Four tiers of engagement — from a fixed-fee diagnostic to a full transformation programme. Every option is faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective than a permanent hire.
Leadership Services operates on a simple, four-tier model. Each tier is designed as a natural entry point — and a natural stepping stone to the next level of engagement as your business’s needs evolve. There are no hidden fees, no long-term contracts beyond agreed programme terms, and no recruitment charges. You pay for what you need, and adjust as your requirements change.
Tier 1
Know the problem before you buy the solution.
£3,500–£7,500
fixed fee · 2–4 weeks
A fixed-price, time-limited audit delivered by a senior fractional director. Structured assessment across a specific functional domain — finance, technology, commercial, or leadership. Ends with a prioritised action plan and a specific recommendation for the engagement most likely to deliver the greatest commercial impact.
INCLUDES
RIGHT FOR:
Businesses that want to understand the problem precisely before committing to an ongoing engagement. Also ideal as a first step for businesses new to fractional leadership, or for businesses preparing for a specific transaction or transformation where an independent assessment adds value.
NOT FOR:
Businesses that already have a clear diagnosis and need an experienced director to start executing immediately.
MOST POPULAR
Tier 2
Board-level leadership, accountability, and outcomes — without the full-time salary.
£1,795–£6,000
per month · No minimum term — typically 6–24 months
An experienced fractional director deployed to your business on a flexible, part-time basis. Typically 1–4 days per month, scaled to your specific requirements. The director owns the functional agenda, sits at the leadership table, and is accountable for outcomes — not just activity. Starts within five business days.
RIGHT FOR:
Businesses that need ongoing, embedded senior leadership in one specific function. The core model — used by the majority of Leadership Services clients. Appropriate for businesses from 30 to 500+ employees across all sectors.
NOT FOR:
Businesses that need senior leadership across multiple functions simultaneously and want a coordinated, programme-managed approach — see Tier 3.
Tier 3
Multi-director team. Single managed programme. Coordinated transformation.
£4,500–£12,000
per month · 3, 6, or 12-month programme terms
Two to four fractional directors deployed as a single, coordinated programme — with joint planning, shared client intelligence, and programme management oversight. A single billing relationship, a single engagement, and one leadership team accountable for the full transformation agenda.
RIGHT FOR:
Businesses undertaking a transformation that requires aligned leadership across more than one function simultaneously. Typically businesses with £5m–£75m revenue facing a defined transformation challenge with a clear timeline — growth, exit preparation, digital transformation, or post-acquisition integration.
NOT FOR:
Businesses that only need one function addressed, or businesses at too early a stage to benefit from multi-director coordination.
Tier 4
A named transformation programme with a defined outcome — built for your business type.
£4,000–£10,500
per month · 4–18 months depending on programme
A packaged transformation programme — Scale Ready, Exit Accelerator, Digital Lift, People First, or Revenue Engine — delivered by a coordinated director team to a defined outcome. Each programme has a structured timeline, specific deliverables, and measurable milestones. The highest-value engagement tier for businesses with a clearly defined transformation challenge.
RIGHT FOR:
Businesses with a clearly defined transformation need that maps to one of the named programmes — or that want the structure and accountability of a programme-managed engagement rather than an open-ended retainer.
NOT FOR:
Businesses that need highly customised multi-function transformation not covered by the named programmes — see Tier 3, Transformation Directorate.
| Role | Full-Time Annual Cost | Fractional Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time CFO | £130,000–£200,000 + NI + benefits | £1,795–£6,000/month |
| Full-time CTO | £120,000–£180,000 + NI + benefits | £1,795–£5,000/month |
| Three full-time C-suite hires | £450,000–£600,000 + NI + benefits | £4,500–£12,000/month (Transformation Directorate) |
All Leadership Services engagements include no recruitment fees, no long-term contracts beyond agreed programme terms, and no employer National Insurance obligations. Engagements start within five business days.
You know something is wrong but are not sure exactly what — or where to start.
→ Start with Tier 1: a Diagnostic Audit. Fixed fee, clear output, specific recommendation. Most clients know exactly what they need within four weeks.
You have a clear, specific functional gap — finance, marketing, technology, operations, HR — and need a senior director to fill it on an ongoing basis.
→ Tier 2: Fractional Director. The core model. Start within five business days, no minimum term, scale up or down as needed.
You need to transform multiple functions simultaneously and cannot afford for each to advance independently without coordination.
→ Tier 3: Transformation Directorate. Two to four directors as one programme. Better aligned, more cost-effective than three separate retainers, and far more likely to deliver the transformation you need.
Your challenge maps clearly to a defined transformation type — scaling, exiting, digitising, people and culture, or revenue growth — and you want a structured programme with clear milestones and defined outcomes.
→ Tier 4: Sector Programme. The highest-value engagement — with the structure, accountability, and outcome definition that delivers the most significant commercial results.
Book a free 15-minute discovery call. We’ll recommend the right tier for your business.
