I put the new consumer unit on a piece of chipboard, mainly because
I've never seen it done any other way. Also it gives a backing for
cable clips to hold the cable. However as other posters in a parallel
thread have pointed out, Cus can be screwed directly to a sound
plastered wall.

OK so far, but if it is mount directly I'd like the whole job to look
neat. So how do you arrange/clamp the outgoing cables which go (in my
case) about 6 ins up to the ceiling. Then there's the meter tails
which come in at the side.

Any suggestions as to how to make a tidy job much appreciated.

Anyone with a pic of an 'ideal' installation?

BTW IIM the CU is contactum 7+7way & there are numerous cables heading
for it.

Another problem is keeping the cables far enough apart near the unit
to avoid the need to apply grouping derating factors.

If there's a way of making it neater, I'm prepared to remount it.