Key points
- Say you've warmed to a consultant and the contract's nearly ready. First test the claim your choice hangs on: usually, that they've done a job like yours, and it's still running.
- A consultant's own write-up is a sales tool. It may be true, but it seldom admits problems. Ask to talk to that client, how their business ran before, and which pieces the consultant made.
- Push a reference past courtesy: find out whether the gains lasted after the pilot, and whether the system is still in use. Launch day is easy to cheer; repeat contracts and ongoing use tell you far more.
- A consultant will pick their strongest references. Where you can, find another yourself, by asking people you know, business owners nearby or your accountant. One you found counts for more than several handed to you.
- Meet whoever will build it, not just the salesperson, since AI experience is easy to talk up. Have them describe your project simply, and tell you about a time something went wrong, and how the error was caught.
- No single body licenses UK AI consultants, so a badge is backing evidence only. Check membership directly with the organisation that grants it, never by a logo. A security certificate is a sound minimum, but can't show the AI will cope with your job.
- If you're hiring a limited company, search Companies House at no cost and make sure the name and number match the proposal. Sole traders aren't on that register, and that's to be expected, so lean on references and your other checks.
- Even after signing, it's worth running these checks straight away. To see every step together, find the credentials guide at AI Consultancy Finder.
Transcript
Say you've warmed to a consultant and the contract's nearly ready. First test the claim your choice hangs on: usually, that they've done a job like yours, and it's still running. A consultant's own write-up is a sales tool. It may be true, but it seldom admits problems.
Ask to talk to that client, how their business ran before, and which pieces the consultant made. Push a reference past courtesy: find out whether the gains lasted after the pilot, and whether the system is still in use. Launch day is easy to cheer; repeat contracts and ongoing use tell you far more.
A consultant will pick their strongest references. Where you can, find another yourself, by asking people you know, business owners nearby or your accountant. One you found counts for more than several handed to you. Meet whoever will build it, not just the salesperson, since AI experience is easy to talk up.
Have them describe your project simply, and tell you about a time something went wrong, and how the error was caught. No single body licenses UK AI consultants, so a badge is backing evidence only. Check membership directly with the organisation that grants it, never by a logo.
A security certificate is a sound minimum, but can't show the AI will cope with your job. If you're hiring a limited company, search Companies House at no cost and make sure the name and number match the proposal. Sole traders aren't on that register, and that's to be expected, so lean on references and your other checks.
Even after signing, it's worth running these checks straight away. To see every step together, find the credentials guide at AI Consultancy Finder.