ABSTRACT
The arrival in Britain of the Bedaux company in 1926, setting up a permanent operation, coincided with a turbulent period in Britain's industrial history. From 1922 onwards the newer industries were beginning to expand rapidly. It was in these industries that many of new methods of managerial techniques were being applied, either from in-house inauguration or through the assistance of early management consultants. Exponents of consultancy practices would argue that such periods were precisely the right moments to employ external aid. The expense of paying for consultancy services at a time when the financial health of a business is at a low ebb can only be justified if there are obvious benefits to the firm. 'The Beginning of Organised Consultancy' was that period in time (1926-1933) when the structure of the management consulting environment in Britain irreversibly changed from one made up of a disparate band of sole practitioners to that of one dominated by a handful of emerging companies.
