How long are engagements

6-12 months for program building.

What to expect in 90 days

DEI audit strategy framework and initiative roadmap.

How long are engagements

6-12 months for program building.

What to expect in 90 days

DEI audit strategy framework and initiative roadmap.

Hiring

Hire a Fractional CDO

Complete guide to hiring fractional DEI 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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Location

Work Type

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When to Hire

Quick Definition

Hire a fractional CDO when building DEI capabilities without full-time overhead. Ideal for companies responding to diversity challenges establishing ERGs or building inclusive culture.

What to Look For

Look for candidates with DEI leadership experience. Key qualities include program implementation track record culture change expertise metrics and measurement focus and executive advisory experience.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Assess	Red Flags
Programs	Built DEI initiatives	Compliance only
Culture	Changed behaviors	Policy without practice
Metrics	Measured outcomes	No data
Executive	Advised C-suite	HR only experience

Interview Questions

Key questions: What DEI programs have you implemented? How do you measure DEI success? How do you change organizational culture? How do you advise executives on DEI?

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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 Diversity Officer)

A fractional Chief Diversity Officer provides expert DE&I leadership to build inclusive cultures, meet diversity targets, and implement meaningful equity programmes without the cost of a permanent diversity executive.

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Why Hire a Fractional CDO?

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Meaningful change: Move beyond tick-box diversity to genuine inclusion

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Regulatory compliance: Meet Equality Act, pay gap reporting, and ESG requirements

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Talent attraction: Diverse companies attract 2.5x more applicants

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Performance impact: Inclusive teams are 35% more likely to outperform peers

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What a Fractional CDO Delivers

Deliverable	Timeline
DE&I audit & baseline metrics	Weeks 1-4
Diversity strategy & targets	Weeks 4-8
Inclusive policies & training	Weeks 8-12
ERG development & ongoing measurement	Ongoing

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Typical Engagement Models

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Strategic: 1-2 days/week for DE&I governance and reporting

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Transformation: 2-3 days/week for culture change programmes

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Advisory: Half day/week for DE&I board advisory

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→

CDO Salary Guide

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Fractional CHRO Jobs UK

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Fractional HR Director Jobs

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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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