About the industry What is consultancy and engineering? Consultancy and engineering companies provide professional services to areas in markets such as construction, transport, energy and utilities. Services offered include surveying, feasibility studies, landscape design, urban planning, structural design, flood risk management, transport planning and business improvement. UK consultancies are active in almost every country in the world. They are critical to the success of many projects, from the iconic to the everyday. Who does ACE represent? ACE – the Association for Consultancy and Engineering - represents a vibrant, exciting and cutting edge part of UK industry. More than 650 businesses are in membership of ACE; collectively, they employ 100,000 people - approximately 80 per cent of the total UK industry. ACE member companies include some of the largest engineering businesses in the world. We also represent significant numbers of smaller companies and sole traders that make up the backbone of UK business. Five reasons why consultancy and engineering matters Consulting engineers generate significant earnings for the UK economy. Fee income for consultancies in 2008 was more than £10 billion Consulting engineers enhance our everyday lives. Without consulting engineers there would be no Wembley Stadium, no refurbished St Pancras Station, no High Speed One, no Millennium Bridge, no new housing, no airports and no utility connections.  Consulting engineers save lives. Through designing such things as water supply, effective sanitation and safe transport systems, engineers are as critical as the medical profession to protecting the health of society.  Consulting engineers lead the global fight against climate change. Through their design work they help society to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, to adapt to changing weather patterns and to live more sustainably.  Consulting engineers help keep the lights on. They are pivotal to delivering the next generation of nuclear power plants and renewable generation.   (Source: New Civil Engineer)