Graduate Consultant Programme

Create real change as a Graduate Consultant

A community of exceptional people. Exciting challenges with visible impact.

Programme overview

Being a Graduate Consultant at Newton

Our graduate consulting programme gives you responsibility early on. As you interact with clients, working side-by-side with them on-site, you’ll develop the skills to become a great Consultant. You’ll have fun with your teams along the way and build lifelong friendships with exceptional people beside you.

What to expect as a Graduate Consultant

Applications open 14/09/2026

Want to find out more?

You’ll be a key part of what our clients call the Newton difference – our highly intelligent, committed and yet very human team. We are intensely collaborative and you’ll be given responsibility from the beginning, working side-by-side with clients on-site to shape their future success.

We act as a ‘strategic delivery partner’ to our clients, which means that we don’t just advise, we also implement the changes we suggest. You’ll guide every project from beginning to end and see the tangible impact of your hard work, whether it’s helping a local council support older people to retain their independence, or reshaping how entire organisations operate.

Who can apply? You don’t need any consulting experience to apply for our Graduate Consultant role. What matters to us is your potential and skills. That said, you will need to:

• Be in your penultimate or final year of university or a recent graduate, from any degree background.

• Have a minimum of AAB at A-Level or equivalent (context will be considered for lower slightly lower grades).

• Have the ability to travel in the UK and work away from home for periods of time.

• Have the right to work in the UK. Please note that we can sponsor students on Skilled Worked Visas if needed.

Grades aren’t everything Our recruitment approach is contextual, which means that if you’re a few grades short of our academic requirements, we’ll consider any socio-economic background info or extenuating circumstances that may have affected your grades.

The Graduate Consultant role

You’ll work closely with clients, mapping processes and analysing data to identify opportunities for them to improve their operations. You’ll plan the changes needed to deliver lasting impact and then make them happen. Every project and every client is different, and you’ll work on-site, from the factory floor to the boardroom, and everywhere in between.

That ownership means you’ll develop fast. Over two years you’ll progress to Senior Consultant as you work on a real mix of projects across different sectors. Working with more experienced Consultants, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and trusted to tackle challenges and deliver together with your clients.

Markets and sectors

Where we use our expertise

We work side by side with some of the worlds leading businesses and organisations to tackle their most complex, intractable challenges.

Central Government

We work alongside Central Government to turn policy and strategy into action and outcomes for the people and communities they serve. As well as supporting with the immediate challenges of today, we’re helping to make public services fit for the future.

Consumer Goods

We're helping clients build future-ready capabilities and resilience, turning their most complex ambitions into measurable, meaningful impact – which means delivering the right products, place and price for consumers whilst maximising client margins.

Defence and Aerospace

As strategic delivery partners, we’re helping to strengthen security, resilience and defence readiness, so that our clients can be prepared for the threats of today and the challenges of tomorrow.

Energy

Our energy partners’ challenges are diverse: from upgrading essential infrastructure at pace, to the building and maintaining of wind farms. Our work includes building capability, redefining critical processes and embedding new operating models at speed.

Health and Integrated Care

We work together with partners across the health and care systems to reimagine how services are delivered and improve patient outcomes.

Housing Associations

We partner with housing associations to deliver strategic improvement and innovation. Our work with social landlords is focused on achieving the right balance between tenant satisfaction, quality and cost.

Local Government

We work across adult social care, children’s safeguarding and SEND, housing services and integrated health and social care and the wider council. We support with the operational, financial and demand challenges these organisations face in today’s world.

Regulated Utilities

Our teams use data to identify where change is needed and partner with organisations to drive that change; whether that’s improving the delivery of capital projects or maximising workforce productivity.

Retail

We’re working with retailers to help them stay ahead of the competition, redefine their supply chain networks and build market agility and resilience. We operate globally across the retail landscape from grocery and apparel to hard goods and general merchandise.

Transport

Our work with asset owners and operators is supporting the rapid development of transport infrastructure and ensuring the consistent and high-quality services that communities need.

How to thrive at Newton

This is what it takes

What sets our Consultants apart? We create change with people on every level. Working as a team, with colleagues and clients, until we can see success and lasting change. Here’s what it takes to be on our team:

• It’s the flexibility to see the big picture and the small detail. Unlike other consultancies that deliver a strategy and walk away, we stay till the end and ensure that change really happens. You’ll need the drive to push the limits of what’s possible and the resilience to see projects through.

• It’s the willingness to dive into the unfamiliar. Every new project brings new people, new places and new challenges. You’ll need the curiosity to discover new possibilities and an analytical approach to help you unravel complexity.

• It’s the confidence to walk into a room without all the answers. We know that we don’t have all the answers. It’s only when we work together that we can succeed. You’ll need the people skills to build strong relationships, the courage to ask the difficult questions and the self-awareness to embrace feedback.

• It’s the responsibility to own your projects. And their challenges. Here, you’ll have meaningful responsibility from day one. And as we grow into new markets, there may be opportunities to work on international scale projects. You’ll need the agility to adapt when things change at pace and the ambition to inspire change far and wide.

Development and progression

Growing your skills and confidence

In your first two years as a Graduate Consultant, we’ll help you build a broad skillset as you learn the fundamentals of consulting and the Newton methodology. You’ll learn how to distil complex systems into simpler processes, calculate efficiencies, and use data to solve problems. You’ll develop the skills to manage stakeholders with confidence and empathy, navigate conflict, and build lasting relationships. You’ll also learn how to structure your time, prioritise effectively, and thrive in a team environment – while embracing Newton’s feedback culture to support your own growth and that of others. All our Consultants need to possess this core skillset to thrive, regardless of which areas you work in while at Newton.

Your hands-on experience will be reinforced by training courses, regular access to your personal Development Manager and a wealth of self-learning tools. We’ll encourage you to explore your skills and natural strengths in diverse settings and teams, including outside your day-to-day role.

Once you’ve completed your core training you can choose to continue as an Operations Consultant or direct your skills further into Digital & AI or People & Change. As your career progresses, you can also take advantage of a range of professional qualifications to ensure you are always developing.

01 Induction (Weeks 1-5)

An exciting five-week induction, taking place at our Kingston Bagpuize office in Oxfordshire. You’ll work through case studies and develop the key skills needed to be a Consultant, with two weeks spent applying this knowledge on-site.

02 Consolidation (10 months)

At around 10 months, you’ll do a three-day course to build advanced techniques around efficiency and engagement to help you to deliver outstanding projects.

03 Becoming a Senior (Approx 18-20 months)

During this stage of your journey, you’ll spend a week, typically abroad, preparing for your new responsibilities as a Senior Consultant. With our help, you’ll learn new management skills and improve your ability to build team and client relationships.

04 Senior Consultant and beyond (From 20 months+)

Your first promotion will lead you to the role of Senior Consultant. The timeline for this exciting step varies and is based entirely on when you demonstrate the required capability and experience. You’ll have regular development and performance conversations with your Line Manager and Development Manager, guiding you on your journey and what you need to do to progress. This ensures you have a clear path and the support you need to reach your goals. Newton is a place where you can build a meaningful long-term career in consultancy. As you develop, so will the opportunities available to you, including internationally as we grow. There’s plenty of room for promotion and you’ll gradually lean more into maintaining strong relationships and managing others as you progress.

Perks & Benefits

What’s in it for you?

It takes hard work and extra effort to make a meaningful impact. But recognising and rewarding the effort and commitment of our people is something we take seriously. Here are just a few of the benefits of joining us as a Graduate Consultant:

• Starting salary £48,000 An enhanced salary package, with accelerated career progression available for those with PhDs.

• Company Performance Bonus Paid every six months, based on company performance.

• Joining bonus £2,500 as soon as you sign your contract.

• Annual pay increase Annual pay reviews as well as a clear progression plan.

• Car options Make regular travel easier with a selection of car options (available through salary sacrifice).

• Private medical insurance A contribution of £900 towards Private Medical Insurance from a flexible choice of providers that you can claim back from Newton. Contributions increase with promotion.

• Events & weekends away We have a full social calendar with Spring Activity Days, Christmas events, a three-day summer event and six optional Newton subsidised weekends away every year.

• Impact beyond work Get involved with volunteer days and our annual Charity Day where you can provide hands-on support to a charity partner.

Still curious about consulting? Find out more about why you should consider Newton for your early career. Learn More

FAQs

Common questions about our Graduate Consultant Programme

• When does Newton’s Graduate Programme open? Our Graduate Consultant roles open for applications in September; we recruit on a rolling basis and will close once all opportunities are full (usually, March). Why not follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram to find out when applications are open?

• Is there a benefit to applying early? No, while we do recruit on a rolling basis, we recommend taking your time in crafting your application. Why not meet us first, to find out more about life at Newton?

• What degree do you need to become a Graduate Consultant? You don’t need a specific degree to apply for Newton’s Graduate Consultant programme. We welcome penultimate or final year students and recent graduates from any degree background.

• Is a 2:1 required to join the Graduate programme? No, our minimum benchmark is AAB at A-level or equivalent, as long as you’re a penultimate, final year student or recent graduate from any degree background.

• What is the 2026 starting salary for a Graduate Consultant? Our Graduate Consultant starting salary is £48,000, and you’ll receive a £2,500 sign-on bonus.

Our application process

How to apply

Our recruitment process gives you the opportunity to showcase your potential as a well-rounded individual.

1. Application Form Simply fill out our online form and answer some written questions about your education, work experience and achievements. No cover letter needed.

2. Online Assessments You’ll start with our Realistic Job Preview Quiz, which isn’t assessed, and helps you decide if Newton is right for you. Then you’ll complete our cognitive tests covering logical reasoning, numerical skills, and data interpretation. Finally, you’ll complete a short one-way video interview where you can let your personality shine. You’ll answer two questions about your experiences, so be yourself and show us your communication skills. We have real assessors screening these – not AI – so treat this like an in-person interview. You can take breaks in-between each of the assessments.

3. Selection Day Join us at our virtual assessment centre to experience a day of group exercises, technical exercises and a mini interview, based on real Newton case studies. You’ll meet some of our Consultants and can ask questions in a Q&A.

4. Final Interview The night before your final interview, you’ll be invited to an unassessed dinner with other candidates and Newton team members not involved in your selection process. It’s a relaxed opportunity to get to know the company and our culture better. The following day, you’ll take part in two 45-minute interviews with senior team members. One will be focused on competency and the other a technical case study.

5. Offer Got the job? Fantastic, we’ll look forward to welcoming you to the team. While you wait for your start date, we’ll stay in contact with regular newsletters and offer you the opportunity to join us at specific events for our Future Newton Consultants.

Ready to join us?

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