Fractional CIO and CTO services for UK and European SMEs. The strategic hand of an enterprise technology leader, on a retainer that fits a growing business.
Most SMEs reach a point where technology decisions outgrow the team making them. The cloud bill keeps climbing, suppliers contradict each other, security feels like guesswork, and every “should we invest in this?” lands on a founder or finance director who never signed up to run IT.
Hiring a full-time CIO solves it — at £120,000-plus a year, plus the cost of getting the hire wrong. For most businesses under 250 staff, that maths doesn’t work.
A fractional CIO does. You get the judgement of someone who has led enterprise technology at IBM, WIPRO, and Sify Technologies, for a few focused days a month — long enough to own the strategy, short enough to keep it affordable.
Who this is for
This service fits if you recognise any of these:
- You’re a founder, MD or FD making technology calls outside your expertise — and you know it.
- You have an internal IT person or managed service provider doing the hands-on work, but nobody owning the direction.
- Your cloud and software spend has crept up and nobody can fully explain it.
- You’re facing a decision that’s too big to get wrong — a migration, a security overhaul, an AI rollout, a funding round’s due diligence.
- You sell into the UK and EU and need someone who understands both regulatory worlds.
If you need someone to fix a laptop today, that’s not this. If you need someone to make sure the next three years of technology decisions are the right ones, that’s exactly this.
What you get
A fractional CIO engagement covers the work a full-time technology leader would own — scaled to what your business actually needs:
Technology strategy and roadmap. A clear, costed plan for where your systems are going and why, tied to your business goals rather than vendor sales pitches.
Vendor and supplier management. Independent oversight of your MSP, software vendors and cloud providers. As an advisor who sells nothing and resells nothing, my only interest is your outcome — not a commission.
Budget ownership and cost control. Defensible IT budgets, spend visibility, and a standing brief to find savings. Most engagements pay for themselves here.
Risk and security oversight. Knowing where you’re exposed, what to fix first, and how to prove your posture to clients, insurers and regulators.
Board and leadership reporting. Technology translated into plain business language for your board, investors or senior team — including the reporting that due diligence and compliance now demand.
A steady hand on the big decisions. Migrations, AI adoption, restructures, acquisitions — the moments where experience is the difference between a smart investment and an expensive mistake.
How it works
1. Discovery call (free). A straight conversation about where you are and what’s keeping you up at night. No obligation, no scripted pitch.
2. Baseline review. A short paid assessment of your current systems, spend, risks and gaps, ending in a prioritised plan you own — whether or not you continue.
3. Ongoing retainer. A fixed number of days each month, focused on the priorities we agree. Predictable cost, predictable access, cancellable as your needs change.
You always deal with me. No account managers, no junior staff learning on your time.
Pricing
Fractional CIO services are offered on a simple monthly retainer, so you always know the cost:
| Tier | Commitment | Best for | Indicative monthly fee [confirm] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advisory | ~2 days/month | Founders who need direction and a sounding board | from £1900 Per Month |
| Embedded | ~4 days/month | Businesses mid-transformation or scaling fast | from £3600 Per Month |
| Project-led | Scoped per project | A specific migration, overhaul or AI rollout | £1,000–£1,500/day, Fixed price, quoted upfront |
No long lock-ins. No hidden extras. The baseline review is a fixed fee, agreed before any work starts.
Why Innoligo
Innoligo is led by Amit Sharma, with 28 years of global enterprise technology experience across IBM, Government Services, WIPRO, TechMahindra, Sify Technologies, and Birlasoft, and a background in complex project leadership.
That matters for one reason: you get enterprise-grade judgement applied to an SME-sized business. The discipline, vendor-handling and strategic thinking that large organisations pay heavily for — delivered directly, independently, and at a scale that makes sense for you.
Innoligo is a Microsoft Certified Partner and Dell Technologies Partner, based in Bracknell and serving SMEs across the UK and Europe.
Call to action
Not sure if a fractional CIO is what you need? That’s exactly what the first call is for.
📅 Book a free, no-obligation call
FAQ
What’s the difference between a fractional CIO and an IT support company? An IT support company or MSP does the hands-on work — fixing problems, managing devices, running the helpdesk. A fractional CIO sits above that, owning the strategy, the budget and the big decisions. Many clients keep their existing MSP and bring in a fractional CIO to direct it.
How is a fractional CIO different from a consultant? A consultant typically delivers a one-off project and leaves. A fractional CIO is an ongoing part of your leadership — accountable for outcomes month after month, with skin in the game.
Do you work with our existing IT provider? Yes. Most engagements involve overseeing and getting more value from the suppliers you already have. I sell no products and take no vendor commissions, so my advice is genuinely independent.
Can you help with UK and EU compliance? Yes — including NIS2, DORA, data residency and AI Act readiness. This is a particular strength for businesses operating across both markets.
How quickly can we start? Usually within a couple of weeks of the first call, beginning with the baseline review.