How long are engagements

6-12 months for program building.

What to expect in 90 days

Innovation audit process framework and opportunity pipeline.

How long are engagements

6-12 months for program building.

What to expect in 90 days

Innovation audit process framework and opportunity pipeline.

Hiring

Hire a Fractional CINO

Complete guide to hiring fractional innovation 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 CINO when building innovation capabilities without full-time overhead. Ideal for companies launching innovation programs seeking breakthrough products or building innovation culture.

What to Look For

Look for candidates with innovation leadership experience. Key qualities include new product development track record innovation process expertise future-thinking mindset and ability to connect innovation to business outcomes.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	Assess	Red Flags
Track Record	Products launched	Ideas without execution
Process	Innovation frameworks	Ad hoc only
Business Link	Innovation to revenue	R&D ivory tower
Culture	Built innovation mindset	Top-down only

Interview Questions

Key questions: What innovations have you brought to market? What innovation frameworks do you use? How do you connect innovation to business outcomes? How do you build innovation culture?

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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 CINO (Chief Innovation Officer)

Hiring a fractional Chief Innovation Officer gives your company access to senior innovation leadership, R&D strategy, and digital transformation expertise without the £200k+ cost of a full-time hire.

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Why Hire a Fractional CINO?

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Cost-effective innovation: Access C-level innovation expertise at 40-60% of permanent hire cost

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Fresh perspective: External innovation leaders bring cross-industry insights

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Speed to impact: Experienced CINOs deliver results from week one

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Flexibility: Scale engagement up or down as innovation needs evolve

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What a Fractional CINO Delivers

Deliverable	Timeline
Innovation audit & strategy	Weeks 1-4
Innovation framework & governance	Weeks 4-8
Pipeline development & prioritisation	Weeks 8-12
Innovation culture & team capability	Ongoing

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Typical Engagement Models

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Strategic: 1-2 days/week for ongoing innovation leadership

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Programme: 3-4 days/week for specific innovation initiatives

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Advisory: Half day/week for board-level innovation guidance

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Fractional CINO Jobs UK

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CINO Salary Guide

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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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