How long are typical engagements

Most run 6-12 months for capability building.

What should a CCO deliver in 90 days

Communications audit stakeholder mapping and strategy framework.

Should I hire fractional or full-time

Fractional for strategy and crisis. Full-time for ongoing comms leadership.

How long are typical engagements

Most run 6-12 months for capability building.

What should a CCO deliver in 90 days

Communications audit stakeholder mapping and strategy framework.

Should I hire fractional or full-time

Fractional for strategy and crisis. Full-time for ongoing comms leadership.

Hire a Fractional CCO

Complete guide to finding and hiring fractional communications leadership

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

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Key Takeaways

1Fractional CCOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
2UK day rates range from £800 to £1500, depending on experience and sector
3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods

Latest Fractional Jobs

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Work Type

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When to Hire a Fractional CCO

Quick Definition

Hire a fractional CCO when needing strategic communications leadership without full-time overhead. Ideal for companies facing reputation challenges building communications capabilities or needing crisis management expertise.

What to Look For

Look for candidates with communications leadership at similar organizations. Key qualities include crisis management experience media relations track record internal communications expertise and executive advisory experience.

CCO Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	What to Assess	Red Flags
Crisis Management	Handled real crises	No crisis experience
Media Relations	Journalist relationships	No media experience
Executive Advisory	Advised C-suite	Tactical only
Internal Comms	Employee engagement	External only

Interview Questions

Key questions: Walk me through a crisis you managed. How do you build media relationships? How do you advise executives on communications? What is your approach to internal communications? What would you assess first about our communications?

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Cost Comparison

Fractional vs Full-Time Executive

Full-Time Executive£286k/year

Salary + Benefits + Overhead

Fractional Executive£106k/year

1-2 days/week average

Your Potential Savings

£180k+

63%

saved

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Time Allocation

How fractional executives spend their time

Strategy30%

Operations25%

Leadership20%

Governance15%

Technology10%

Hire a Fractional CCO (Chief Communications Officer)

A fractional Chief Communications Officer provides senior corporate communications leadership covering media relations, internal comms, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management.

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Why Hire a Fractional CCO?

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Media relations: Access established journalist and media relationships

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Crisis preparedness: Have experienced crisis communications capability on call

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Stakeholder management: Professional investor and partner communications

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Internal comms: Build employee engagement through effective communications

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What a Fractional CCO Delivers

Deliverable	Timeline
Communications audit & strategy	Weeks 1-4
Media programme & messaging	Weeks 4-8
Internal comms framework	Weeks 8-12
Crisis preparedness & reputation management	Ongoing

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Typical Engagement Models

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Strategic: 1-2 days/week for comms strategy and governance

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Campaign: 2-3 days/week for major announcements and launches

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Crisis: Full engagement for crisis response and management

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CCO Salary Guide

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Fractional CMO Jobs UK

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Fractional CRO Salary

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UK Fractional Jobs

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Fractional Recruitment Agency

UK Fractional Executive Day Rates

Compare day rates across C-suite roles

CFO£800 - £1500/day

£1100

CTO£900 - £1600/day

£1200

CMO£750 - £1400/day

£1000

COO£800 - £1400/day

£1050

CDO£900 - £1450/day

£1150

CISO£900 - £1550/day

£1200

Rate Range

Average

Source: UK Market Data 2025

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Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time

Choose the right engagement model

Aspect	Fractional	Interim	Full-Time
Time Commitment	1-3 days/week	4-5 days/week	5 days/week
Duration	Ongoing/flexible	3-12 months	Permanent
Annual Cost	£50-150k	£150-300k	£200-400k+
Best For	SMEs, startups, scale-ups	Crisis, transitions	Large enterprises
Flexibility	★★★ High	★★☆ Medium	★☆☆ Low

Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.

Calculate Your Day Rate

Fractional CCO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£900

£700Avg: £900£1300

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£4,500

Monthly

£19,485

Annual

£216,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CCO UK average day rate: £900.

BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.

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