The Client engages the Consultant to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and turnaround management on a part-time, fractional basis. This is a consultancy engagement under a contract for services, not a contract of service. No employment relationship, worker status, or agency relationship is created.
The Consultant retains full independence in method, approach, and working hours, subject to agreed outcomes. The Consultant may engage subcontractors or send a suitably qualified substitute to perform any part of the services, provided the Client is notified in advance. The Consultant is free to provide services to other clients during the term of this agreement.
The Fractional CEO is responsible for the following workstreams:
Initial engagement: 6 months (1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026). Reviewed monthly against agreed KPIs. Renewable by mutual written agreement for successive 3-month terms.
Termination: Either party may terminate with 30 days written notice. Either party may terminate immediately upon: (a) material breach not remedied within 14 days of written notice, (b) insolvency, administration, or winding-up of the other party, (c) loss or suspension of the Client's premises licence, or (d) conduct bringing the other party into serious disrepute. Upon termination, the Consultant will complete any in-progress grant applications at the Client's request and provide an orderly handover within 14 days.
The Fractional CEO commits approximately 2 days per week to the engagement. This includes on-site presence, remote strategy work, stakeholder meetings, and grant application preparation. Time allocation flexes by phase: heavier during turnaround sprints, lighter during steady-state operations.
Performance reviewed monthly against the following indicators:
Compensation structure to be agreed between the parties and documented as Schedule A to this agreement. May include a combination of retainer, performance-linked fees, and/or revenue share. All fees invoiced monthly via partnerships.community with payment due within 14 days of invoice date.
Expenses: Pre-approved, reasonable business expenses (tools, subscriptions, travel) are reimbursable upon submission of receipts. Software subscriptions deployed for the Client's benefit (e.g. HubSpot, analytics tools) are the Client's responsibility unless otherwise agreed.
Tax: The Consultant is responsible for their own tax, National Insurance, and VAT obligations. The Client will not deduct tax at source. Both parties acknowledge this engagement is intended to fall outside IR35 (off-payroll working rules) and will cooperate to ensure the working arrangements reflect this.
Both parties agree to keep confidential all financial data, customer information, strategic plans, and operational details disclosed during the engagement. This obligation survives termination for a period of 2 years. The Consultant may reference the engagement publicly (portfolio, case studies) with the Client's prior written consent.
Data protection: Where the Consultant processes personal data on behalf of the Client (e.g. CRM records, event attendee data), the Client is the data controller and the Consultant acts as data processor under UK GDPR. The Consultant will process data only on the Client's instructions, implement appropriate technical and organisational measures, and notify the Client within 48 hours of becoming aware of any data breach.
Frameworks, templates, and methodologies brought by the Consultant remain the property of partnerships.community ("Consultant IP"). Bespoke deliverables created specifically for the Client (event plans, grant applications, brand assets, CRM configurations) are assigned to the Client upon payment ("Client IP"). The Consultant retains a non-exclusive licence to use anonymised and de-branded versions of Client IP in future consulting work, portfolio materials, and case studies.
The Consultant provides strategic advice and operational coordination. Final business decisions and their financial consequences remain the responsibility of the Client's owner(s) and directors. The Consultant shall not be liable for losses arising from the Client's failure to implement recommendations, or from decisions made by the Client's staff or owner(s).
The Consultant's total aggregate liability under this agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid in the preceding 3 months, except in cases of fraud, wilful misconduct, or death/personal injury caused by negligence. The Consultant maintains professional indemnity insurance of not less than £1,000,000 per claim and will provide evidence of cover upon request.
The Client indemnifies the Consultant against third-party claims arising from the Client's business operations, premises, licensing, or employment matters, except to the extent caused by the Consultant's negligence.
The Client warrants that it maintains adequate public liability insurance, employer's liability insurance (where applicable), and premises insurance appropriate to a licensed hospitality venue, and will provide evidence of cover upon request.
Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform obligations where prevented by circumstances beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to: government-mandated closures, pandemic restrictions, loss of premises due to fire or flood, revocation of licensing by the local authority, or utility failures lasting more than 72 hours. The affected party must notify the other in writing within 7 days. If force majeure continues for more than 60 days, either party may terminate this agreement without liability.
This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising from this engagement will be resolved first through good-faith mediation, and if necessary, through the courts of England and Wales.