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Fractional technology leadership, Manchester born
Fractional CTO Services in Manchester & the North West
Get senior technology leadership for your scaling business, without the cost of a full-time hire.
For North West founders and CEOs who need proven technology leadership to scale. You get a seasoned operator working to your roadmap, your deadlines, and your budget, backed by a firm that calls Manchester home.
TALK TO A CTO
Boardman in Manchester
We are Boardman, and Manchester is our home. We are headquartered here and we work with scaling businesses across the North West, from the city itself out to Cheshire, Lancashire, and beyond.
Being part of the region's tech ecosystem matters to us. It means we understand the businesses growing here, the talent market you are hiring in, and the ambition driving the North West's scale-ups. When you work with us, you are working with a local firm, not a distant name on a website.
Our fractional leaders bring decades of experience. They have grown companies from 40 employees to 8,000, led IPOs, shipped millions of products, and built high-performing teams. Now they bring that experience to businesses like yours, a few days a month, for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
The roles we place
We place senior, fractional technology leaders across every part of the function. Whatever the gap at the top of your technology, we have someone who has filled it before.
- Our fractional CTO service gives you technology strategy, roadmap ownership, and engineering leadership.
- Our fractional CIO service takes control of your systems, data, and IT.
- Our fractional CISO service owns security, governance, and compliance.
- Our fractional Chief AI Officer service turns AI from noise into real, governed value.
- And where you need it, we place technology board advisor for independent counsel at board level.
Here is how it works: you book a short intro call, we match you to the right leader from our vetted bench, you meet them and check the fit, and they get to work alongside your team. Simple, fast, and low-commitment.
How Boardman places inĀ Manchester
We do not send you a CV pile and wish you luck. We match you to a leader who fits your business, then stay involved to make sure it works.
Every leader on our bench is a practitioner who has led at scale, not a career consultant. Many are Manchester and North West-based, and all are ready to work with businesses in the way that suits you, on-site in the city, remote, or a mix of both. What matters is that they understand the stage you are at and the market you are competing in.
You get top-tier talent, matched fast, working to your goals from week one. On time, every time.
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 |
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.
What does it cost?
A fractional leader costs a fraction of a full-time salary, and you only pay for the days you actually need. There is no long-term overhead and no equity to give up.
For a full breakdown of pricing and what drives it, see our fractional CTO cost guide, or book a discovery call and we will give you a clear figure for your situation.
Ready to scale your technology?
Senior technology leadership, matched fast, working to your roadmap for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. Local to Manchester, working across the North West.
Book a no-pressure intro meet below.
Questions? Check out our FAQs.
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