Corporate appetite for artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing where businesses direct their spending, with knock-on effects now visible across the UK’s GDP figures.
Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows the UK economy expanded by 0.7 per cent between July and October, with professional and technology services powering much of that advance.
Consultancy, computer programming, and related activities surged 4.4 per cent during the third quarter, making the broader sector what the ONS described as “the largest driver of GDP growth across 2026.”
The wider information and communications sector posted growth of 2.1 per cent over the same period, reflecting sustained corporate investment in digital capabilities and advisory support.
Tamzen Isacsson, chief executive of the Management Consultancies Association, said the numbers validate the sector’s expanding economic footprint, noting that fee income among leading firms is tracking at six per cent growth for the year.
She attributed much of that momentum to client demand shifting decisively toward technology-led engagements, saying: “This is being driven in large part by client demand for digital transformation, AI and cyber security advisory services.”
Isacsson was direct about where the sharpest acceleration is occurring, adding that “AI in particular is a significant growth area, as organisations move beyond experimentation and look for practical support to deploy the technology effectively and deliver measurable benefits.”
Dean Hughes, head of consulting and digital at London-listed advisory group MHA, said his firm is “seeing organisations across many sectors investing in technology, data, and AI solutions; and they are using advisers to help them do the implementations and manage the risks the tech brings.”
Hughes confirmed the period had been exceptional for MHA’s own operations, stating that “this past quarter has been the busiest of the year for MHA’s consulting and digital service line.”
Beyond the technology-focused consultancy boom, both the accountancy and legal sectors recorded sharp September rebounds after a subdued August holiday period.
Accounting industry revenues climbed 13 per cent in September to reach £4.25bn, recovering from £3.75bn in August, which had been the sector’s weakest monthly reading of the year.
Julie Matheson, accounting industry regulatory partner at Kingsley Napley, welcomed the recovery but urged caution, warning that with the “ongoing Iran situation, rising UK inflation and interest rates and the adoption of AI impacting business models, firm leaders would be advised to remain vigilant in their business planning.”
The legal sector delivered an even sharper monthly recovery, with revenues jumping 15.5 per cent in September to £5.35bn from £4.63bn in August, according to the ONS monthly business survey.
Taken together, the figures paint a picture of a professional services economy being reshaped by technology demand, even as wider macroeconomic uncertainties continue to test business confidence heading into the final months of 2026.