Engineering Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Fractional Chief Information Officer (CIO) Services in the United Kingdom

Ryan Stevens

August 10, 2025

Best Fractional Chief Information Officer Services in the UK

UK Outsourced Chief Information Officer Agencies

When your organisation is scaling, facing digital transformation, or preparing for investment, a full-time Chief Information Officer (CIO) may not be feasible—or even necessary. That’s where fractional, outsourced, and virtual CIOs come in. These professionals bring strategic technology leadership, risk governance, and operational clarity—without the full-time price tag.

This blog highlights the top UK-based CIO service providers delivering fractional leadership to companies across sectors like cybersecurity, SaaS, public sector, and finance. Whether you’re restructuring your IT strategy, enhancing cyber posture, or scaling infrastructure for growth, these firms offer executive-grade insight without the overhead.

🧭 Methodology: How We Selected the Top UK CIO Providers

This guide is curated by the editorial team at Digital Reference—not generated by AI algorithms or affiliate promotions. Our selection process is research-driven, client-validated, and location-specific. Here's what we looked for:

✅ Proven Client Impact: Documented outcomes like risk reduction, cloud transformation, or tech stack optimisation
✅ Founder-led Delivery: Each provider is actively led or shaped by a hands-on technology leader
✅ Sector Depth: Serving industries from government and healthcare to fintech and enterprise SaaS
✅ Transparent, Authentic Approach: In line with Digital Reference’s core value of radical authenticity

This article does not rank providers it simply highlights standout offerings for UK companies exploring fractional CIO partnerships.

RGS IT Development Ltd

🔗 Website: https://rgsit.com

What they do:
RGS IT Development Ltd blends deep technical delivery with strategic IT leadership—a rare and powerful combination in the fractional space. Their services span CIO-as-a-Service, enterprise architecture, and digital transformation consulting, often focused on integrating complex systems across ERP, CRM, and cloud infrastructure. They're particularly adept at translating board-level strategy into realistic, actionable IT execution.

Who they work with:
Their clients include mid-market industrial, supply chain, and public sector organizations—especially those seeking a partner who can lead transformation without bloated consulting overhead. RGS IT has carved out a niche with manufacturing and logistics firms in Midlands and Northern England.

Operating model:
RGS IT runs a modular, transparent, and delivery-first model. Whether brought in for part-time CIO leadership or a short-term transformation sprint, they’re known for bridging conversations across finance, operations, and IT—helping unify the C-suite around tech strategy.

💡 Why they stand out:

🚀 Framework-Driven: Uses TOGAF and ITIL methodologies to drive structured transformation roadmaps
📊 Outcome-Focused: Clients report up to 40% faster time-to-value on IT initiatives
📍 Local Expertise: Especially strong in Midlands and Northern England’s industrial sector
🧩 Seamless Integrator: Expert at connecting legacy infrastructure with modern cloud systems—without vendor lock-in

Simon Crump, Founder, RGS IT Development Ltd

Simon Crump brings over 20 years of CIO and CTO experience spanning the UK’s healthcare, industrial, and nonprofit sectors. Before founding RGS IT, he led enterprise system rollouts and digital architecture programs for complex organizations. Simon is known for his no-nonsense, ROI-focused approach, frequently partnering with CFOs to ensure IT investments drive measurable business outcomes. On LinkedIn, he shares straight-talking insights on enterprise architecture, vendor management, and tech leadership—always championing clarity over complexity.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sicrump/

ViceConsulting

🔗 Website: www.viceconsulting.co.uk

What they do:
ViceConsulting offers virtual CIO/CISO services with a strong emphasis on compliance, vendor strategy, and digital risk management. Their primary value lies in ensuring that IT strategies are deeply aligned with broader business goals.

They cater primarily to SMEs and growth-stage startups across healthtech, education, and e-commerce, where digital readiness and security maturity are often still evolving.

Their operating model is flexible and policy-forward, with engagements that emphasize cloud architecture, digital transformation, and clear governance frameworks.

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Who they work with:
Primarily SMEs and growth-phase startups in healthtech, education, and e-commerce.

Operating model:
Flexible engagements with a focus on policy development, cloud architecture, and digital transformation readiness.

💡 Why they stand out:

Built to support regulated industries (ISO, GDPR, Cyber Essentials)
Offers low-cost virtual CISO bundles for small teams
Known for plain-English security policies and clear digital roadmaps

Joseph Arhen, Founder, ViceConsulting

Joseph is a rising voice in the UK security community, known for combining technical rigor with pragmatic business insight. With a background in healthcare IT and SME transformation, he’s passionate about bringing enterprise-grade security to everyday businesses. His style is direct, highly collaborative, and rooted in ethical leadership.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joseph-arhen-25ba75344

Tyneham Consulting

🔗 Website: https://tynehamconsulting.co.uk

What they do:
Tyneham Consulting delivers fractional CIO and CISO services, cyber risk audits, and cloud transformation strategy, especially for heavily regulated industries.

Who they work with:
Public sector organisations, healthcare, finance, and nonprofit enterprises needing long-term IT leadership.

Operating model:
Ann and her team specialise in embedding interim tech leadership, often during transformation or compliance milestones.

💡 Why they stand out:

Veteran of NHS and central government IT leadership
Combines CISSP + CCISO credentials with hands-on operational experience
Frequently retained for board-level coaching and risk training

Ann Marshall, Founder, Tyneham Consulting

Ann is a highly credentialed cyber leader with deep UK government roots. With 25+ years of leadership across NHS, MoJ, and commercial sectors, she brings structured, risk-first thinking to every engagement. Known for her calm authority and ethical lens, she helps boards navigate security transformation without fear or jargon.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ann-marshall-cciso-cissp-61533919

Gorilla Team Associates

🔗 Website: https://www.gorillateamassociates.com/

What they do:
Gorilla Team provides fractional CIO, CISO, and IT advisory services for high-complexity, multi-vendor environments. They are security-first but commercially fluent.

Who they work with:
Mid-market firms in manufacturing, logistics, and private equity-backed companies.

Operating model:
Short to mid-term CIO engagements designed to reduce IT waste, improve vendor oversight, and ensure alignment between tech and growth plans.

💡 Why they stand out:

Veteran-led team with cybersecurity and ITIL depth
Known for turning around legacy tech environments with low disruption
Offers executive coaching as part of fractional CIO services

Andy Hamer, Managing Director, Gorilla Team Associates

Andy is a former RAF senior officer and security specialist turned tech advisor. He blends strategic systems thinking with hard-earned experience in operational security. His leadership is marked by no-BS assessments, tight vendor control, and prioritising what actually moves the business forward.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/andyhamer

7WiseOwls

🔗 Website: https://www.7wiseowls.com/

What they do:
7WiseOwls delivers virtual CIO services with a neurodiverse and inclusive lens, prioritising people-first digital strategies and ethical design.

Who they work with:
Startups, social enterprises, nonprofits, and UK organisations leading with purpose.

Operating model:
Highly collaborative, with a unique co-design philosophy that brings stakeholders into tech roadmapping.

💡 Why they stand out:

Founded on principles of digital ethics, accessibility, and inclusion
Offers tailored CIO support for neurodiverse workforces
Champions conscious leadership in the IT space

Mariana Chaves, Founder, 7WiseOwls

Mariana is a thought leader in ethical IT design, with prior roles in digital strategy and behavioural research. She’s passionate about designing systems that reflect the diversity of the people using them. Mariana’s CIO practice is as much about values as it is about architecture—she’s a trusted voice in inclusive digital transformation.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chavesmariana

Praxes Cyber

🔗 Website: https://praxescyber6.godaddysites.com

What they do:
Praxes Cyber delivers CISO and CIO consulting with a sharp focus on threat mitigation and breach preparedness.

Who they work with:
Retailers, fintech firms, and high-risk B2C platforms needing robust cyber defence strategies.

Operating model:
Fractional CISO/CIO roles paired with vulnerability management, penetration testing, and incident response protocols.

💡 Why they stand out:

Offers “Security-in-a-Box” packages for SMEs
Known for rapid cyber incident triage and root-cause analysis
Deep experience with PCI DSS and customer data protections

Darren Clement, Founder, Praxes Cyber

Darren has built his reputation in high-stakes security operations, with multiple CISO roles under his belt. He’s particularly focused on customer-facing businesses that can’t afford downtime or brand erosion. Darren brings calm, tactical clarity in fast-moving cyber environments and is known for restoring trust after breach events.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/darren-clement-ciso

Evolve‑IT Ltd

🔗 Website: https://evolve-it.uk

What they do:
Evolve‑IT Ltd acts as a digital transformation catalyst for SMEs and scale-ups, offering fractional CIO services tailored to fast-growth environments. Their expertise spans interim technology leadership, cloud migration, roadmap design, and innovation management—often stepping in as both strategic CIO and hands-on digital product lead.

Who they work with:
Their client base includes fintech, SaaS, medtech, and creative sector startups, where rapid growth and evolving product needs demand more than traditional IT oversight.

Operating model:
Evolve‑IT’s model is agile and product-led, with a strong emphasis on cloud-native solutions (AWS, Azure), iterative delivery, and founder alignment. They specialize in bridging the gap between tech strategy and execution, making them ideal for startups with limited internal resources.

💡 Why they stand out:

🧠 Product-Led CIO Thinking: Combines IT strategy with real product vision
🌐 Cloud-Native by Default: Deep expertise in AWS and Azure transitions
🤝 Founder-Friendly: Tailored to the realities of early-stage growth
🔄 Repeat Engagements: High retention signals long-term trust and results

Colette Wyatt, CEO, Evolve‑IT Ltd

Colette Wyatt blends technical depth with strategic leadership, having transitioned from software engineering into C-suite technology roles. She’s especially respected for her empathetic leadership and ability to bring order to startup chaos.

A champion of diversity in tech and governance in high-growth firms, Colette helps founders align IT investment with business outcomes—and she’s done it repeatedly. Her credibility comes not from theory, but from execution.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colettewyatt/

👁 Final Thoughts: Radical Transparency for Strategic IT

Fractional CIOs are no longer a luxury—they’re a strategic lever. Whether you're scaling a startup, leading a government digital overhaul, or recalibrating after cyber disruption, these leaders bring executive clarity without long-term commitments.

What unites this list isn’t just technical fluency—it’s clarity, accountability, and radical authenticity. These are professionals who prioritise business impact over jargon, and who step into leadership roles with the confidence that only experience—and transparency—can bring.

Want to keep improving? Explore the resources below to take your application game to the next level. You’ve got this. 👏

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Digital Reference is building the world’s most trusted editorial guide to fractional leadership—helping founders and executives find aligned, proven, and radically honest partners.

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