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Freelancers and network-based employees are disrupting traditional professional service subsectors by offering more tailored knowledge of buyers and providing a more ‘high-touch’ service.

2016 was the year of political upsets. Trump is now well into his presidency, and whilst Brexit is still fraught with uncertainty, it is largely ‘business as usual’ for UK companies operating within the EU. Some believe, though, that Britain's EU extraction may take five or more years.

Whilst the consulting sector is still traditionally dominated by the large firms, inclusive of the Big 4, smaller challengers are gaining momentum by focusing solely on a niche and offering a highly specialised service.

Management consultancies are looking to reduce their over-reliance on senior consultants by applying more quantitative analysis and using automation to decrease lead times and increase efficiency.

More mature, mid-size, companies are being snapped up by major players in a bid to provide a full suite of services. This is, in turn, making it difficult for mid-size players to compete in a market where scale benefits matter.

The airline industry was once clear-cut in its definition of low-cost carriers and full-service carriers. These distinctions continue to be blurred as ultra low-cost carriers take market share from the once dominant full-service carriers. Overall, the industry continues to thrive as global passenger traffic grew 7.9% in H1 2017 over H1 2016 according to IATA.