Fractional HR Consultancy

Let’s Talk Talent’s fractional HR consultancy gives you a senior HR Director for the days you need each month, not the salary of a full-time hire. You get strategic people leadership, hands-on delivery, and access to our award-winning HR consultancy services, on a flexible retainer.

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Let's Talk Talent, Fractional HR Consultants

What is fractional HR?

Fractional HR is a part-time, retained arrangement in which an experienced HR leader works within your business for an agreed-upon number of days each month. You get the judgement and seniority of an HR Director or Chief People Officer, at a fraction of the cost, with no recruitment fees, notice periods or employment overheads.

Which model fits?

Criteria Fractional HR Director Interim HR Director Outsourced HR admin
Time 2 to 8 days a month Full-time Pay per task
Duration Ongoing, rolling monthly Fixed term, 3 to 12 months Ongoing
Level Board-level strategy and delivery Board-level, gap cover Transactional: contracts, payroll, policies
Cost From £4,800 a month Day rate, full-time Low, but no strategy
Best for Growing businesses with no senior HR leader Covering a vacancy or leave Basic HR compliance

Source: Let’s Talk Talent fractional HR retainers, priced per our working practices and day rates.

It differs from an interim HR Director, who covers a fixed gap full-time, and from outsourced HR admin, which handles transactions but not strategy. Fractional HR sits at board level and stays with you for the long term.

Who fractional HR is for

Fractional HR suits organisations that have outgrown ad-hoc HR support but cannot yet justify, or find, a full-time HR Director. Typically:

  • Scale-ups and SMEs with 50 to 500 employees and no senior HR leader
  • Founder-led businesses preparing for investment, acquisition or rapid hiring
  • Organisations going through restructuring, merger or change and transformation
  • HR teams that need senior cover during a leadership vacancy or parental leave
  • Charities and not-for-profits that need board-level people expertise on a limited budget

What your fractional HR Director does

Your fractional HR Director owns the “people agenda” and delivers it. Depending on your priorities, that includes:

Because your fractional HR Director is part of Let’s Talk Talent, they can draw on our full team of associates and our learning and development programmes whenever a project needs extra hands.

How our fractional HR service works

We agree on a monthly retainer based on the number of days you need, starting from one day a week to two days a month, with a three-month minimum term.

  1. Discovery call: a 30-minute conversation about your people challenges and what good looks like in 12 months.
  2. Proposal: we recommend the days per month, the consultant, and a 90-day plan with clear outcomes.
  3. Onboarding: your fractional HR Director meets the leadership team, reviews your policies, data and risks, and agrees on priorities.
  4. Delivery: regular on-site or remote days, a monthly board-level report, and direct access by phone and email between visits.
  5. Review: quarterly check-ins to flex the days up or down as your business changes.

Retainers start from £4,800 per month. 

Individual days are charged at £1,750, in line with our working practices and day rates.

Why choose Let’s Talk Talent

Let’s Talk Talent was named HR Consultancy of the Year and L&D Supplier of the Year at the 2025 Personnel Today Awards. Our fractional HR consultants are senior practitioners, not generalists, and have led people functions in FTSE 250 companies, scale-ups, charities and SMEs

  • Senior from day one: every fractional HR Director has operated at HR Director or Chief People Officer level
  • Strategy and delivery: we set the direction and do the work, from board papers to one-to-ones
  • Boutique, not bloated: you pay for expertise, not the overheads of a large consulting firm
  • Proven results: read our case studies to see the outcomes clients have achieved with us
  • UK and UAE: we support organisations in both markets through our UAE HR consultancy

Fractional HR FAQs

What does fractional HR cost?

Fractional HR retainers from Let’s Talk Talent start from £4,800 per month for two days. This is typically 30 to 50 per cent of the cost of employing a full-time HR Director, including salary, pension, bonus, and National Insurance.

How many days a month do I need?

Most clients start with two to four days a month. Organisations with fewer than 100 people usually need two days; those undergoing change or rapid growth often need four or more. We review this every quarter.

What is the difference between fractional and interim HR?

An interim HR Director works full-time for a fixed period to cover a gap. A fractional HR Director works part-time on an ongoing basis and becomes a permanent part of your leadership team. Fractional support costs less and gives continuity; interim support suits a full-time, short-term need.

Can a fractional HR Director manage my existing HR team?

Yes. Many clients use a fractional HR Director to lead an HR Manager or HR Advisor, providing the team with senior direction, development, and board representation without adding headcount.

Do you work on-site or remotely?

Both. We agree on the mix with you. Most retainers combine on-site days for leadership meetings and people conversations with remote time for planning and reporting.

How quickly can you start?

We can usually start within two weeks of agreeing to the proposal, and sooner when a situation is urgent.

Is there a long-term contract?

No. Retainers run on a three-month initial term and then roll monthly with 30 days’ notice

Let’s talk about fractional HR support

Tell us about your organisation and the people challenges on your desk. We’ll get back to you within one working day with a suggested approach and a time to talk.

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