Senior IT advice, without hiring a full-time IT director
We help directors and leadership teams make good decisions about technology: what to invest in, what to stop doing, and in what order, all tied to where the business is going.
A plan you can actually follow
Plenty of organisations reach a size where IT decisions matter a great deal, but a full-time Head of IT is hard to justify. Decisions end up being made by whoever shouts loudest, or by the supplier with the next renewal.
We bring the experience of running IT at a senior level, on a part-time or project basis. That might be a one-off roadmap, a review before a big decision, or a regular slot as your fractional head of IT. The output is always practical: a plan with costs, priorities and owners, not a slide deck that sits in a drawer.
What we cover
IT health check
An independent view of where your technology stands today.
- Systems, security, support and spend
- Strengths, risks and quick wins
- A short report for the leadership team
Technology roadmap
A one-to-three-year plan linked to your business goals.
- Priorities, timings and indicative costs
- Dependencies and risks set out clearly
- Reviewed and updated as plans change
Budgets and licensing
Understanding and controlling what IT really costs.
- Spend analysis across suppliers and subscriptions
- Licence optimisation, especially Microsoft 365
- Budget planning for the year ahead
Suppliers and procurement
Getting the right contracts with the right partners.
- Reviews of support and telecoms contracts
- Writing requirements and running tenders
- Scoring bids and negotiating terms
Part-time IT leadership
A senior IT lead for a few days a month.
- Attending leadership meetings and reporting to the board
- Managing suppliers and in-house IT staff
- Owning IT policy, risk and business continuity
AI and data strategy
Working out where AI would genuinely help, and what needs to be in place first.
- Identifying practical use cases
- Data quality, access and governance
- Guidance on acceptable use for staff
Situations we’re often asked to help with
- You’ve outgrown an informal IT setupWe’ll set out what needs to change as you grow, and in what order, so you’re not fixing everything at once.
- Nobody can say exactly what IT costs each yearWe’ll pull together spend across all suppliers and subscriptions and show where money can be saved.
- Your support contract is up for renewalWe’ll review what you’re getting, define what you need, and help you compare options fairly.
- The board wants a plan before approving investmentA roadmap with costs and priorities gives directors something concrete to decide on.
- Your IT manager has leftWe can step in as interim IT lead while you decide whether to recruit.
How an advisory engagement runs
- ListenWe start with your business plans and pressures, not with the technology.
- AssessWe review your current systems, suppliers, spend and risks, speaking to the people who use them.
- RecommendYou get clear options with costs, benefits and trade-offs, plus our honest recommendation.
- PlanWe turn the agreed direction into a roadmap with priorities, owners and timescales.
- Follow throughIf you want, we stay involved to oversee delivery and keep the plan up to date.
What you’re left with
- A current-state assessment in plain language
- A prioritised roadmap with indicative costs
- Board-ready summaries and recommendations
- Supplier and contract review findings
- IT policies and a business continuity outline
- A budget forecast for the coming year
Common questions
Are you independent?
Yes. We don’t take commission from vendors or resell hardware, so our recommendations are based on what’s right for you.
How much of our time will this take?
Usually a kick-off session with the leadership team, short conversations with key staff, and a review meeting at the end. We fit around your diary.
Can you help us implement the plan?
Yes. Our infrastructure, security and project services can deliver the roadmap, or we can oversee another supplier doing the work.
How does part-time IT leadership work?
We agree a set number of days per month and a clear list of responsibilities. You get a consistent senior contact who knows your business, for much less than the cost of a full-time hire.