real-time insights, and more proactive decision-making. But it’s not just about the tech. The biggest impact comes when AI is combined with strong commercial thinking and stakeholder influence. For procurement consultants, this is where things get interesting. We’re seeing a clear rise in AI-first procurement startups looking for consultants who can bridge strategy, technology, and delivery. If you’ve worked in procurement transformation and want to be closer to innovation, this could be the right time to explore it. Open to a conversation about what’s out there? Let’s talk. Read the full article 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecQT3wBY #Procurement #AI #Consulting #Careers #DigitalTransformation #Hiring

📩 Our next newsletter lands at the end of the month… If you work in management consulting and want a quick pulse check on what’s happening across the sector, it’s worth being on the list. In each edition we share: • Key hiring trends we're seeing across consulting • Market insights from conversations with firms and candidates • Articles and updates shaping the industry No spam. Just useful insight from the front line of the consulting recruitment market. If you’d like to receive the next one, make sure you’re signed up before the end of the month. 👉 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e2z82FXR #managementconsulting #consultingcareers #consultingjobs #newsletter

⭐ Candidate feedback like this means a lot to our team. Consistent communication and delivering results are two things we pride ourselves on at Ascent. A big well done to George and Matthew for another great outcome and for representing the way we aim to support our candidates throughout the entire recruitment experience. If you're a consultant looking for your next big role, or a consultancy looking to strengthen your team, we’d love to have a conversation. #managementconsulting #recruitment #candidatefeedback #consultingcareers

Counteroffers sound good, but rarely change the reason you started looking. We recently ran a poll asking: “Have you ever accepted a counteroffer from your current employer?” Here’s what you said: 39% said no 31% have never received one 15% accepted 15% considered but declined The takeaway? Most professionals don’t stay, or never get the chance to. A pay rise might fix the short term. It won’t fix progression, culture, or leadership. If you’ve reached the point of resigning, there’s usually more to it. Counteroffers = delay, not solution. #ManagementConsulting #Recruitment #Careers #Hiring #Leadership #Consulting #TalentStrategy

A recent article highlights an ongoing issue in the consulting job market: pay transparency. Analysis of UK job listings found that consultancy roles are among the least transparent on salary, with only around 24% of adverts including pay information. Meanwhile, 64% of job seekers say they’re unlikely to apply if salary isn’t listed. For firms looking to attract top consulting talent, transparency around compensation is becoming increasingly important. At Ascent, we track compensation trends closely across the consulting market. If you’d like a copy of our latest salary survey, feel free to drop one of the team a message. Read now: https://lnkd.in/eh-5j2H3 #managementconsulting #recruitment #consultingcareers #salarysurvey #paytransparency

Weekly Poll. Counteroffers are one of the most interesting moments in a consulting career. You resign… and suddenly the conversation changes. A salary increase appears. A promotion is mentioned. New opportunities are promised. But it raises an interesting question: If those things were possible… why did they only appear after you resigned? We see this situation regularly when speaking with consultants exploring new opportunities. So we’re curious… Have you ever accepted a counteroffer from your current employer? Vote in the poll below 👇 #managementconsulting #consultingcareers #recruitment #consultingjobs #careers

Great feedback for George Weeks this week from a candidate he recently supported through a process 👏 At Ascent, we always aim to create a recruitment experience that is clear, supportive and genuinely helpful for the people we work with. It is great to see that reflected in the feedback our team receives. A positive candidate experience matters. Not just for the individual, but for the long term relationships we build across the management consulting community. Well done George. Great work. If you are hiring within management consulting and want to work with a recruitment partner who puts candidate experience first, feel free to get in touch. #ManagementConsulting #Recruitment #CandidateExperience #Hiring

Thanks to everyone who took part in the poll. The results suggest that most organisations are still not actively considering the sustainability impact of AI, with over half selecting this option. While awareness is growing, there’s clearly a gap between recognising the issue and having a clear, actionable plan in place. A useful reminder that AI sustainability is still early in the journey for many organisations. #AI #Sustainability #ResponsibleAI #DigitalTransformation

Another brilliant review in for James! “Ascent is the best recruitment agency I’ve had the chance to work with.” Extremely helpful. Worked hard. Made the process quick and smooth. That’s what great recruitment in management consulting should look like. Clear communication. Pace. Results. Well done James. Proud to have you representing Ascent! If you are hiring or exploring your next move in consulting, James is always happy to talk. #ManagementConsulting #RecruitmentPartner #ConsultingCareers #AscentProfessionalServices

Last week we shared an article on the hidden environmental cost of AI and the growing pressure around energy use. AI adoption is accelerating across consulting and industry. But with rising energy demands and environmental scrutiny, readiness matters. So here’s the follow up question. How ready is your organisation to manage the sustainability impact of AI? Vote below, and please share for further reach! #ArtificialIntelligence #SustainableAI #ManagementConsulting #ESGStrategy