Anyone got any experience of the PM's Strategy Unit?They talk a good game but can they cut it when compared with the top strategy consultancies?

Not even remotely.Worked with them twice- too infected with the public sector mentality to solve some of the problems that need addressing, tendency to come up with 'pragmatic solutions' that are value destroying compromises (Gershon targets fulfilled by outsourcing vacant and setting up new units for the displaced staff to work in under the guise of SMOs springs to mind). I know the big consultancies are party to such rubbish too- but at least we feel guilty

I don't think the PMSU is comparable to strategy consulting, for a couple of reasons. Like any internal consultancy, they are constrained to a particular perspective. And, even more than most internal consultancies, the political agenda pre-determines what strategic advice/conclusions they can give. The PMSU is fairly impotent compared to the Special Advisors and political party staff. Finally, with its civil service roots (i.e. the separation of policy and execution), the PMSU is not oriented or comfortable with providing the same challenge and critique to the prime minister/cabinet that an external consultancy should give to its clients.As a result, it's not a unit that either the best civil servants or the best external consultants tend to aspire to. It might be interesting for a secondment though, and for networking.