Helping organisations imagine a better future
A house of experienced consultants — from business, education and local government — passing on hard-won expertise to the organisations that need it.
A house of consultants.
Imagine Consultants is a small group of experienced practitioners — from business, education and local government — who have come together to pass on what they know.
Between us we've led companies, run schools and trusts, and worked inside local authorities. Now we bring that hard-won expertise to organisations that need it — sharing knowledge, not just selling hours.
Experience, passed on.
We're practitioners first — people who've actually done the jobs we advise on, across business, education and the public sector.
Our purpose is simple: to pass on hard-won expertise to the organisations that need it. We share knowledge and build your capability, rather than creating dependency.
For each challenge we bring the right person from the house — and when a problem spans disciplines, we bring more than one, working as one team.
Leadership that connects education, business and local government
Imagine Consultants is led by Craig Barratt, a Greater Manchester business and technology leader with more than two decades of hands-on experience supporting schools, multi-academy trusts, charities and SMEs across the North West.
Craig sits on the Oldham Economy Board, working alongside the local authority, employers and the education sector to strengthen the link between what schools and colleges teach, what local businesses need, and how the borough grows. That seat at the table gives Imagine Consultants a rare, joined-up view: we understand the pressures facing school and trust leaders, the realities of running a growing business, and the civic and economic priorities that shape both.
It's a genuinely dynamic relationship. Education builds the skills and talent pipeline; business creates the opportunities and investment; and local authorities set the strategy and connect the two. Craig works across all three — which means the advice we give an SME, a school or a social enterprise is informed by the wider economic picture, not just a single organisation's four walls.
Executive-level expertise without executive-level overhead — the leadership your business needs, exactly when you need it.
People · Partnerships · Progress
Built on conversations and connections
Good consultancy begins by listening. Our approach values relationships, practical experience and understanding the communities and organisations we support.
Images from professional and community occasions. People pictured are not presented as clients or endorsers of Imagine Consultants.
Practical thinking. Clear action.
We work closely with leadership teams to turn complex challenges into focused, achievable next steps.
Start a conversation →Expert consultancy across four connected disciplines
Flexible senior expertise, shaped around the outcomes you need.
Education & MATs
Strategy, governance, IT spend and digital standards support for trusts and schools.
Explore Education & MATs →Business Strategy & Growth
Practical growth, operational and leadership support for ambitious SMEs.
Explore Business →Social Enterprise
Governance, funding and commercial strategy for purpose-led organisations.
Explore Social Enterprise →Board-level expertise, flexible pricing
See the typical investment once you understand the support available — then choose strategic advice, embedded leadership or a defined project.
Monthly strategic input and leadership-team participation — an experienced sounding board and clear direction.
View optionOne to two days a week embedded in your organisation — owning strategy and acting as part of your leadership team.
View optionDefined projects such as a MAT IT spend review, or interim leadership cover during a period of change.
View optionIndicative ranges benchmarked against the Greater Manchester market, for guidance only. Read the full pricing guide →
Board-level expertise. Without the full-time cost.
Bring in senior capability at the level and pace your organisation needs.
Senior thinking, flexible engagement
Access a team of senior practitioners without committing to multiple full-time hires. One day a week, one day a month, or as a project partner — scaled to what you need.
Rooted in Greater Manchester
We're not parachuted in from elsewhere. Our consultants are embedded in this region — across business, education and the public sector — and we bring that local intelligence to every engagement.
Specialists, working together
Most consultancies offer one perspective. We bring the right specialist to each challenge and join the dots between strategy, compliance, technology and marketing.
Built on trust, not sales cycles
We take on a small number of clients at a time, so every engagement gets genuine attention, accountability and care for the outcome.
Access that opens doors
Our cross-sector Greater Manchester network helps create the right conversations, introductions and partnerships.
Local knowledge becomes practical opportunity.
Explore Our NetworkSpecialisms: business, education, compliance & marketing
Sectors across our network: government, civic, education, business & sport
Greater Manchester boroughs served
Joined-up team, bespoke to you
The personal approach from the Imagine Consultants team has always ensured any issues are resolved quickly — and that our best interests are always at the heart of the work.Client — Education Sector, Greater Manchester
Not sure which type of support you need?
Start with a focused discovery call. We’ll identify the challenge, the right expertise and a sensible route forward.
Local knowledge. Regional reach.
Based in Oldham, we work across every Greater Manchester borough, with remote and hybrid support available further afield.
Remote and hybrid engagements also available for organisations outside Greater Manchester.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers before you take the next step.
What is a fractional business consultant?
A fractional consultant provides senior, board-level expertise on a part-time or project basis — giving organisations access to experienced leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. Imagine Consultants works with businesses, Multi-Academy Trusts and social enterprises across Greater Manchester this way, bringing a team of specialists rather than a single generalist.
Which areas does Imagine Consultants cover?
Imagine Consultants is based in Oldham and works across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs — Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Tameside, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Stockport, Trafford and Oldham — with remote and hybrid engagements available beyond the region.
Do you work with Multi-Academy Trusts and schools?
Yes. Education is a core specialism. Our consultants include experienced education and technology practitioners who support MATs with IT spend analysis, governance, commercial strategy, procurement and employer partnerships.
What does a fractional consultant cost compared to a full-time hire?
A full-time commercial or strategy director typically costs £80,000+ a year. A fractional arrangement costs a fraction of that — you engage the expertise you need for the time you actually need it, whether that's one day a week, one day a month, or a defined project.
Can you act as a Non-Executive Director?
Yes. Our consultants take on non-executive director and trustee roles for businesses, Multi-Academy Trusts and social enterprises, bringing commercial challenge, governance experience and an established Greater Manchester network to the board.
Imagine Consultants is part of the Imagine Group.
Imagine is built on a simple idea: showing clients what's possible. Forward-thinking, imaginative, and unafraid of new ideas — the Imagine Group brings fresh thinking to the organisations it works with.
Imagine Consultants is the group's consultancy arm, a boutique team of specialist consultants delivering business and education consultancy, compliance, standards and marketing. Whether it's helping a business owner picture their next stage of growth, guiding a Multi-Academy Trust through DfE digital standards, or showing an organisation how it could market itself better — the goal is always the same: turn "what if" into "what's next".
Business Consultancy
Strategy, growth and non-executive direction for ambitious organisations.
Education Consultancy
Support for MATs and schools across operations, governance and digital.
Compliance & Standards
DfE digital standards, data protection, cyber and ISO good practice.
Marketing
Websites, SEO, social media and brand that get you found and chosen.
Senior support, built around your organisation.
Strategy, leadership and specialist expertise when you need it.
Let's talk about what's possible.
Whether you're a business leader, a MAT CEO, a social enterprise founder or a council officer — if you're looking for strategic support in Greater Manchester, we'd love to hear from you. We work with a small portfolio of clients so we can give each one our genuine best.
Specialist multi-academy trust consultancy
Explore six focused services covering finance, estates, IT, AI, governance and income generation.
DfE standards and compliance knowledge
Explore the official guidance behind our MAT services, specialist audit questions and independent assessment tools.
Explore the DfE knowledge hub →