Need technology leadership?
Fractional CTO Services for UK Scaling Businesses
Get senior CTO expertise on demand, without the cost of a full-time CTO salary.
For UK founders and CEOs scaling past the point where ad-hoc tech decisions hold. You get a seasoned operator who has done it before, working to your roadmap, your deadlines, your budget.
TALK TO A CTO
We are Boardman.
We place fractional CTOs with decades of experience into UK scaling businesses.
Our CTOs have grown companies from 40 employees to 8,000, led IPOs, shipped millions of products, and hired thousands of developers and leaders.
Sound familiar?
If your company is:
- Is your tech holding back growth instead of driving it?
- Are you making big technology bets without anyone senior to call them?
- Is your team shipping late, or shipping the wrong thing?
- Is your board asking what you are doing about AI, and you do not have a straight answer yet?
- Do you need CTO-level judgement but not a CTO-level salary?
...we can help.
Grab a virtual coffee and tell us what you are trying to build.
What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is an experienced technology leader who works with your company part-time, giving you senior strategy, roadmap, and team leadership for a fraction of a full-time salary. You get the judgement of a proven CTO, scaled to what you actually need.
A full-time CTO is one person, one salary, one set of experiences. A fractional CTO brings the same seniority across a few days a month, often with a deeper track record than you could afford to hire outright.
The work is hands-on. Your fractional CTO sets the technology direction, owns the roadmap, leads and hires your engineering team, and translates technical reality into business decisions you can act on.
Sometimes what you need is not ongoing leadership but one specific piece of work done properly. An AI strategy that tells you where AI is worth the investment and where it is not. Or technology due diligence on a business you are about to buy. We run both as fixed-scope engagements with published fees.
Engagements flex to fit. Some founders want one or two days a week to steady a growing team. Others want intensive support through a funding round, a rebuild, or a scale-up sprint. You scale the time up or down as your needs change.
When should you hire a fractional CTO?
The right time is usually just before you think you need one. A few common triggers:
You are scaling fast and your technology decisions are getting bigger than your team's experience. You need someone who has made these calls before.
You are raising or have just raised, and investors expect credible technical leadership in the room. A fractional CTO gives you that without a full-time commitment you cannot yet justify, and they will already know what an investor's technology due diligence is going to ask, because they have sat on both sides of it.
Your engineering team is growing but lacks senior direction. Things ship late, priorities drift, and good people start to leave.
You are facing a major technology decision. A rebuild, a platform migration, a build-versus-buy call, or a serious question about where AI actually fits in your business. Getting any of them wrong is expensive.
You have a technical co-founder who has stepped back, or none at all, and the gap is now slowing you down.
If any of these sound like you, a fractional CTO is likely the fastest way to steady the ship and pick up speed.
Fractional, interim, virtual, outsourced, or full-time?
The terms get used loosely. Here is how they differ in practice.
| Model | Time commitment | Best for | Cost shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional CTO | Ongoing, part-time (days per week or month) | Scaling businesses needing senior leadership without a full-time hire | A fraction of a full-time salary |
| Interim CTO | Full-time, fixed term | Covering a gap, a departure, or a specific transition | Full-time rate, short duration |
| Virtual CTO | Light-touch, remote, advisory | Early-stage companies needing occasional guidance | Low, often retainer-based |
| Outsourced CTO | Delivered through an external provider | Companies wanting leadership bundled with delivery | Varies by scope |
| Full-time CTO | Permanent, full-time | Larger companies where technology is the core of the business | Full salary, equity, benefits |
Â
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.
How much does a fractional CTO cost?
A fractional CTO costs a fraction of a full-time CTO salary, which in the UK typically runs well into six figures once you add equity and 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 founder steadying a small team will pay very differently from one driving a full rebuild.
The point is you get CTO-level judgement at a fraction of the cost, with none of the long-term overhead.Â
See our fractional CTO cost guide for detail, or book a call for a figure specific to your situation.
How Boardman delivers
We do not send you a CV pile and wish you luck.Â
- We match you to a CTO from our vetted bench, then stay involved to make sure it works.
- Every CTO 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 CTO
Here’s what our collaboration could look like:
- Book a short intro call and tell us where you are.
- We match you to the right CTO from our bench.
- You meet them and check the fit yourself.
- They run a deep dive into your company 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.
Questions? Check out our FAQs.
Why should I hire a fractional CTO?
What exactly does a fractional CTO do?
Is hiring a fractional CTO the right move for us?
How do we start working together?
What industries do you specialize in?
What’s the difference between a fractional CTO and a consultant?
How much does it cost to hire a fractional CTO?
We need help with funding & technical due diligence - can you help?
The Boardman Newsletter
Actionable advice for mid-market leaders. Every Saturday.
Join 3,267 CEOs, CFOs and COOs.
By submitting, I agree to receive emails from Boardman and understand I can unsubscribe any time via the unsubscribe link at the bottom of all emails.