An economics consultancy that tackles questions facing governments, businesses and society, with a two-year London graduate analyst programme.
Frontier Economics describes itself as an independent consultancy that helps businesses and governments make better decisions through “clear, objective advice”. In plain terms, its economists study how markets, rules and people's choices work, then tell clients what the evidence says. Clients include governments and companies, and the firm works across sectors such as energy, water, health and social care, transport, retail and financial services.
Frontier started in 1999 with a team of economists who wanted to do things “differently”, and its website says it is now one of the largest economic consultancies in Europe. Many of the founders still work there. It is owned entirely by its staff, which the firm says keeps everyone focused on high-quality, independent work. The website lists offices in London, Paris, Dublin, Cologne, Brussels, Madrid, Berlin, Amsterdam and Prague, and says it has about 475 people speaking 32 languages and has worked in 62 countries (the firm's own figures).
The firm names three values: “uncompromising thinking”, meaning exceptional work with integrity and objectivity; “looking beyond the obvious”; and “a refreshing experience”, meaning explaining complex ideas clearly. Its stated aim is to find out what is really going on beyond the numbers. It also says it will be “bold, visible and proactive” on diversity.
Frontier's expertise areas include competition and regulation, public policy, behavioural economics (how real people actually make decisions), data science and AI, dispute support and international trade. Examples it highlights are a series of papers on the future regulation of the water sector, responses to UK Competition and Markets Authority consultations on competition reforms, and a report on UK carbon capture co-authored with Clarivate. It does not name its clients on the page we read.
For early careers there are three routes. The two-year Analyst programme asks for at least a 2:1 and a Master's in economics, or enrolment on one; some final-year undergraduates are taken in London and study a part-time Master's part-funded by Frontier. Graduates work on two or three projects at a time, from simple data analysis to complex modelling, and get two mentors, a graduate buddy and weekly training for the first six months. The four-year Apprentice Analyst route is for school leavers with strong A-levels and no prior economics needed: four days a week with project teams and one day of study towards a BSc in Economics at the University of Kent, with no tuition fees. Interns are also taken. The firm describes an “open-minded environment where everyone's ideas and contributions are valued”; these are the firm's own words. Dates and pay were not given, and the apprenticeship page showed two different application windows, so check Frontier's site.
Website: www.frontier-economics.com
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