Need IT leadership?
Fractional CIO Services for UK Scaling Businesses
Get senior CIO expertise on demand, without the cost of a full-time CIO salary.
For UK founders and CEOs at the point where IT, systems, and data have outgrown ad-hoc decisions. You get a seasoned Chief Information Officer who has done it before, working to your roadmap, your deadlines, your budget.
TALK TO A FRACTIONAL CIO
We are Boardman.
We place fractional CIOs with decades of experience into UK scaling businesses.
Our CIOs have grown companies from 40 employees to 8,000, led IPOs, run enterprise-wide systems transformations, and hired thousands of technologists and leaders.
Sound familiar?
- Is your IT a tangle of systems no one owns or understands?
- Are you spending more on technology every year with less to show for it?
- Is your data scattered, unreliable, or a security risk waiting to happen?
- Do you need CIO-level judgement but not a CIO-level salary?
...we can help.
Grab a virtual coffee and tell us what you are trying to fix.
What is a fractional CIO?
A fractional CIO is an experienced Chief Information Officer who works with your company part-time, giving you senior leadership on IT strategy, systems, data, and security for a fraction of a full-time salary. You get the judgement of a proven CIO, scaled to what you actually need.
To be clear, this is the Chief Information Officer, the senior leader who owns your technology systems and information strategy. It is not the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer used in wealth management, which is a different role entirely.
A CIO is not the same as a CTO. Your CTO builds the product you sell. Your CIO runs the technology your business depends on to operate: systems, infrastructure, data, security, and the teams behind them. Many scaling businesses need both kinds of thinking, and a fractional CIO is the affordable way to get the internal side handled.
The work is hands-on. Your fractional CIO sets the IT strategy, takes ownership of systems and suppliers, gets your data and security in order, and leads the people who keep it all running.
Engagements flex to fit. Some businesses want one or two days a week to bring order to growing IT. Others want intensive support through a transformation, a migration, or a compliance deadline. You scale the time up or down as your needs change.
When should you hire a fractional CIO?
The right time is usually just before things break. A few common triggers:
You are scaling fast and your systems no longer keep up. What worked at 40 people is buckling at 200, and no one senior owns the problem.
Your technology spend keeps climbing but the return is unclear. You need someone who can take control of suppliers, contracts, and priorities.
Your data is scattered across tools and spreadsheets, and you cannot trust the numbers you are making decisions on.
You are facing a security or compliance deadline, and getting it wrong carries real legal and commercial risk.
You are going through a merger, a funding round, or a systems migration, and you need a steady, experienced hand to lead it.
If any of these sound like you, a fractional CIO is likely the fastest way to get control and move forward with confidence.
Fractional, virtual, interim, or full-time?
The terms get used loosely. Here is how they differ in practice.
| Model | Time commitment | Best for | Cost shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional CIO | Ongoing, part-time (days per week or month) | Scaling businesses needing senior IT leadership without a full-time hire | A fraction of a full-time salary |
| Virtual CIO | Light-touch, remote, advisory | Smaller businesses needing occasional strategic guidance | Low, often retainer-based |
| Interim CIO | Full-time, fixed term | Covering a gap, a departure, or a major transition | Full-time rate, short duration |
| Full-time CIO | Permanent, full-time | Larger organisations where IT is mission-critical and complex | Full salary, equity, benefits |
One quick clarification: none of these is the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) you will see in wealth management. We place IT leaders, not investment managers.
For most UK scaling businesses, fractional is the sweet spot. You get top-tier leadership, you only pay for the time you need, and you can scale it as you grow.
Fractional CIO or fractional IT director?
People search for both, and often mean a similar thing: senior, experienced IT leadership without a permanent hire. The difference is one of scope and seniority.
A fractional IT director typically owns the day-to-day: systems, infrastructure, support, and the IT team. A fractional CIO works at a higher altitude, setting strategy, aligning technology to business goals, and sitting in the room for the big commercial decisions.
For many growing businesses the honest answer is that you need both layers of thinking, and the right person can flex between them. Whether you call it fractional IT leadership, an outsourced IT director, or a fractional CIO, we match you to someone who fits the level you are actually at.
If you are not sure which you need, that is exactly the kind of thing a quick call sorts out.
How much does a fractional CIO cost?
A fractional CIO costs a fraction of a full-time CIO salary, which in the UK runs well into six figures once you add benefits. You pay for the days you use, and you scale the commitment to your stage and budget.
Cost depends on a few things: how many days a month you need, the seniority and track record you are hiring for, and how hands-on the engagement is. A business steadying its systems will pay very differently from one driving a full transformation.
The point is you get CIO-level judgement at a fraction of the cost, with none of the long-term overhead. Book a discovery call and we will give you a clear figure for your situation.
How Boardman delivers
We do not send you a CV pile and wish you luck. We match you to a CIO from our vetted bench, then stay involved to make sure it works.
Every CIO on our bench is a practitioner who has led at scale, not a career consultant. We focus on the UK mid-market, so the people we place understand the stage you are at and the pressures you face.
You get:
- top-tier talent
- matched fast
- working to your goals from week one
- On time, every time
How to hire a fractional CIO
- Book a short intro call and tell us where you are.
- We match you to the right CIO from our bench.
- You meet them and check the fit yourself.
- They run a deep dive into your systems, data, and goals.
- You get a customised plan with clear milestones.
- They execute alongside your team, with ongoing support.
Book a no-pressure intro meet below
Here’s what our collaboration could look like:
- Initial Call: We’ll jump on a quick, 15-minute call to discuss who you are, what you do, and your current challenges and objectives.
- Meet Your Fractional CIO: We’ll pair you with our most experienced CIO for your specific challenges.
- Company Deep Dive: Your new Fractional CIO will speak directly with key staff to discover challenges and opportunities we can work on.
- Customized Plan: From there, they’ll develop a plan that outlines the steps you’ll take together to achieve your goals.
- Execution: You’ll set milestones and start executing the plan. Our Fractional CIO will work closely with you and your team to ensure success.
- Ongoing Support: Our CIO won’t just leave you after the project is done. They’ll provide ongoing support and adjustments to keep your company on track for growth.
Book a no-pressure intro meet below.
Questions? Check out our FAQs.
Why should I hire a fractional CIO?
What exactly does a fractional CIO do?
Is hiring a fractional CIO the right move for us?
How do we start working together?
What industries do you specialize in?
What’s the difference between a fractional CIO and a consultant?
How much does it cost to hire a fractional CIO?
We need help with funding & technical due diligence - can you help?
5-Minute Survey
Is Your Tech Ready To Scale?
Take our free survey, and get a personalised report & step-by-step action plan to optimize your tech.
TAKE THE SURVEY
Get actionable advice every Saturday
The CTO’s Playbook
Join 3,267 CEOs, COOs & developers already getting actionable advice, stories, and more.