DALGARNO ASSOCIATES LTD

Executive Summary

Dalgarno Associates Ltd is a newly formed micro-entity in the UK management consultancy sector, currently exhibiting minimal financial scale and no employees, reflecting its start-up status. While the management consulting industry offers growth opportunities driven by digital and sustainability trends, this company’s present financials and size position it as a nascent niche player yet to establish a competitive foothold. Its future success will depend on developing specialized expertise and scaling operations amid a fragmented, competitive consultancy landscape.

DALGARNO ASSOCIATES LTD - Analysis Report

Company Number: 15627317

Analysis Date: 2025-07-29 12:41 UTC

1. Industry Classification
   Dalgarno Associates Ltd operates within the sector classified under SIC code 70229, "Management consultancy activities other than financial management." This sector encompasses firms providing advisory services on business strategy, organizational structure, operational improvements, and other non-financial management consulting. Key characteristics include reliance on intellectual capital, a service-oriented delivery model, and typically low fixed asset bases due to the consulting nature of work. The sector is highly competitive, fragmented, and often driven by the reputation and expertise of key personnel.

2. Relative Performance
   Dalgarno Associates Ltd is a micro-entity, newly incorporated in April 2024, with its first accounting period ending April 2025. Its financials show minimal scale: net assets of £1,359, net current assets of £1,359, and current liabilities of £18,672 (which are negative in the accounts, indicating possibly prepaid items or accounting presentation nuances). The company has no employees on average during the year, indicating it is likely a sole proprietorship-style consultancy or a start-up phase entity without staff. Compared to typical benchmarks in the management consultancy sector, where even small consultancies often report turnover in the tens or hundreds of thousands and positive working capital, Dalgarno Associates is at a nascent stage with limited financial throughput and minimal balance sheet activity.

3. Sector Trends Impact
   The management consulting sector in the UK is influenced by ongoing digital transformation, demand for sustainability consulting, and increased client focus on cost efficiency and agile organizational structures. Emerging trends include the integration of AI advisory services and remote consulting models. For a micro-entity like Dalgarno Associates Ltd, these trends present both opportunities and challenges: low barriers to entry allow niche consultants to carve out specialized advisory roles, but scale and reputation development are critical hurdles. The company’s early stage and small size suggest it is yet to capitalize on these broader sector dynamics but could potentially leverage them if it establishes expertise in a growing niche.

4. Competitive Positioning
   Dalgarno Associates Ltd’s current positioning is that of a micro-sized, likely niche or boutique consultancy without employees and limited assets. Its strengths may include low overheads, agility, and direct control by its two significant controllers (Mrs. Laura Dalgarno and Mr. Stewart Chalmers Dalgarno), who together hold 50-100% combined ownership and voting rights. However, the absence of scale, staff, or significant asset base places it behind established small and medium consultancies that benefit from broader service offerings, client networks, and brand recognition. The company will face competition from both larger consultancies with comprehensive services and other micro-consultancies specializing in specific advisory areas.