A strategy consultancy founded in London in 1987, advising on strategy and deals, hiring graduate Associate Consultants.
OC&C Strategy Consultants is a strategy firm. Company bosses hire it to answer big questions such as which markets to enter, how to win customers, or whether a business is worth buying. It advises on strategy and on deals (mergers and acquisitions) rather than running long cost-cutting or IT delivery projects. Key sectors are retail, leisure and hospitality, consumer goods, technology and media, business services, and private equity (investment firms that buy companies).
OC&C was co-founded in London in 1987 by Chris Outram, who had a general management career and seven years at US strategy consultancies. The City of London is its headquarters. Its graduate brochure says it now has 900+ people across 10 offices in 14 countries, while the B Corp profile lists 12 offices and the careers site says 15, so the exact count varies by source. Its London office is where UK Associate Consultants are based.
The firm sums up its problem-solving as "uncommon sense" and calls itself "the best home for the best strategy talent". It lists three values: "We know what we're great at", "We're relentless in our pursuit of the right answer" and "We're surprisingly human". It has been a certified B Corp since October 2023, a label for companies that meet standards on people, community and the environment. It publishes ESG (environmental, social and governance) impact reports and says it may decline projects that conflict with personal values.
Projects are short, often four to six weeks, with small teams. Examples from its graduate brochure include valuing pitches for a holiday park operator, reworking a cruise operator's offer using customer data, planning expansion for a sushi company, and helping WRAP design a programme to halve UK food industry emissions by 2030. It has also supported the NSPCC's child protection services in schools. Recent deal advice includes work for OCU Group and Triton Partners on their sale to TDR Capital. Practices cover Advanced Analytics and AI, Consumer Goods, Digital, Leisure and Hospitality, Retail, TMT (technology, media and telecoms), and Private Equity and M&A.
Graduates join as Associate Consultants on a strategy or analytics track. The firm says appraisals are twice a year and roles change about every six months, with a buddy and mentor for new joiners, a structured induction and short training modules. Staff can spend four to six months in another OC&C office. Teams are around five to seven people. Socially it describes a Ministry of Fun, an annual Away Weekend, six diversity networks and weekly happiness surveys; these are its own claims. The Associate Consultant 2027-28 role in London listed a starting salary of £54,000 plus a £7,000 signing bonus (as at the 2026 listing). No consulting experience is needed. Applications closed 1 November 2026, with CV screening, online and video assessments and case interviews. A 2027 summer internship in London is also listed on Bright Network. Visa sponsorship is limited.
Website: www.occstrategy.com
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