Independent Advisors vs. Big Four: What the Delivery Data Really Tells Us

“No individual can win a game by himself.” - Pelé

That’s what the Brazilian football legend said and it’s true.

However, being honest, you also don’t need a 60-person squad when all that is actually required is a few seasoned pros who know how to play well.

For decades, the Big Four consulting firms have dominated the international advisory landscape, armed with global brand recognition, expansive resources and polish that could make a Formula 1 car look dusty.

But could the tide be finally turning, as more organisations, especially those under pressure to deliver tangible outcomes are actively moving away from traditional consultancy giants?

The rigidity, inflated costs and generic playbooks of some larger firms no longer meet the pace and precision required. Instead, clients are turning to trusted independent advisors and community-driven models like ours. Why? Because we offer specialist capability, rapid mobilisation and a partnership mindset grounded in real-world delivery not theory. When reputations and results are on the line, leaders want expertise that’s hands-on, outcome-focused and proven in their environment.

So here’s the big question we hear time and time again: Is there any actual evidence that independent consultants deliver better results than the big firms?

Let’s dig into it.

Do Independent Advisors Really Deliver?

While direct delivery comparisons between independent advisors and Big Four firms are tricky to locate (you won’t find PwC publishing its missed targets), there are robust indicators that independent consultants outperform in key areas like speed, satisfaction and cost-effectiveness.

1. Agility and Speed to Impact

A study by Consultport showed that 39% of enterprises bring in independent consultants to increase productivity and 36% rely on them to manage workload peaks. That’s because independents can often be deployed within days (not weeks) and are free from internal red tape, utilisation targets, or “partner sign-off” delays.

Put simply, independents get cracking quicker.

2. Cost Savings (Without Compromising Quality)

According to Umbrex, independent consultants typically charge 60–70% less per day than the Big Four. That’s not a typo. The difference is often down to overheads. You’re not funding global offices, teams of juniors, or ten rounds of internal review.

You’re paying for experience. Full stop.

3. Client Satisfaction and Optimism

A Business Talent Group report revealed that 87% of independent consultants report high satisfaction with their work and 83% feel optimistic about the future. That’s important because independent advisors aren’t just filling seats, they’re staking their reputation on every delivery.

They’re more accountable, more engaged and more invested in getting it right.

4. Tailored Solutions Over Templates

A Times survey of 702 senior executives revealed that 84% felt large consultancies often delivered overly generic transformation strategies. That’s a sobering stat.

In contrast, independent consultants, particularly those working in collaboration with smaller agencies like Community Partners,  offer fit-for-purpose solutions grounded in the specific operational context of the client. No cookie-cutting. No frameworks for framework’s sake.

Don’t the Big Firms Have the Edge on Resources?

Yes, absolutely. The Big Four offer scale, brand assurance and the ability to throw entire departments at a problem if needed. For certain regulatory projects or global rollouts, that kind of firepower makes sense.

However, when it comes to delivery, not PowerPoint slides or process maps but actual boots-on-the-ground execution, then leaner, experienced, independent teams are proving to be just as effective, if not more.

Especially when those independents are part of a network like Community Partners, where the right expert is never more than a Teams call away and collaboration happens at pace, not after a four-week steering group.

The Community Partners Difference

At Community Partners, we’ve taken the best parts of traditional consulting: the rigour, the talent, the results and left the fluff behind. No graduate teams. No smoke and mirrors. Just a trusted virtual bench of specialists who’ve done the hard yards across public and private sectors.

We operate with honesty, humility and hustle and we genuinely believe in the power of community. That’s why we connect our clients not just to one consultant, but to a broader knowledge base of professionals who know how to get things moving.

Our clients come back to us time and time again because we deliver good people at competitive rates very quickly. Our interim placements regularly extend beyond their original terms and many clients choose to re-engage us within months of a successful project or come back to us for permanent hires. Why? Because when you find people who understand your challenge and create real, lasting change, you don’t let them go.

We’ve supported transformation and digital change programmes across eight different industries in both public and private sector healthcare. Our advisors vary from ex-NHS leaders, scale-up strategists, digital change specialists to finance transformation experts. They’ve led the work and know what it takes. Plus they’re backed by a community that shares knowledge, not PowerPoint decks from 2017.

Time to Rethink What ‘Consulting’ Looks Like

We’re not anti-Big Four. In fact, we support them and they often come to us when they need trusted SME’s who can get to the heart of delivery. Our community regularly partners with the Big Four behind the scenes, providing specialist knowledge, practical implementation expertise and real-world insight when the stakes are high.

We’re proud to complement their scale with our depth. It’s not about competition, it’s about collaboration. However we also know that many organisations want a more direct route to that same expertise. That’s where we come in. Pro-client. Pro-delivery and unapologetically focused on doing things better.

So, if you’re gearing up for a transformation, turnaround or growth journey and you’re tired of inflated teams, generic playbooks and drawn-out timelines then you’ve got options.

Community Partners is one of them. A smarter, faster, more human alternative to business as usual.

Let’s have a conversation. No jargon or waffle, just delivery.

Visit the contacts page or reach out to us directly at Support@CommunityPartners.io

Best Wishes,

Matthew Stevenson

CEO, Community Partners