Goldsmith Consulting

What Goldsmith Consulting does

Goldsmith Consulting is a sole practitioner management consulting and executive coaching practice founded by Hilary Goldsmith in 1994 and based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The firm operates without external investment, partners, or employees beyond the founder, and delivers all engagements personally. Two service lines define the business: management consulting for business leaders in large organisations and executive coaching for senior executives and teams. Management consulting engagements address strategic and operational health, leadership team effectiveness, stakeholder assessment and engagement, organisational change, and capability development. Executive coaching is grounded in a proprietary Narrative Coaching methodology that creates a safe space for clients to shift entrenched narratives and transition to new possibilities.

The firm's intellectual property resides in proprietary consulting methodologies rather than technology products. Key frameworks include the Provoking Change methodology for organisational transformation, the Narrative Coaching approach for individual and team coaching, and the Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) and subsequent CAT3 and StART processes developed for the Highways Agency to assess supplier capabilities. The firm's commercial model is professional services: bespoke, project-based engagements and one-to-one coaching relationships priced on a quote basis with no publicly disclosed rates. Client acquisition relies on personal reputation, professional networks, word-of-mouth referrals, and visibility through the company website and case study portfolio. Notable clients have included the Highways Agency, Hertfordshire Highways, the Ministry of Defence, Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald, and AMEC.

Name

Goldsmith Consulting

Legal name

Goldsmith Consulting

Website

https://goldsmithconsulting.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Goldsmith Consulting is a sole-practitioner management consulting and executive coaching firm founded by Hilary Goldsmith in 1994 and based in Cambridge, UK. It serves senior leaders, leadership teams, and government agencies in large organisations through bespoke Narrative Coaching and Provoking Change engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Management Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements with business leaders in large organisations. Engagements focus on strategic and operational health, leadership team effectiveness, stakeholder insights, in-house capability development, facilitation, and personal effectiveness. Work is bespoke and tailored to client needs.
2. Executive Coaching Services: One-to-one coaching relationships with senior executives and professionals. Also includes team coaching to resolve issues and increase effectiveness. Coaching is described as particularly valuable for senior executives as it makes most effective use of their time and focuses directly on their needs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Goldsmith Consulting is a solo practice offering two core service lines: (1) management consulting for business leaders and senior managers in large organisations, covering strategy, organisational structures, stakeholder assessment and engagement, and change management; and (2) narrative-based executive coaching for individual executives and teams, designed to shift old stories and enable transitions to new outcomes. All work is delivered personally by founder Hilary Goldsmith on bespoke, project-based engagements.

Product overview

Goldsmith Consulting is a solo consulting practice operated by Hilary Goldsmith, offering two core service lines: Management Consulting and Executive Coaching. These services are delivered through direct client engagement rather than a software product platform. The Management Consulting service addresses strategic challenges, organisational effectiveness, stakeholder engagement, and change management. The Executive Coaching service provides narrative-based coaching for individuals and teams, focusing on personal awareness and organisational transitions. The firm also developed proprietary assessment frameworks including the Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) and Strategic Alignment (StART) processes for public sector clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Management Consulting

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% cost saving achieved in Strategic Alignment (StART) assessment process while maintaining rigorous evaluation standards
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• RHR International: Boutique consultancy specialising in executive coaching and leadership development for senior leaders. Directly comparable as a specialist, senior-focused coaching and leadership advisory firm rather than a broad strategy consultancy.
• BTS: Consultancy focused on leadership development, executive coaching, and organisational change. Comparable as a specialist firm in leadership and organisational effectiveness, though typically operating at larger scale than Goldsmith.
• Lane4: UK-based consultancy focused on leadership development, team coaching, and organisational performance. Comparable boutique management consulting and executive coaching practice, operating in a similar UK/European market.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organisational consulting firm with significant executive coaching and leadership development practices. Comparable on the executive coaching service line, but operates at vastly larger scale across a broad portfolio.
• Spencer Stuart: Executive search and leadership advisory firm with coaching and board services. Overlaps with Goldsmith's executive coaching and leadership advisory work for senior leaders in large organisations.
• Ashridge (Hult EF) Executive Education: Executive education and leadership development provider offering coaching and organisational programmes. Comparable on executive coaching and leadership development for senior managers, but as part of a much broader executive education institution.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global leadership advisory with executive search, coaching, and organisational consulting. Overlaps with Goldsmith's senior executive coaching and leadership advisory offerings but serves a much broader market.
• Right Management (ManpowerGroup): Talent and career transition firm offering executive coaching and leadership development. Overlaps with Goldsmith's executive coaching service but as part of a broader talent management portfolio.
• Egon Zehnder: Leadership advisory firm offering executive search, board advisory, and leadership coaching. Comparable on senior executive coaching and organisational advisory, but as part of a much wider global leadership platform.

Emerging players

• Influence at Work: Consultancy working on influence, narrative, and behavioural change techniques in organisations. Partially overlaps with Goldsmith's narrative coaching and stakeholder engagement approaches, particularly around communication and influence.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/hilary-goldsmith-5705021

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Goldsmith Consulting