Best Crisis Management Consulting Services in the UK

United Kingdom Crisis Management Consultants

Whether it’s a reputational firestorm, regulatory failure, or a sudden operational shock, crisis moments test the backbone of any UK organisation. Smart boards and comms leaders know they need the right crisis partners long before the headlines break. This curated list highlights trusted, research-backed, and client-reviewed UK-based crisis management consultancies that help organisations respond fast, recover stronger, and protect trust.

Methodology: How We Chose These Crisis Management Consulting Services in the UK

Every agency on this list has earned its place through radical authenticity and real-world impact:

📊 Research-driven: Verified results, proven frameworks, public case studies.

💬 Client-reviewed: Real feedback, tangible outcomes, trusted relationships.

🧰 UK-rooted: All are founded, led, and operated by UK-based professionals with deep sector expertise.

No spin, just a practical shortlist to help you pick the partner best suited for your unique crisis scenario.

Meet the UK Crisis Management Consultants Making Things Happen - 🌟

AMBITIOUS

🔗 Website: https://www.ambitiouspr.co.uk/

What they do:
AMBITIOUS is an award-winning PR and reputation management agency that handles crisis comms, issues management, and stakeholder engagement. They combine robust strategy with real-time response planning to safeguard reputations.

Who they work with:
Corporates, scale-ups, public sector organisations, and charities across the UK with particular strength in regulated industries and complex stakeholder environments.

Operating model:
Boutique but full-service, with senior-led teams and an emphasis on integrating crisis comms with broader brand reputation strategy.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 📣 Known for practical crisis playbooks and comms training.
  
  
• 💼 Deep roots in the South West and national UK media landscape.
  
  
• ⚡ Blends proactive PR with agile, digital-first crisis monitoring.

Lis Anderson FCIPR, Founder, AMBITIOUS

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisanderson/

Lis Anderson is a seasoned PR leader and Fellow of the CIPR. Her career spans over 25 years advising clients on sensitive reputation issues. She’s known for her hands-on approach, straightforward counsel, and for championing best practice PR standards across the UK comms community.

Verita

🔗 Website: https://www.verita.net/

What they do:
Verita is an independent consultancy specialising in crisis reviews, complex investigations, and risk management often following major failures or controversies.

Who they work with:
NHS trusts, charities, regulators, government bodies, and other organisations where crises often have life-and-death implications.

Operating model:
Verita deploys expert investigators and crisis advisors who help organisations understand what went wrong and restore trust.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🔍 Leading experts in independent crisis reviews and inquiries.
  
  
• ⚖️ Deep experience with high-stakes public sector crises.
  
  
• 📑 Proven frameworks for restoring stakeholder confidence post-incident.

Ed Marsden, Founder, Verita

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmarsden/

Ed Marsden is an acknowledged leader in independent investigations and complex crisis reviews. Over two decades, he’s guided organisations through the aftermath of major governance failures. His reputation is built on discretion, thoroughness, and impartial findings that stand up to public scrutiny.

Insignia Crisis

🔗 Website: https://insigniacrisis.com/

What they do:
Insignia Crisis is a specialist crisis management consultancy that prepares organisations to respond confidently when the unexpected hits from crisis planning and simulations to real-time crisis comms support.

Who they work with:
Major brands, public sector organisations, and professional services firms that need robust crisis readiness.

Operating model:
Insignia combines scenario planning, training, and live incident support to help leaders protect reputation under pressure.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🚨 Known for realistic crisis simulations that test teams under pressure.
  
  
• 🧰 Practical, battle-tested frameworks for crisis response.
  
  
• 💬 Strong coaching for senior spokespeople facing hostile media.

Jonathan Hemus, Founder, Insignia Crisis

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhemus/

Jonathan Hemus is one of the UK’s top crisis comms specialists, trusted by blue-chip boards to prepare for and survive worst-case scenarios. He’s a respected speaker, trainer, and author, known for calm, actionable guidance that works in the heat of a real crisis.

Plan B Consulting

🔗 Website: https://planbconsulting.co.uk/

What they do:
Plan B Consulting provides crisis management, business continuity, and incident response planning. They help organisations build resilience before a crisis and manage recovery after.

Who they work with:
Private sector, government bodies, and high-risk industries like energy and transport.

Operating model:
Mix of onsite and remote support, practical training exercises, and ISO22301-certified resilience programmes.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🧩 Blend of crisis response and business continuity expertise.
  
  
• 📜 Certified and audited to international standards.
  
  
• 🧑‍🏫 Respected for training and exercises that test real-world readiness.

Kim Maclean-Bristol, Director, Plan B Consulting

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmb/

Kim Maclean-Bristol is an experienced business continuity and crisis management practitioner. She’s known for helping complex organisations stress-test their plans and prepare leaders for the real thing. Her no-nonsense approach focuses on keeping operations stable under extreme conditions.

Stelion

🔗 Website: https://stelion.co.uk/about/

What they do:
Stelion specialises in crisis leadership, continuity, and stakeholder management, supporting organisations during and after critical incidents.

Who they work with:
Corporates, regulators, and public bodies facing existential threats or severe reputation damage.

Operating model:
Stelion deploys senior crisis directors to embed within leadership teams — bringing calm, strategic oversight when stakes are highest.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🗂️ Unmatched experience managing major incidents globally.
  
  
• 🤝 Embedded senior advisors, not just remote counsel.
  
  
• 🔄 Focus on recovery planning and reputational rebuild.

Dominic Cockram, Founder, Stelion

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiccockram/

Dominic Cockram is a trusted crisis leader with a track record guiding some of the most sensitive incident responses in the UK and beyond. He’s recognised for his calm, decisive style and commitment to helping boards emerge stronger from severe disruptions.

Crisis VR

🔗 Website: https://www.crisisvr.tech/about-us/

What they do:
Crisis VR brings cutting-edge virtual reality technology to crisis management training helping teams rehearse and stress-test scenarios in a fully immersive environment.

Who they work with:
High-risk industries like oil & gas, transport, healthcare, and security services.

Operating model:
Bespoke VR modules and simulation workshops that make crisis rehearsals feel real.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🕶️ First-mover in applying VR to crisis preparedness.
  
  
• 🔬 Data-driven training insights from immersive drills.
  
  
• 🎮 Makes crisis training engaging and memorable.

Jerry Allen, Founder, Crisis VR

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-allen-crisis/

Jerry Allen is a pioneer in immersive tech for crisis training. With a background in operational risk and simulation, he’s reshaping how organisations prepare for worst-case events. His mission: to make crisis readiness stick through engaging, realistic practice.

Holdsworth Consultancy Ltd

🔗 Website: https://www.holdsworthconsultancyltd.com/about

What they do:
Holdsworth Consultancy Ltd is a boutique crisis comms and reputation advisor, known for clear-headed counsel when leaders face reputational threats.

Who they work with:
SMEs, corporates, and public figures dealing with sudden media exposure, legal challenges, or internal crises.

Operating model:
Discreet, founder-led consultancy delivering rapid, practical crisis advice.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 🤐 Trusted for handling sensitive, reputationally explosive issues.
  
  
• 💬 Combines crisis PR with board-level advisory support.
  
  
• 🔒 Focused on confidentiality and tailored strategies.

Andy Holdsworth, Founder, Holdsworth Consultancy Ltd

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-holdsworth-1603a21a/

Andy Holdsworth has a background in high-pressure media and communications, with decades spent guiding leaders through turbulent news cycles. His style is direct, pragmatic, and built on a foundation of discretion and client trust.

Final Thoughts

From public sector inquiries to tabloid firestorms, UK organisations need crisis partners they can trust. In times of uncertainty, having the right crisis management consultants by your side can make all the difference. The UK's best crisis management consulting services offer not just solutions, but the confidence and clarity organizations need to navigate any storm and emerge stronger. Each firm on this list stands out for proven frameworks, transparent leadership, and commitment to helping brands respond with credibility when it matters most.

At Digital Reference, we bring you closer to the UK’s most trusted crisis management consultants experts who turn challenges into opportunities To build your resilience toolkit, explore more Digital Reference guides:

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Ready to face any challenge with confidence? Find your expert solution today because when it matters most, you deserve Digital Reference.

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