Pricing
Senior leadership, at a fraction of the cost.
Transparent, flexible pricing for senior technology leadership — clear models, no surprises. Indicative figures below; we'll confirm a clear proposal scoped to your needs.
The real cost
The cost of not having senior leadership.
A permanent CTO in the UK typically costs £100,000–£120,000 per year, plus benefits, pensions and recruitment fees — and that's before you consider the time it takes to find the right person.
But the real cost is the decisions that don't get made: the risks that aren't managed, and the technology investments that don't align with the business. NorthCTO provides the same strategic leadership on a flexible basis, for a fraction of the cost.
What you get
- Senior technology leadership without the full-time cost
- Board-level reporting and risk governance
- Strategic oversight of MSPs and suppliers
- Cyber risk ownership and compliance assurance
- Flexible engagement that scales with your needs
Typical engagements
Flexible models for your organisation and budget.
CTO Engagement
From £1,250/month
Delivered as a fixed monthly subscription, scaled to scope, complexity and level of involvement. Predictable cost for ongoing strategic leadership, with no long-term employment commitment.
Ideal if you
- Need ongoing technical leadership but not a full-time CTO
- Want strategic oversight at board level
- Are growing, changing or modernising
- Need guidance alongside an existing team or MSP
Project-based
Scoped per project
Fixed pricing per project, agreed upfront against clearly defined objectives, deliverables and timelines. Best where the scope of work is known and success can be measured against agreed criteria.
Ideal if you
- Have a clearly defined requirement or outcome
- Prefer a fixed scope, cost and timeline
- Need senior input for a specific initiative
- Want expertise for a defined piece of work
Incident Response
From £750/month
A retainer that guarantees access to senior incident leadership in the event of a cyber incident, system outage or critical service disruption — a pre-agreed response capability in place before you need it.
Ideal if you
- Operate in a regulated or high-risk environment
- Handle sensitive data or critical systems
- Need a clear escalation path in a crisis
- Have limited in-house security or response cover
Figures are indicative and depend on scope, complexity and level of involvement. We'll always agree a clear, fixed proposal before any engagement begins.
What's included
The capabilities behind every engagement.
Strategic Technology Leadership
- Technology strategy and roadmap
- Executive and board-level advisory
- Investment and budget guidance
- Oversight of teams, suppliers and MSPs
Governance & Oversight
- Technology and IT governance frameworks
- Budget planning and cost control
- Performance and management reporting
- Change and risk oversight
Cyber Risk & Assurance
- Cyber risk assessment and prioritisation
- Security and compliance direction
- Policy and control oversight
- Support during audits and due diligence
Incident & Crisis Leadership
- Incident response planning and escalation
- Senior leadership during major incidents
- Stakeholder and executive communication
- Post-incident review and improvement
Day-to-day operational support and managed services are provided separately, or through your existing providers — unless explicitly included within the agreed scope.
Common questions
The things people usually ask.
How does this compare to employing a permanent CTO?
A permanent CTO in the UK typically costs £100,000–£120,000+ per year, plus benefits and recruitment fees. A fractional engagement provides access to senior technology leadership at a fraction of that cost, without the long-term commitment or hiring overhead.
What if we only need occasional support?
Where ongoing leadership isn't required, project-based engagements suit defined initiatives, and incident-response retainers cover organisations that want senior support only when it's needed.
Can we scale the engagement up or down?
Yes. Engagements are designed to be flexible and can be adjusted as your requirements change — increasing during periods of change or scaling back once objectives are met, subject to reasonable notice.
Do you work alongside our existing MSP or internal team?
Yes. The role is to provide strategic oversight and leadership, not to replace your MSP or internal team. We work alongside existing providers to ensure technology aligns with business objectives and delivers value.
Start the conversation
Let's discuss your needs
Every organisation is different. We'll have a straightforward conversation about what you need and provide a clear proposal.