Fractional Working: What It Is and Why It Works for Growing Businesses

You may have heard the term fractional working increasingly used in business circles — often alongside more familiar terms like part-time, portfolio career, or flexible working. But what does it actually mean, and how can it help your business?

At Ten2Two, we think the labels are less important than the results. Whether you call it fractional, part-time or flexible, the value lies in accessing brilliant people who can deliver exactly what your business needs — without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

So, what is fractional working?

Put simply, fractional working means hiring a highly skilled professional to work with your business on a part-time or project basis. They typically bring senior-level expertise and dedicate a "fraction" of their time to your company — often working with one or more other businesses too.

In the UK, this is often indistinguishable from part-time working, especially when the person becomes embedded in your team. But fractional working is frequently used to describe senior professionals who support growing businesses a few days a week — think Finance Directors, COOs, Marketing Directors or HR leaders.

At Ten2Two, we’ve been placing experienced professionals into flexible roles for over 18 years — and we know from experience that these fractional arrangements can deliver full-value impact.

Why choose fractional?

For growing SMEs and scaling teams, fractional working offers a sweet spot:

• Big skills, small commitment – Access the expertise of a senior hire without needing to create a full-time post.
• Scalable and agile – Bring in the right support as and when you need it — whether that’s two days a week or a short-term strategic project.
• Cost-effective – Get high-calibre support within your budget, freeing up resources to invest elsewhere in the business.
• Fresh perspectives – Many fractional professionals work across multiple businesses, bringing fresh insights and cross-sector experience.

And it's not just about cost. It’s about value. These professionals are often at the top of their game, looking for roles that offer flexibility and purpose. They’re motivated, experienced and ready to make an impact.

Roles that work well fractionally

Some of the most in-demand fractional roles include:

• Finance Directors / CFOs – Strategic financial insight without a full-time salary
• HR Directors / People Leads – Supporting your people and culture as you grow
• Marketing Leads / Brand Consultants – Driving awareness and leads with a focused plan
• COOs / Operations Managers – Bringing order and efficiency to fast-moving environments
• Project Managers / PMOs – Keeping critical projects on track and delivering outcomes

It’s not just for senior hires

While fractional roles often refer to senior professionals, we’ve placed candidates at all levels in part-time and flexible roles. Some work exclusively with one company, others thrive across a portfolio. For us, it's about finding the right person and the right pattern of working — whatever the job title.

So, what should you call it?

Whether you say fractional, part-time or flexible, our view is: don’t get hung up on the terminology. The key is understanding what your business needs — and being open to experienced professionals who can deliver it without needing to be full-time.

At Ten2Two, we have a network of outstanding candidates ready to work flexibly and make a real impact. If you're looking for fractional talent or exploring new ways to resource your business, we’d love to help.