Senior People leadership, on a Fractional basis.
As your business scales from 10 to 100 employees, the complexity of your People Operations increases exponentially.
I provide the high-level strategic oversight and "steady hand" expertise of an experienced CPO, embedded in your leadership team on a fractional basis.
I don't just provide a roadmap and leave the implementation to your overstretched team. I operate as a full-stack People leader. I provide the high-level strategic oversight your Board expects, while simultaneously rolling up my sleeves to handle the tactical execution your business needs right now.
Why Fractional?
Hiring a full-time CPO in the UK tech space often costs more than £160k, even before you factor in the cost of employment.
Most scale-ups don't need that level of presence 5 days a week, but they need the brainpower and the impact.
My retained packages give you a senior HR leader embedded in your business at a commitment level suited to your stage of growth. I handle the high-level strategy and the complex issues, so you can focus on building and refining your company.
I partner with you on organisational design, M&A readiness, culture strategy, and protecting your valuation during funding rounds. I am hands-on with complex ER casework, contract professionalisation, manager coaching, and building the actual HR infrastructure that keeps you legal and scalable.
Choosing between a permanent hire and a Fractional CPO isn't just a budget decision, it is a value decision. While a full-time executive is a massive commitment in both capital and equity, the Act HR Fractional CPO model provides the same senior-level expertise with none of the long term commitment.
Investment Comparison
| Feature | Full-Time Chief People Officer | Act HR Fractional CPO |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Basic Salary | £160,000 – £190,000 | Fixed Monthly Retainer |
| On-Costs (NI & Pension) | £25,000+ per year | £0 (Zero On-Costs) |
| Performance Bonus | 10% – 20% of base salary | No bonus payable |
| Equity Dilution | 0.5% – 1.0% (standard) | Zero Equity Diluted |
| Onboarding Time | 3–6 months to full impact | Targetted impact from Day One |
| Commitment | Permanent, 3-6 month notice period | 6 month engagement, 1 month notice |
| Annual Total Cost | £220,000+ | Significant Savings |
The Fractional Packages
-
Essential
The Founder Advisor
Price: £1,500 - £2,000 + VAT / mo
Around 1-2 days per month, flexible and needs-based.
Includes: Fully remote support, 30-minute monthly review, and a balance of time for ad-hoc queries or dedicated half-days.
Best for: Founders who handle HR themselves have a junior coordinator but need C-level cover.
-
Growth
The Scale-Up Partner
Pricing: £3,500 - £4,200 + VAT / mo
Around 4 days per month (average 1 day per week).
Includes: Impactful HR leadership, onsite presence on request, ongoing support for day-to-day issues, and a 60-minute monthly review.
Best for: More established companies without a dedicated CPO, or those at Series A or B who need to professionalise their people operations to attract top talent and satisfy investors.
-
Strategic
The Embedded Executive
Price: £7,000 - £8,500 + VAT / mo
Around 8 days per month (average 2 days per week).
Includes: Full HR Gap Analysis included, strategic project support, bespoke manager coaching, and weekly actions summary.
Best for: Fast-growth firms or those undergoing major change (M&A, international expansion, or culture turnaround).
How we work together
6-month minimum
Culture doesn't change overnight. We commit to a 6-month initial partnership.
Rollover Days: If we don't use all your days in a month, you can roll over up to 2 days to the next month.
Quarterly Reviews
We assess your tier every three months to make sure you're getting the right level of support.
30-Day Notice: Flexibility matters. You can change tiers or cancel with 30 days' notice.
Need more time?
I understand that your needs can change rapidly. Whether you are navigating an unexpected funding round or a major hiring surge, your retainer provides the flexibility to scale up my involvement.
Retainer clients receive priority scheduling and preferential rates for any strategic support required beyond their monthly allocation:
Essential clients: £1,000 + VAT per day
Growth clients: £950 + VAT per day (5% preferred rate)
Strategic clients: £900 + VAT per day (10% preferred rate)
Note: Additional support is invoiced monthly in arrears for total transparency and ease of budgeting.
Case Study: Scaling People Capability Through 18 Months of Transition
The Situation:
The client was entering a critical period of organisational change and rapid growth. They needed to move away from reactive "firefighting" of operational issues and build a sophisticated People function that could support an evolving leadership team and an expanding workforce.
The Solution:
Over an 18-month fractional engagement, I embedded within the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to deliver:
Strategic Alignment: Defined and articulated a People Strategy and Operational Plan aligned with core business objectives.
Capability Building: Coached the internal People team to enhance their strategic practice and partnership development.
Manager Development: Designed and delivered training on employment legislation and effective management to reduce compliance risk and increase leadership autonomy.
Infrastructure: Implemented a regular, HRIS-integrated performance review process and a robust talent development framework.
Future Proofing: Supported the search, selection, and onboarding of the permanent People team, ensuring a seamless transition from fractional oversight to internal leadership.
The Result:
The engagement delivered a fundamental shift in the People function's value, positioning it as a genuine strategic partner. Key outcomes included measurable time savings across the business, a significant reduction in compliance risk, and a clear roadmap for organisational design.
“Alex brought exactly what we needed: pragmatic, straight-forward advice combined with a genuinely action-focused approach. Rather than overcomplicated project plans and theories, Alex consistently delivered practical solutions that worked for our business. The infrastructure, processes, and capabilities developed during this engagement continue to serve us well and have repositioned our People function as a genuine business partner. Alex was always responsive, professional, and focused on getting things done in a way that made sense for our organisation and our context.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Alex to any organisation seeking expert HR and People consultancy support, particularly those navigating change, building internal capability, or looking to elevate their People function from operational to strategic.”
Rachel Hillman - CFO and Owner, Simpson Associates
