What MainStreet Consulting does

MainStreet Consulting is a privately held UK management consulting firm founded in September 2013 and headquartered in Edinburgh. The firm advises public sector organisations on transformation, with a service portfolio spanning programme management, business case development using the HMT Five Case Model, options appraisals, organisational design, procurement advisory, and financial modelling. It engages primarily with Scottish Government, housing associations, health and social care partnerships, higher education institutions, and other public bodies, with selective engagements across the wider UK.

The business operates as a professional services firm with a small senior delivery team. Co-founder and Director David Welsh leads alongside Director Mark McLintock (joined 2014 from Ernst & Young), Assistant Director Janice Flanagan (joined 2016 from Turner & Townsend), Consultant Anca Johnstone, and Non-executive Director Prof Richard Kerley. The firm does not develop proprietary technology platforms and has no disclosed AI, API, or software product. Revenue is generated through project-based, fixed-fee and time-and-materials consulting engagements, typically secured via competitive public sector tendering or direct commission from established relationships, with multi-year contract cadences.

MainStreet differentiates through deep public sector expertise, senior-level client access, and a reference base that includes Scottish Futures Trust, Hub North Scotland, North Ayrshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Oxford Brookes University, and NHS Ayrshire & Arran. The firm holds Living Wage employer accreditation (since November 2016) and has completed partnerships with systems integrators such as Sopra Steria. It remains an independent, privately held entity with no disclosed external investment, subsidiaries, or acquisitions.

Name

MainStreet Consulting

Legal name

MainStreet Consulting

Website

https://mainstreetconsulting.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MainStreet Consulting is an Edinburgh-based management consulting firm, founded 2013, that advises Scottish and UK public sector organisations on transformation, programme management, business case development, and organisational design. It serves government, housing, health and social care, and education clients via a small senior team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA), Financial Management & Performance Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAF)

Keywords

• Public sector consulting
• Transformation advisory
• Programme management
• Organisational design
• Business case development

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management Consulting Services: MainStreet generates revenue through professional consulting engagements with public sector organizations. Services include programme management, business planning, organizational design, financial modelling, procurement advisory, and transformation support. Revenue is project-based, derived from fixed-fee engagements and time-and-materials consulting assignments with government, housing, health & social care, education, and local authority clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MainStreet Consulting is a UK-based advisory firm that helps public sector organisations determine priorities, explore new ways of working, and secure long-term benefits through programme management. Its core service is the delivery of strategic, commercial, financial, and programme advisory work to central government, local authorities, housing associations, health and social care partnerships, and universities. Engagements are structured around three practice areas: setting strategic direction and designing programmes, appraising delivery options and advising on commercial and procurement arrangements, and managing delivery and benefits realisation.

Product overview

MainStreet Consulting is a management consulting firm offering a unified set of advisory services focused on helping public sector organisations make better decisions about priorities, services, people and budgets. The company provides consultancy across three main practice areas: determining priorities (design and planning of meaningful change, translating policy commitments into programmes), exploring new ways of working (options appraisals, risk assessments, partnership delivery models), and securing long-term benefits (light-touch programme management, commercial advisory, benefits realisation). The firm works across government, housing, health & social care, place, education, and other public bodies sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Planning and Programme Design (Determine Priorities) An advisory engagement in which MainStreet Consulting supports senior public sector leaders in setting strategic direction, designing programmes of work, and establishing the case for change. The service is delivered to clients in central government, local authorities, housing associations, health and social care partnerships, and universities.
• Delivery Model and Options Appraisal Advisory (Explore New Ways of Working) An advisory service that helps public sector organisations explore alternative service delivery options, undertake options appraisals, design organisational structures, and assess commercial and procurement approaches. Deliverables typically include feasibility studies, options appraisals, and commercial advice for boards and senior leadership teams.
• Programme Management and Benefits Realisation (Secure Long-Term Benefits) A delivery-focused service in which MainStreet Consulting supports public sector clients in managing complex transformation programmes, securing financial and non-financial benefits, and embedding governance that drives lasting outcomes. Engagements centre on programme oversight, financial modelling, and benefits tracking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed business case that secured £25m of funding from Health and Social Care Directorate for Research Data Scotland
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sopra SteriaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMainStreet worked with Sopra Steria on a project with the Scottish Government's Digital Ecosystem Unit (DEU), advising on the creation of an Organisation Design & Development practice.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Impower: UK management consultancy specialising in public sector transformation, demand management, and outcomes-focused service redesign across local government, health, and housing. Comparable in niche focus, size band, and public sector client mix to MainStreet Consulting.
• PPL (Public Practice Limited): UK social enterprise consultancy advising public sector organisations on commissioning, social investment, and service transformation. Comparable in size, mission orientation, and central/local government client base.
• Newton Europe: UK management consultancy delivering operational improvement, transformation, and programme management to public and private sector clients. Comparable on transformation consulting and outcomes-driven delivery, though generally larger.
• Tribal Group (now part of Nemisys): UK-headquartered consultancy providing advisory, digital, and managed services to education and public sector clients. Strong overlap with MainStreet's higher education and government transformation work.
• Mutual Ventures: UK consultancy supporting public sector organisations on transformation, commissioning, and service redesign, particularly in local government and health & social care partnerships. Direct overlap with MainStreet's core offerings and customer segments.
• Campbell Tickell: UK-based consultancy providing management support, executive recruitment, and strategic advisory to housing associations, local government, and the wider public sector. Comparable client base (especially housing) and consulting service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Turner & Townsend Public Sector: Global consultancy with strong UK public sector practice covering programme management, cost consultancy, and transformation, particularly across government estates and infrastructure. Comparable to MainStreet on transformation delivery and shares alumni lineage via Assistant Director Janice Flanagan.
• Ernst & Young (EY) Public Sector: Big Four firm where MainStreet Director Mark McLintock previously worked; EY's government and public sector practice competes on large transformation, business case, and procurement mandates, often via consortium bids where MainStreet could be sub-contracted.
• Grant Thornton UK Public Sector Practice: Larger professional services firm with a significant UK public sector advisory practice covering local government, health, and central government. Overlaps with MainStreet on financial modelling, business case development, and transformation advisory but as part of a broader portfolio.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Public Sector: Big Four professional services firm with extensive UK public sector consulting practice spanning transformation, financial modelling, procurement, and organisational design. Competes with MainStreet on larger mandates while MainStreet typically plays in mid-sized or specialist niches.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MainStLtd
• Facebookfacebook.com/MainStreetC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mainstreet-consulting-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MainStreet Consulting