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Fractional Chief AI Officer services for UK mid-market businesses

AI leadership should not be an afterthought, and Grow exists so it does not have to be: ongoing fractional Chief AI Officer support embedded in your business at a level that fits, covering strategy, governance, vendor oversight, team mentoring and board-level reporting without a full-time hire.

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What we do

01

We operate as a senior member of your leadership team, accountable for AI strategy, governance and delivery. We oversee vendor selection and management, mentor your internal teams, report to the board on AI progress and risk, and ensure your AI programme stays aligned with your business strategy. We bring the strategic depth of a CTO with the practical focus of someone who has to make it work.

What you get

02

You get a senior AI leader embedded in your business without the cost and commitment of a full-time C-suite hire, providing board-level reporting on AI strategy, progress and risk alongside vendor oversight and commercial governance. We mentor your teams and build capability as we go, maintaining continuity of strategic direction across your AI programme.

Who it is for

03

Businesses that need senior AI leadership but are not ready (or do not need) a full-time Chief AI Officer. Particularly suited to PE-backed portfolios, regulated businesses and organisations going through significant operating model change where AI governance and strategic alignment are critical.

How it works

04

Grow is an ongoing, flexible engagement scaled to your needs. We integrate into your existing leadership structure, attend board and steering meetings, and operate with clear, agreed accountability within your leadership structure. The engagement flexes as your AI programme matures. Get in touch and we will work out what the right level of support looks like for your business.

Also available 05

The other two ways to engage

  1. Breathe

    Find your starting point Typically 5 to 10 working days

    A focused sprint that maps your capabilities, scores AI opportunities and builds a three-year total cost of ownership view, so you know exactly where AI fits, what to do first and what it will cost.

    Explore Breathe →

  2. Flow

    Build something real Typically 4 to 8 weeks

    We take the highest-priority opportunity and build a working AI capability, with governance, measurement and an operating model designed from day one: a real, deployable tool (not a proof of concept).

    Explore Flow →
Related reading 06

Thinking behind Grow

All insights →

Questions 07

Questions buyers ask us

  • What does a fractional Chief AI Officer actually do?

    A fractional Chief AI Officer gives you senior AI leadership embedded in your business, typically 1 to 3 days a week: setting strategy, building governance, overseeing vendors, mentoring teams and reporting to the board, without the cost of a full-time hire.

  • Who would we actually be working with?

    The engagement is led by Dan Simms, our founder, a technology leader with 30 years of experience including CTO and CIO roles across legal, insurance, financial services and higher education. The person you meet is the person who does the work.

  • How much time does it involve?

    Grow is scaled to your needs, typically 1 to 3 days a week, and the engagement flexes as your AI programme matures.

  • How is it priced?

    Grow is a monthly retainer scaled to the days per week you need, and we agree the number before we start rather than billing by the hour. Because it is fractional it costs far less than a full-time Chief AI Officer, whose first-year cost runs well over £250,000 once salary, employer National Insurance, pension, benefits and recruitment are counted.

Every engagement is led by Dan Simms, our founder, a technology leader with 30 years in regulated sectors including CTO and CIO roles, and the person you meet is the person who does the work.

Contact 08

Ready for senior AI leadership on your terms?

There's no pitch deck, just a conversation about the leadership your AI programme needs and at what cadence, so tell us where you are and we'll reply within one working day.

Get in touch

We'll respond within one working day. Or email hello@oxygenbubbles.com directly.

Or reach us another way

Oxi is our AI assistant. It answers questions about our services straight away, and anything it cannot answer comes to us.