Working Together

Every prospective client is offered a complimentary 30-minute Discovery Call.

It's an opportunity for us to discuss your current challenges, how you like to work and what you'd like to achieve. Just as importantly, it's a chance for both of us to decide whether we're the right fit.

I believe the best working relationships are built on trust, communication and mutual understanding. If I don't think I'm the right person for your needs, I'll always be honest and, wherever possible, recommend someone who may be better suited.

If we decide to work together, I'll recommend the most appropriate support option based on your requirements.

Once everything has been agreed, we'll complete the onboarding process, put the necessary agreements in place and arrange an initial planning session to establish priorities, ways of working and communication preferences.

We'll also schedule regular review conversations to make sure your support continues to reflect your needs as your business evolves.

My aim is always to make working together feel straightforward, organised and well supported from the very beginning.

Every client works differently.

Some prefer email, others Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Slack or phone calls. During onboarding we'll agree the communication methods that work best for both of us, creating a simple and efficient way of working together.

My usual working hours are:

Monday to Thursday: 9.00am – 5.00pm

Friday: 9.00am – 2.00pm

Where possible, I'm happy to accommodate occasional work outside these hours if arranged in advance.

Most of my support is provided remotely, allowing me to work efficiently whilst keeping things flexible for my clients.

Where appropriate, I'm also happy to attend meetings or work on-site by prior arrangement.

I'll always give you as much notice as possible before taking annual leave and work with you to ensure appropriate plans are in place beforehand.

If you're planning time away yourself, we'll simply plan around it together. My aim is always to provide continuity and ensure nothing important is overlooked.

The Business Backbone is my monthly retainer service, designed for clients who need ongoing, consistent support.

Your time is reserved each month, allowing me to become a dependable extension of your business and proactively support your priorities.

If your requirements change over time, we'll review your monthly hours together to ensure your package continues to reflect your needs.

Some months are naturally busier than others.

If you're on The Business Backbone and need additional support beyond your monthly allocation, extra hours can simply be added as required. Any additional work is agreed in advance wherever possible, so there are no unexpected surprises.

If you're on The Business Backbone, unused hours don't roll forward because that time has been reserved specifically for your business.

However, I actively monitor how your hours are being used. If I notice you're regularly using significantly more or less than your monthly allocation, we'll discuss whether a different level of support would better suit your needs.

The Ultimate Flex has been designed for businesses that need occasional support without committing to a monthly retainer.

Hours are purchased in advance, with a minimum purchase of 5 hours, and can be topped up whenever you need additional support.

Purchased hours remain valid for 6 months from the date of purchase, giving you flexibility while ensuring I can continue to provide a responsive service.

Any unused pre-purchased hours simply remain on your account until you need them.

Hours remain valid for 6 months from the date of purchase, and I'll always let you know how many hours you have remaining so you'll have plenty of notice before any unused hours expire.

The Business Backbone operates with an 8-week notice period, providing continuity for both of us and allowing time for a smooth handover if your circumstances change.

There is no notice period for The Ultimate Flex. Once your purchased hours have been used, you can simply decide whether and when you'd like to purchase additional hours.

The Ultimate Flex

For new Ultimate Flex clients, hours are purchased in advance, with a minimum initial purchase of 5 hours.

As your available hours begin to run low, I'll let you know so you can decide whether you'd like to purchase additional hours.

The Business Backbone

The Business Backbone is billed monthly in accordance with your Client Agreement.

To make payments as straightforward as possible, invoices can be paid by Direct Debit or bank transfer. Your preferred payment method, payment dates and invoicing arrangements will be agreed during onboarding and confirmed within your Client Agreement.

I accurately record all client work using professional time-tracking software.

Time is recorded and rounded to the nearest 15 minutes. If you'd like a detailed breakdown of how your time has been spent, I'm happy to provide timesheets on request.

Transparency is important to me, and I want every client to feel confident they're only paying for genuine time spent supporting their business.

Confidentiality sits at the heart of everything I do.

Having supported senior leaders for more than 25 years, I understand the importance of discretion and treating sensitive information with the utmost care.

I'm always happy to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement where required and work in accordance with your own confidentiality and data security policies.

Yes.

I hold Professional Indemnity Insurance together with Cyber and Data Insurance, giving both you and your business additional peace of mind.

Copies of my insurance certificates are available on request.

Almost certainly.

Every client has their own preferred systems and processes, and part of my role is adapting to them rather than expecting you to change how you work.

I'm experienced in a wide range of platforms, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Adobe, Asana, Trello, Slack, Xero, QuickBooks, Dropbox, DocuSign, Miro, CharlieHR and Zelt HR, and I'm always happy to learn new systems where required.

My focus is executive, personal and operational support.

I don't currently provide services such as social media management, blog writing or marketing. Where clients need specialist expertise in these areas, I'm always happy to recommend trusted professionals from my network.