Fees up 10% in latest Top 100 survey

Optimism has returned to design with fees up and prospects looking good for consultancies ranked in Design Week’s 2007 Top 100.

Imagination continues to hold top slot with collective fees of £32.28m, up 7 per cent on 2005. But a third of groups listed this year are new to the charts, reflecting the changing profile of the design sector.

Design fees were up 10 per cent overall, to £332.7m during 2006 for Top 100 groups, on turnover up 9 per cent to £493.32m. Most groups are anticipating growth of 10 per cent or more this year.

Staffing levels have increased to 4381. But there are still concerns by Amanda Merron, of accountant Willott Kingston Smith, that most have failed to reach the £80 000 per head level of staff in fees, used as an indicator of an efficient business.

For full results download the Design Week Top 100 PDF or see the enclosed supplement in this week’s print issue.