Consultant–Client Relationships in UK SMEs

Abstract

This article reports on research into the role and value of a particular type of business consultant: a UK government-sponsored Personal Business Adviser (PBA). While it is an occupation that is now defunct in the UK, the author argues that its abolition may have been premature. The roles of the PBA are identified and are found to be in line with emerging views of the consultant–client relationship that are more moderate than popular extremes. This finding has implications for consultancy practice: various elements of the PBA job have wider applicability and usefulness for small business support.