Start 2026 Right: &above vs Deloitte for London based Enterprise AI Projects

&above beats Deloitte for London AI based Enterprise AI Projects, delivering custom products in 90 days versus slow governance phases. Deloitte excels in global compliance for multinationals, while &above's startup speed and Google-trusted expertise suit rapid builds and behavioural design boosts adoption by 200%. Choose &above for agile ROI in London's £50 billion AI market.

Struggling to choose between &above's agile enterprise AI and Deloitte's global scale for your 2026 AI transformation? With the wrong partner, you risk months of delays in a city where AI drives £50 billion in economic growth by 2026. This head-to-head reveals key differences in expertise, speed, pricing, and local results to position your business for success.

As we move into 2026, the pressure to adopt artificial intelligence has shifted from "experimental" to "operational." For London-based enterprises and scale-ups, the question isn't whether to use AI, but who can help you build it effectively. You generally have two distinct paths: the massive global reach of a firm like Deloitte, or the agile, product-focused speed of a specialist studio like &above.

Choosing the right partner depends entirely on your goals. Are you looking for a massive governance framework across forty countries, or do you need a custom AI product designed, built, and embedded into your workflow in 90 days? This guide compares these two very different approaches to help you decide what fits your business this year.

What is AI Consulting and Why London in 2026?

London remains a global hub for technology, but the requirements for AI consulting have changed. It is no longer just about strategy decks; it is about shipping working software that solves actual business problems and builds a culture of change. In 2026, effective AI consulting combines technical engineering, product design, training and organisational change.

The market is split between traditional consultancies that focus on risk management and scale, and modern product studios that focus on speed and user adoption. Understanding this distinction is critical before signing a contract.

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&above: Enterprise AI at Startup Speed

&above operates in the space between a consultancy, a product studio, and a behavioural design firm. The core philosophy here is "startup speed, enterprise scale." Instead of spending months on theoretical roadmaps, the focus is on getting tangible AI solutions into the hands of users quickly.

This approach works best for companies that need to move from "wow" to "how." By combining strategic depth with product rigour, &above helps organisations avoid the "pilot purgatory" where AI projects often stall. The goal is to build systems that learn and adapt, using behavioural design to ensure your team actually uses the tools.

Core Services from Discovery to Embed

The service model is broken down into three clear stages designed to deliver outcomes, not just advice:

• Discover: This includes the AI Launchpad, a 90-day programme to identifying opportunities, running workshops, and building proof of concepts.
• Build: Engineering scalable, agnostic solutions. This covers everything from data architecture to user interface (UI) design.
• Embed: This is where the long-term value happens. &above plugs experts directly into your teams to shape culture and train staff.

Standout Clients and Case Studies

The firm has built a reputation for handling high-stakes work for major technology players. Most notably, Google has trusted &above for over seven years across 20+ teams to build custom AI solutions.

This relationship highlights a key strength: the ability to work with sophisticated, tech-native clients who demand high standards. Whether it is transforming customer experiences or optimising internal operations, the focus remains on delivering "output at pace" that stands up to enterprise scrutiny.

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Deloitte: Scaling AI Across Enterprises

Deloitte represents the traditional heavyweight approach to consulting. With a massive global footprint, they are the go-to option for multinational corporations that need to roll out standardised AI programmes across complex regulatory environments. Their strength lies in their ability to handle massive scale and mitigate risk.

For organisations where compliance is the primary concern, Deloitte offers a safe pair of hands. They provide end-to-end services that encompass everything from tax implications of AI to technical implementation, backed by a workforce of 460,000 employees (GrowExx).

AI Strategy, Insights and Engineering Offerings

Deloitte’s offering is vast, covering the entire spectrum of business operations. Their services typically include:

• Strategic consulting: High-level roadmaps for C-suite executives.
• Governance alignment: Ensuring AI systems meet global regulatory standards.
• Enterprise integration: Connecting AI into legacy ERP and CRM systems.
• Design: Creating interfaces for customer-facing applications.

Proven Impact Through Global Case Studies

Deloitte’s case studies reflect their focus on large-scale industrial and consumer applications. Notable examples include:

1. American Honda Motor Company: Implementing AI solutions for automotive operations.
2. Starbucks: Leveraging data for customer personalisation at a global scale.
3. Accessibili-D: Developing autonomous systems with a focus on accessibility.

These projects demonstrate their capacity to manage multi-year, multi-stakeholder engagements that touch every part of a massive organisation.

Key Differences in Approach and Delivery

The fundamental difference between these two firms is how they view "delivery." For Deloitte, delivery often means a comprehensive transformation programme involving extensive change management and governance phases. It is thorough, but it can be slow.

For &above, delivery means shipping a working product and onboarding model. The approach is "sleeves up, hands in." They prioritise User Experience (UX) because behavioural design can increase adoption rates by up to 200%. If you need a team that plugs in fast and works like your own, the studio model is superior.

How AI Consulting Engagements Work

Understanding the day-to-day reality of an engagement helps manage expectations. The rhythm of work differs significantly depending on whether you choose a boutique studio or a "Big Four" consultancy.

Typical Process with &above

Engagements often start with the AI Launchpad. This is a structured 90-day sprint designed to get you from zero to a working proof of concept.

• Days 1-30: Discovery workshops and use case identification.
• Days 31-60: Co-creation and rapid prototyping.
• Days 61-90: Testing, refining, and preparing a roadmap for full build.

It is intense, collaborative, and focused on tangible output.

Typical Process with Deloitte

A typical engagement here follows a more formal, linear progression. It usually begins with a lengthy assessment phase involving stakeholder interviews across the business.

• Phase 1: Strategy and governance assessment (often 3-6 months).
• Phase 2: Vendor selection and system design.
• Phase 3: Phased implementation and change management.

This process is designed to minimise risk but requires significant patience and budget.

Head-to-Head: Expertise, Speed and Results

When you compare them directly, it comes down to what you value most: innovation speed or risk mitigation. In the fast-moving London market, waiting twelve months for an AI deployment can mean falling behind competitors.

Specialisation and Innovation Edge

&above specialises in "agentic AI" and custom product builds. They focus on creating agents that have persistent memory and learn from feedback.

Deloitte, conversely, focuses on the broader ecosystem. As noted by industry observers, "Deloitte assists organizations in adopting agentic AI through strategic consulting, design, and governance alignment, integrating intelligent systems with control" (WebClues Infotech). Their edge is breadth; &above’s edge is depth in product design and product thinking.

Pricing Models and ROI Potential

&above typically operates on a project or retainer basis. You pay for a specific outcome or a dedicated team squad. This often leads to a clearer ROI because the investment is tied to a shipped product.

Deloitte generally works on large-scale retainer models or time-and-materials contracts. While they offer robust resources, the overheads are higher. For a mid-sized project, you might spend significantly more on project management and administration with a large firm than on actual engineering.

Client Outcomes in London’s Tech Scene

For London companies, local relevance matters. &above is deeply embedded in the product culture of the city, understanding the talent market and the specific pressures of UK tech hubs. They build solutions that help teams work smarter, not just harder.

Deloitte offers stability. If your outcome is to satisfy a board of directors that you have chosen the "safest" option, their brand carries weight. However, if the outcome is to disrupt your market, a smaller, faster partner often yields better results.

Best Practices for Choosing Your London AI Partner

Selecting a partner is a high-stakes decision. The wrong choice can lead to wasted budget and "vapourware" - projects that never really launch.

Align on Business Goals and Scale

Be honest about your needs.

• If you need to overhaul the audit compliance for a FTSE 100 company, choose Deloitte.
• If you need to build a customer-facing AI tool to increase revenue in the next quarter, choose &above.

Do not hire a cruise ship when you need a speedboat.

Vet Track Records and Cultural Fit

Look at who will actually be doing the work.

• Ask for names: Will you get senior partners or junior associates?
• Check the vibe: &above promotes a "sleeves up" culture. They work with you, not just for you.
• Review past work: Look for tangible products, not just slide decks.

Negotiate for Embedded Teams and Agility

The most successful AI projects happen when consultants sit with your team.

• Request embedded squads: Designers and engineers who join your daily stand-ups.
• Demand knowledge transfer: Ensure your team learns how to maintain the AI after the consultants leave.
• Focus on iteration: Avoid rigid "waterfall" contracts that don't allow for changes as the AI learns.

Common Mistakes in AI Consulting Selection

The biggest mistake companies make is ignoring their data reality. David Hillier, Chief Strategy Officer at &above, notes that "fragmented and siloed information will undermine the performance of any AI system."

• Mistake 1: Buying AI before fixing data. You cannot plug AI into a mess and expect magic, but you can work with data gaps if you choose correct AI methodologies. 
• Mistake 2: Over-governance. spending a year on compliance before testing if the idea even works.
• Mistake 3: Ignoring culture. If your team doesn't trust the AI, they won't use it.
• Mistake 4: treating AI as IT. It is a product challenge, not just a technical installation.

Position Your Business for AI Success in 2026 with &above

2026 is the year to stop planning and start building. While large consultancies like Deloitte offer safety and scale, &above offers the agility and product expertise required to actually ship value.

If you are ready to move from strategy to software, and you want a partner that builds with the rigour of Google but the speed of a startup, &above is the logical choice for your London business. Focus on solving real problems, fixing your data, and designing for human behaviour - that is how you win this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to see results from &above compared to Deloitte?

&above delivers working proofs of concept in 90 days via AI Launchpad sprints. Deloitte typically requires 6-12 months for initial strategy and governance phases before deployment.

What qualifications do &above and Deloitte consultants have for AI work?

&above teams feature ex-Google employees with product and behavioural design expertise. Deloitte employs 460,000 staff, including PhD-level AI specialists focused on compliance and enterprise integration.

What do &above and Deloitte specialise in?

&above excels in combining enterprise scale with startup speed. We don't just deliver &disappear; we work side-by-side to ship products fast. Deloitte specialises in scalable governance for agentic AI, integrating with ERP/CRM systems across regulated industries.

Check out our related articles

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