How long are engagements

6-12 months for design transformation.

What to expect in 90 days

Design audit system foundations and team plan.

How long are engagements

6-12 months for design transformation.

What to expect in 90 days

Design audit system foundations and team plan.

Hire a Fractional CDO

Complete guide to hiring fractional design leadership

£800-2,000

Day Rate

2-6 weeks

Time to Hire

50-70%

Cost Savings

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Key Takeaways

1Fractional CFOs 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

Quick Definition

Hire a fractional CDO when elevating design capability without full-time overhead. Ideal for companies undergoing digital transformation establishing design systems or building design teams.

What to Look For

Look for candidates with design leadership at similar organizations. Key qualities include UX strategy experience design system creation team building and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Assess	Red Flags
Portfolio	Design leadership work	IC work only
Strategy	UX to business link	Pixel pushing
Systems	Built design systems	No scalable work
Teams	Hired designers	Solo designer

Interview Questions

Key questions: What design transformations have you led? How do you build design systems? How do you measure design impact? How do you hire and develop design talent?

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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 CDO (Chief Design Officer)

A fractional Chief Design Officer provides world-class design leadership to elevate your product experience, brand identity, and user interfaces without the cost of a permanent design executive.

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Why Hire a Fractional CDO?

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Design-led growth: Companies with strong design outperform peers by 200%

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Product excellence: Elevate UX/UI across your entire product portfolio

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Design systems: Build scalable, consistent design language and components

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Team building: Recruit, mentor, and develop in-house design talent

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What a Fractional CDO Delivers

Deliverable	Timeline
Design audit & UX assessment	Weeks 1-4
Design strategy & system architecture	Weeks 4-8
Design system implementation	Weeks 8-16
Team development & design culture	Ongoing

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Typical Engagement Models

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Strategic: 1-2 days/week for design direction and governance

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Product: 2-3 days/week for product design leadership

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Transformation: 3-4 days/week for design system builds

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CDO Salary Guide

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Fractional CPO Jobs UK

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Fractional CTO Jobs UK

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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

CFOThis Role£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 CFO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

Your Day Rate

£1,000

£750Avg: £1000£1500

Days Per Client/Week

2.5 days

1 day5 days

Number of Clients

2 clients

Weekly

£5,000

Monthly

£21,650

Annual

£240,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.

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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