TTP vs Team Consulting: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
TTP (4.4/5) edges ahead of Team Consulting (4.3/5) overall. TTP is the better choice for pharma device programs, inhalers and injectors. Team Consulting is the stronger option for Inhalers, injectors and human-factors-heavy devices. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
TTP vs Team Consulting: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | TTP | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 | 1986 |
| HQ | Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, UK | Ickleton, Cambridge, UK |
| Team size | Not published | 140–190 |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients | Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Time and materials, phased fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Ultrasound, Microfluidics, Embedded C/C++ | SolidWorks, Mechanical simulation, Usability engineering |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices |
TTP vs Team Consulting: overview
TTP
TTP (The Technology Partnership) has operated for around 40 years from its own science park in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire. In December 2021 TTP Group moved to 100% employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust. Its Medical Devices team works on drug delivery, surgical systems and diagnostics, and the wider company does deep technology work in sectors such as life science instruments and industrial products. Headcount is not published in a form we could verify.
Team Consulting
Team Consulting began in 1986 as a general product development consultancy started by five former colleagues and has worked mainly in the medical sector since the early 1990s. It is employee-owned and based in a converted barn in Ickleton, near Cambridge, with somewhere between 140 and 190 staff depending on the source. Its best-known work is in inhaled and injectable drug delivery devices, where it combines industrial design, mechanical engineering and human factors.
Services and capabilities: TTP vs Team Consulting
| Capability | TTP | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✓ | ✗ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✗ | ✗ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: TTP vs Team Consulting
| Framework / platform | TTP | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: TTP vs Team Consulting
| Criterion | TTP | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: TTP vs Team Consulting
| Dimension | TTP | Team Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices |
| Best use cases | Designing an autoinjector or inhaler for a pharma combination product, Developing a surgical energy device | Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector, Formative and summative usability studies |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Consulting |
TTP vs Team Consulting: pros and cons
| TTP | |
|---|---|
| + | Employee ownership since 2021 removes pressure from outside investors |
| + | Well regarded for drug delivery devices, an area where mechanics and human factors decide success |
| + | Own science park with lab and workshop space for physical prototyping |
| + | Specialist depth in ultrasound and fluidics |
| - | Does not publish headcount or rates, which makes early budgeting harder |
| - | UK-centric delivery; US clients work across time zones |
| - | Pricing sits with the premium Cambridge consultancies |
| Team Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years |
| + | Human factors engineering is one of the strongest in the UK for drug delivery |
| + | Employee ownership supports long-term client relationships |
| + | Industrial design quality is high, which matters for patient-handled devices |
| - | Electronics and connected-device software are a smaller part of its work than mechanics and design |
| - | No manufacturing; transfer to a CM is required |
| - | UK rates and location may not suit US startups on tight budgets |
Who should choose TTP?
A typical fit: designing an autoinjector or inhaler for a pharma combination product.
Employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Who should choose Team Consulting?
A typical fit: designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector.
Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Decision matrix: TTP vs Team Consulting
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | TTP |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: TTP (Not disclosed) vs Team Consulting (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | TTP |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: TTP vs Team Consulting
| Use case | TTP fit | Team Consulting fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing an autoinjector or inhaler for a pharma combination product | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Developing a surgical energy device | Strong | Limited | TTP |
| Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Formative and summative usability studies | Limited | Strong | Team Consulting |
Verdict: TTP vs Team Consulting
TTP (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients.
Team Consulting (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need formative and summative usability studies. If your situation matches that, Team Consulting is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
TTP vs Team Consulting FAQ
Is TTP better than Team Consulting?
TTP (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. TTP's strongest advantage: employee ownership since 2021 removes pressure from outside investors. Team Consulting's strongest advantage: medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years.
How do TTP and Team Consulting differ in pricing?
TTP uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Team Consulting uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: TTP or Team Consulting?
Team Consulting is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between TTP and Team Consulting?
TTP's primary differentiator is: employee ownership plus long-running drug delivery and surgical device work for large pharma and medtech clients. Team Consulting's primary differentiator is: three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 140–190), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Surgical & robotics vs Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.