vCIO · Strategic IT Leadership
Board-level IT strategy, on subscription
Most growing organisations need the direction of a Chief Information Officer — but not the six-figure salary. Our virtual CIO service gives you that leadership on a simple monthly subscription, turning IT from a running cost into a planned, compliant, growth-ready asset.
Overview
What is a vCIO?
A virtual CIO (vCIO) is a senior technology leader who works as part of your team on a part-time, subscription basis. Rather than simply reacting to IT problems, your vCIO sets the direction: a costed technology roadmap, an IT budget aligned to your goals, oversight of cyber security and compliance, vendor and contract management, and clear reporting to your board or governors. You get the foresight and accountability of an in-house CIO — for a fraction of the cost. A full-time CIO in the UK typically commands £100,000–£150,000 or more a year; a Foresight vCIO subscription starts at a few hundred pounds a month.
The role
What your vCIO does
Technology strategy & roadmap
A costed 1–3 year plan that aligns your technology with where the business is going.
IT budget planning
Forecast and control IT spend, with no surprise costs and a clear return on investment.
Quarterly business reviews
Regular, structured reviews of performance, risks, projects and priorities.
Risk & compliance oversight
Stay on top of Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, NHS DSPT and the DfE standards.
Cyber security posture
Independent review of your defences, gaps and resilience against current threats.
Vendor & contract management
We manage your suppliers, renewals and contracts so you get the best value.
Project & change governance
Senior oversight of migrations, rollouts and change so projects land on time.
Board & governor reporting
Plain-English reporting that turns technology into decisions leaders can act on.
Packages
Simple monthly subscriptions
Productised from our standard advisory rate of £750 per day. Pick a level of strategic input — or we will tailor one to you.
Foundation
1 advisory day per month
For smaller organisations that want a steady hand on strategy and a clear roadmap.
- Monthly strategy check-in
- Annual technology roadmap, reviewed quarterly
- IT budget guidance
- Compliance status overview
- Direct access to your vCIO
Growth
2 advisory days per month
For growing SMEs, schools and trusts that need an active roadmap and compliance oversight.
- Everything in Foundation
- Quarterly business reviews
- Active roadmap & project governance
- Risk & compliance oversight (CE, ISO 27001, DSPT, DfE)
- Vendor & contract reviews
- Board / governor-ready reporting
Strategic
4 advisory days per month
For multi-site organisations and trusts needing hands-on strategic leadership.
- Everything in Growth
- Hands-on programme leadership
- Security posture & resilience reviews
- Multi-site / trust-wide strategy
- Priority access & on-site days
- Annual technology strategy presentation
Additional or ad-hoc advisory days are charged at our standard rate of £750 per day.
Prices are a guide, correct at the time of publication (June 2026), exclude VAT and are subject to change. Most clients combine a vCIO subscription with their managed IT support; we will happily tailor a package to your size and goals — just ask for a quote.
The value
CIO-level thinking, without the CIO salary
Strategic IT leadership from a few hundred pounds a month.
A full-time CIO costs six figures a year before pension and benefits. A vCIO subscription gives you the same strategic direction and accountability, scaled to exactly what you need — and backed by our whole team rather than one person.
How it works
Getting started is simple
Discovery
We learn your goals, review your current setup and agree the right level of input.
Roadmap
Your vCIO builds a costed technology roadmap and an initial priority list.
Rhythm
Regular strategy sessions and reviews keep the plan moving and your risks in check.
Reporting
Clear, board-ready reporting shows progress, spend and what comes next.
In practice
Typical engagements
Multi-academy trust
We act as the trust’s vCIO, owning the roadmap to the DfE 2030 standards and reporting progress to trustees each term.
Growing SME
Technology was holding back growth. A monthly vCIO subscription aligned IT spend to the business plan and removed the guesswork.
Healthcare provider
Our vCIO keeps strategy, cyber security and NHS DSPT compliance joined up — so nothing falls through the cracks.
Ready for IT that has a plan?
Book a no-obligation strategy call and we will show you what a vCIO could do for your organisation.
Book a strategy call