Strategy Consulting – September 2026 Graduate Programme

Are you looking for an exciting, engaging entry into strategy consulting, with supportive learning and the opportunity for progression after just six months? We offer graduates the opportunity to work with senior business leaders across the globe as they tackle some of their biggest strategic questions.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Cognosis is a London-based strategy consultancy that has been redefining growth for global businesses and consumer brands for over 25 years. They have driven success in more than 60 countries, partnering with some of the world’s most ambitious and iconic companies and brands, such as AB InBev (Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois), Lenovo, Diageo (Guinness, Smirnoff), AkzoNobel (Dulux), Dr. Martens, and Sport England.

No matter the industry, Cognosis excels in collaborating with individuals who are passionate about driving meaningful change. Their core focus areas include:

• Building strategies for long-term growth.
• Securing competitive advantage
• Turning strategy into action
• Innovating for the future

They work closely with their clients to co-create strategies that ignite growth and ensure long-term success. At Cognosis, strategy isn’t just a plan - it’s a passion. They believe a strategy should not just be commercially compelling; it should engage and excite too.

At Cognosis each team member brings something distinct to the table, enhancing the collective strength of the team. They cultivate an inclusive environment that values diverse thinking and experiences, encouraging creativity and innovation. Cognosis' core values guide their approach as a business and as a team:

• Be brave and strive to break new ground.
• Put the team first.
• Show hunger to grow.
• Have empathy and integrity in everything you do.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Cognosis provides an exceptional learning experience for launching careers in strategy consulting. As Analysts in the structured Graduate Programme, candidates have their first opportunity to progress to consultant level after just six months.

Candidates can expect intellectually challenging work and direct exposure to high-impact projects. Cognosis is committed to igniting and sustaining career growth, offering great benefits along the way. After a week of induction, new Analysts will join a project team and start contributing to client work.

No two projects are the same, but the role typically focuses on five core activities:

• Conducting research (e.g. surveys and interviewing experts).
• Performing data analysis.
• Deriving strategic insights and using these to make well-informed strategic recommendations.
• Communicating findings concisely, whether through presentations to senior team members or during client meetings.
• Contributing to the preparation and organisation of client workshops.

Being a boutique consultancy, the team itself is close-knit, ensuring a collaborative and dynamic work environment. You can meet the team here.

During the programme, you will be paired with a buddy for support and a mentor to guide your progress toward becoming a consultant using Cognosis's development framework. Training will complement practical experience, equipping you with essential skills. Previous graduates consistently highlight this programme as an invaluable foundation for a successful strategy consulting career.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Cognosis is seeking individuals who are passionate about developing insights to unlock business challenges and bring energy and drive to all that they do. Applicants should be brave, curious, and hardworking, with a pro-active attitude.

Key attributes include:

• Educated to degree level or higher in any discipline and / or strong academic performance at A-Level
• Possesses intellectual curiosity with a genuine interest in how businesses and markets operate and grow with an eagerness to learn more.
• Strong emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and a collaborative, “team-first” mindset.
• Comfortable working with a high volume of facts and figures, with a talent for deciphering information and asking the right questions to unlock insights.
• A willingness to take ownership of any project task, alongside being resourceful and driven to meet deadlines.
• Comfortable presenting own ideas and insights clearly and concisely.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Life at Cognosis is not like other strategy consultancies – certainly that's what our team tell us. We promise to ignite and sustain your career growth, provide you with flexibility over when and where you work, and support you with some great benefits along the way.

After your first week of induction, you will be welcomed into one of our project teams and start contributing to client work. No two projects are the same, but your role will typically involve research, reviewing and structuring strategic documents, and analysing data. You will be presenting and explaining your findings to senior team members and clients. You may also have the chance to contribute to the preparation and organisation of client workshops.

You will be assigned a buddy to support you, and a mentor who will help you review your progress on your journey to Consultant, using our development framework. Training opportunities will run alongside practical work experience to provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.

WHAT WE OFFER

As an Analyst you will receive:

• Base salary of £33,000 + bonus via the Cognosis profit share scheme.
• Opportunity for progression after just six months for those who have quickly established the foundational skills required for consultant level.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, with the option to work remotely for up to three days per week and to work abroad or away for up to 3 weeks each year.
• 30 days holiday per year after 2 years’ service (25 days on joining), plus additional ‘life leave’.
• Bupa private medical insurance, full cover from Day 1
• Stakeholder pension scheme, income protection and life assurance.
• Contribution towards home office setup.
• 24-hour confidential employee assistance offering lifestyle and wellbeing support.
• Regular team events, including an annual two-day team offsite.
• Cycle scheme (onsite cycling facilities available).
• Free onsite barista, free wellness and lifestyle events on site and onsite café, pizza restaurant, cocktail bar & cinema club.
• Additional ‘Long Service Leave’ granted every 5 years.
• Exceptional family leave including up to 30 weeks full pay for all new parents.

Please note: Cognosis is unable to consider candidates who hold visas or require visa sponsorship at this current time. Candidates must have full right to work in the UK.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for our Sept 2026 Graduate Programme is going live in mid-October.

Please register your interest by emailing careers@cognosis.co.uk or by clicking the link above.

ANYTHING ELSE

• Our clients span many industries, including alcoholic drinks and tobacco. Whilst we cannot guarantee that industry preferences can be taken into account, we seek to accommodate when feasible.

• It is essential candidates have fluent written & spoken English.

• Cognosis is unable to consider candidates who hold visas or require visa sponsorship at this current time. Candidates must have full right to work in the UK.

• Successful candidates will be required to undertake occasional travel to client sites.

FURTHER CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Candidate privacy statement:
As part of our recruitment and onboarding process, Cognosis collects and processes personal data relating to candidates. We are committed to being transparent about how we collect and use that data, and to meeting our data protection obligations. Cognosis takes the security of this data seriously. We have internal policies and controls in place to ensure that data is not lost, accidentally destroyed, misused, or disclosed, and is not accessed except by authorised employees and third parties in the legitimate and proper performance of their duties. Data we collect will be processed and stored in line with our privacy policy. Please feel free to contact us should you have any queries.

Diversity monitoring:

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are based on principles of fairness and equity, are free from bias and do not discriminate under the Equality Act 2010.

All applicants are invited to complete a diversity monitoring questionnaire. This enables us to review the outcome of our recruitment processes once they are concluded and make continual improvements year on year. Your information will not be stored with your application and will not be used as part of the selection process. 

Completion of the diversity monitoring questionnaire is optional, but your participation is requested to help us continue to build an inclusive and equitable experience for all. Any information you choose to provide will be stored and processed securely in line with our privacy policy (https://cognosis.co.uk/privacy...).