Board-level strategy, without the boardroom cost.
Our consultants have founded, grown and led businesses across Greater Manchester — including in hospitality, retail and professional services. We bring that hard-won experience to other ambitious businesses, supporting everything from day-to-day operations to sales and marketing, as fractional consultants and non-executive directors.
Most growing businesses — whether a hospitality venue, a retailer or a service firm — hit the same wall: the founder is doing everything, strategy gets squeezed out by operations, and there's no-one in the room with the experience to ask the hard questions. A full-time commercial director costs £80k+. A fractional one costs a fraction of that — and brings scars from having done it for real.
We're not career consultants who have only ever advised from the outside. Our team has built and run businesses — through growth, recession, recruitment, recurring-revenue models, partnerships and reinvention. That's the experience we bring to your business.
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.
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Where a fractional partner moves the needle
Growth & Strategy
A clear, costed growth plan — new markets, new services, pricing, and the operational changes to deliver it. Strategy you'll actually execute, not a document that gathers dust.
Non-Executive Director
A steady hand on your board bringing challenge, accountability and perspective. Ideal for founder-led businesses that have outgrown going it alone.
IT & Digital Strategy
From a technology founder who gets it — sensible, cost-effective decisions on systems, cyber security and digital tooling that support growth rather than draining cash.
Leadership & Team
Building the management layer, apprenticeship and talent pipelines, and the culture that lets a founder step back — so the business runs without depending on any one person.
Partnerships & Networks
Our Greater Manchester network — business, civic, public sector — becomes your network. Introductions that open doors and shorten sales cycles.
Public & Education Sector Sales
If you want to sell into schools, trusts or councils, we know how those buyers think and procure — and how to position your offer to win.
Helping an SME break into the public sector
"We're great at what we do — but we can't crack schools and councils."
A capable SME with a strong private-sector track record, repeatedly bouncing off the public sector — confused by procurement, frameworks, and decision-making that works nothing like commercial sales.
We'd map the real buying journey for schools, trusts and councils — who decides, how budgets are set, which frameworks matter, and what evidence buyers need. Then reposition the offer and messaging for that audience, and warm-introduce the right contacts from our network.
A focused public-sector go-to-market plan, a credible pipeline, and the relationships to convert it — built on genuine understanding of how these organisations actually buy, not guesswork.
Years building a business in Greater Manchester
Turnover built from a standing start in Oldham
Team members employed & developed
Oldham Business Award winner
We've sat in your chair
Everything we advise on, we've done — the late nights, the cash-flow worry, the big bets, the hiring decisions and the wins. When we give you a view, it comes from experience, not a textbook.
That's the difference between a fractional partner who's built something and a consultant who's only ever advised. We'd rather be useful than impressive.
See Our NetworkReady to put an experienced head in your corner?
Let's have an honest conversation about where your business is, where you want it to be, and whether a fractional partner is the right way to bridge the gap.
Business consultancy — frequently asked questions
What does a business consultant actually do?
A good business consultant brings experienced, outside perspective to a specific challenge — growth, strategy, operations, finance or marketing — and helps you turn it into a clear plan and real results. We don't just advise and leave; we work alongside you and stay accountable for the outcome.
How is Imagine Consultants different from a large consultancy?
We're a boutique firm, so the senior person you meet is the senior person who does the work — not a junior team under a famous logo. You get depth, direct access and flexibility, at a fraction of big-consultancy cost.
How much does business consultancy cost?
It depends on the scope and how much of our time you need. As a guide, strategic advisory starts from around £1,500 a month, embedded support around £3,000–£6,000 a month, and project work from around £400 a day. Every engagement is scoped to a fixed, agreed price after a free discovery call.
Do you work with small businesses or only larger ones?
Both, but SMEs are our sweet spot. Smaller and growing businesses often benefit most, because we give them access to senior expertise they couldn't justify employing full-time.
What areas of my business can you help with?
Growth strategy, operations and efficiency, finance leadership, marketing and digital, technology and AI adoption, and leadership and team development. We assemble the right specialist for each challenge.
How quickly can you start?
Usually within days or a couple of weeks of a discovery call — there's no lengthy recruitment process. That speed is one of the main advantages of fractional support over hiring.
Will I be tied into a long contract?
No. Engagements are flexible — you scale up, down or stop as your needs change. We aim to build your capability and leave you stronger, not create dependency.
Do you work remotely or on-site?
Both. We're based in Greater Manchester and work on-site across the North West, and remotely with organisations elsewhere in England by agreement.
How do you measure success?
We agree the outcome up front — revenue growth, cost saved, a process fixed, a project delivered — and track against it. A good engagement should return several times its cost.
What's the first step?
A free, no-obligation discovery call. We'll talk through where you are, what you're trying to achieve, and whether we're the right fit — with no pressure and no sales pitch.
Can you work alongside our existing team and advisers?
Yes. We complement your team and existing advisers rather than replacing them, and we're independent of any supplier, so our only interest is what's right for your business.