Fractional CTO services for growing UK businesses
Senior technology leadership for SMEs, when you need it, without the full-time cost.
The gap most growing businesses hit
There comes a point in every growing business where technology decisions start to matter more than they used to. Systems that worked at ten people creak at fifty. Suppliers pitch AI tools every week. Budgets go up, but it’s hard to say what you’re getting for them.
Usually those decisions fall to one of two people: a business leader who knows the business inside out but not the technology, or a technical person who knows the technology but hasn’t been given the strategic view. Neither is a failing. It’s simply a gap, and it’s the gap a Chief Technology Officer normally fills.
Most SMEs don’t need, and can’t justify, a full-time CTO. What they need is the thinking. That’s what a fractional CTO provides.
Sound familiar?
- You’re juggling systems that don’t talk to each other, and your team spends hours re-keying data between them.
- You’re under pressure to “do something with AI”, but you’re not sure where to start or what’s safe.
- Your technology bills keep growing, and nobody can clearly explain what’s worth keeping.
- You’re about to make a big technology decision (a new platform, a supplier, a rebuild) and want someone independent in your corner.
- Your developers or IT supplier need direction, not just a list of tickets.
What a fractional CTO does for you
A fractional CTO is a senior technology leader who works with your business part-time. You get the same strategic thinking as a full-time CTO, at a level of commitment that fits where your business is today.
With CTO Slice, that means:
A technology strategy tied to your business goals
I start with what the business is trying to achieve, then work back to the technology. The result is a clear, prioritised roadmap your leadership team can understand and act on.
Better investment decisions
From sales presentations to AI tools, I help you sort through the options and pick the investments that deliver real returns, and say no to the ones that won’t.
Practical, safe AI adoption
I cut through the AI hype with your team. Together we find practical uses that solve real problems, and put the right foundations in place: AI policies, governance and training.
Less waste, more value
I review what you’re spending on technology, cut what isn’t working, and move that budget to the tools that drive results.
A bridge between the boardroom and delivery
I’m comfortable at both ends: discussing strategy with leadership, then working hands-on with your technical team or suppliers to make sure it actually gets delivered.
How it works
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Getting to know each other
One conversation or a few, so I can understand your business, your people and what’s getting in the way. No jargon and no hard sell. Only when there’s a real connection, and I know I can help, will I put together a proposal.
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Understand the landscape
I look at your current systems, spend, suppliers and team, and identify the quick wins and the bigger opportunities.
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Agree the priorities
Together we agree a focused plan and how I’ll support it.
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Ongoing leadership
I work alongside your team at an agreed rhythm, guiding decisions, unblocking delivery and keeping technology aligned with your goals as the business grows.
Ways to work together
Ongoing CTO support
A fixed monthly retainer for a set amount of time, so you have a technology lead who knows your business and is on hand when questions come up.
Project work
One clear piece of work, such as a technology review, an AI readiness check or choosing a new supplier. A project can lead into ongoing support if that suits you.
Longer commitments
Working together for six or twelve months brings the monthly cost down and means less time spent getting up to speed.
Every proposal is tailored, so you only pay for the time you need. You can read more in How much does a fractional CTO cost in the UK?
Proof
A 50-person London marketing agency
I’ve been the fractional CTO for a 50-person London marketing agency for several years. As it grew, its people were losing hours to spreadsheets, copying information between systems and building reports by hand.
Together we joined up their systems, brought in practical AI tools and trained every member of staff. Six months later:
- 20%less time spent by project managers on each campaign
- 30%less time spent by the production team on manual tasks
- ½the time to produce reports
Why CTO Slice
With over 25 years in technology leadership across the public and private sectors, I’ve guided everything from website builds to UK-wide system rollouts. I’ve chosen to focus on ambitious SMEs, because that’s where clear technology thinking makes the biggest difference.
I won’t recommend complex systems when simpler ones work better. I’m not interested in technology for its own sake. I’m interested in using it to solve real business problems, and explaining it clearly along the way.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is an experienced technology leader who works with your business part-time instead of as a full-time employee. You get senior strategic guidance on technology, AI and digital investment, scaled to what your business needs right now. Read more about what a fractional CTO does.
How is a fractional CTO different from an IT support company?
IT support keeps your current systems running day to day. A fractional CTO sets the direction: deciding which systems you should have, where to invest, how technology supports growth, and how your suppliers and developers should be steered. The two work well together.
Is a part-time CTO right for an SME?
For most growing SMEs, yes. A full-time CTO is a significant hire and often more than the business needs. A fractional arrangement gives you the same quality of thinking at a commitment that matches your stage, and it can scale up or down as you grow.
Is a fractional CTO cheaper than hiring full-time?
For most SMEs, yes, and simpler too. There’s no recruitment fee, National Insurance, pension, holiday pay or HR process, and you only pay for the time you need. When your needs change, you simply give the agreed notice. See how the costs compare.
Do you work with our existing developers and suppliers?
Yes. I work alongside your in-house team, your IT provider and any development agencies, giving them clear direction and helping you get more value from the relationships you already have.
Do you work with businesses across the UK?
Yes. I’m based in London and work with SMEs across Greater London and the wider UK. It’s usually a hybrid arrangement: typically a couple of days a week on-site, and remote the rest of the time.