The international management and computer consultants, P-E International of Egham, Surrey, is living proof of what its chairman Hugh Lang calls the all-weather quality of consulting, as it survives the slowing UK market and looks for acquisitions. P-E will remain in its four core business areas of management consulting, information technology, computer services and technical services, but intends to develop its portfolio of businesses both organically and by acquisition. It achieved a 35% growth in pre-tax profits up at UKP4.5m on turnover that also rose 35% to UKP48.2m. The bulk of P-E’s revenue came from the manufacturing sector, which accounts for 43%, with oil, gas and chemicals contributing 19%. The most rapid revenue growth, however, came from the financial services sector where fees rose 87% to UKP7.64m. In response to both the soft UK market and the approach of 1992, the company within the past few months has established links with consultancies in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Norway giving it access to a network of 1,500 staff in Western Europe. As for the future, P-E points out that whatever the weather in the computer industry companies will need advice either about handling success or about handling failure.
