Senior People, HR and Talent expertise without the permanent hire. Most clients interview consultants within two to three days of getting in touch.
Discuss your projectFractional and Embedded People & Talent leaders, for as long as you need them
What fractional and embedded People support is
Fractional and embedded People support gives you an experienced HR, People or Talent professional without hiring permanently. They work to an agreed weekly schedule, either ongoing or for a defined project, and the engagement scales up or down as your needs change. Interview suitable consultants within two to three days in most cases; start dates depend on availability and agreed terms.
Two ways to bring someone in
Fractional
A senior People or Talent leader working part-time, on an ongoing basis. You agree a number of days each week and the engagement continues until you no longer need it. Most common when People operations have outgrown the founder but the company is not yet ready for a full-time Head of People.
Embedded
A consultant working alongside your team on a defined piece of work. A hiring surge, an HR systems change, a restructure, or building a Talent function from the ground up. Scope, timeline and success criteria are agreed at the outset, with a clean handover at the end.
Same consultants, same vetting, same two to three day turnaround to interview in most cases. The difference is shape, not quality, and plenty of engagements start as one and become the other.
When this makes sense
How it works
In the vast majority of cases you will interview consultants within two to three days of speaking with us.
Discuss your projectStep 1: Briefing
- A 30 to 45 minute consultation to understand what you need
- Define scope, timeline and what success looks like
- Identify the expertise and approach required
- Provide a transparent pricing estimate
Every brief receives a detailed response within 24 hours, including initial consultant suggestions and a proposed approach.
Step 2: Consultant matching
- Identify and screen the most suitable consultants
- Present two to three of the best, pre-screened
- Provide detailed profile summaries and CVs
- Schedule interviews at your convenience
Every consultant has held the equivalent role at a comparable technology company.
Step 3: Selection and start
- Interview your preferred consultants
- Check references and validate expertise
- Agree engagement terms and the daily or weekly working schedule
- Consultant begins work on the agreed start date, subject to availability and agreed terms
We produce the contracts and timesheets and manage the monthly payment cycles.
Step 4: Ongoing support
- Regular check-ins to keep the engagement on track
- Direct access to the Hawkwood team throughout
- Engagement can be extended or concluded in line with the notice period
- Smooth handover when the work concludes
We stay involved throughout, to make sure the engagement works and the integration is smooth.
Our consultants
Experienced People and Talent professionals who have done the job before, in companies like yours. They are experienced enough to hit the ground running and to understand the specifics of your organization quickly.
Proven track record
A successful career history in comparable technology companies, delivering relevant work.
Scale-up expertise
A deep understanding of rapid growth, and of building People and Talent Acquisition functions from the ground up.
Executors, not advisors
Many consultancies employ career consultants. Ours have spent most of their careers in permanent, in-house roles, so they are used to executing rather than only advising.
Values-matched
Thoroughly pre-screened for alignment with your culture and the way your team works.
Why this works better than the alternatives
Trusted by the companies building what comes next
300+ successful People & Talent hires into growth companies including
Recommended to CEOs by VCs & PEs including
Questions we get asked
What is fractional HR?
Fractional HR means bringing in an experienced HR or People leader on a part-time, ongoing basis rather than hiring one permanently. They typically work an agreed number of days each week, embedded in your team, for as long as you need them. It gives you senior expertise at a fraction of the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.
What is the difference between fractional and embedded support?
Fractional support is ongoing and part-time: a senior leader working an agreed number of days each week, continuing until you no longer need it. Embedded support is project-based: a consultant working alongside your team for a defined piece of work with a start and an end. Both draw on the same pool of vetted consultants.
When should a scale-up bring in fractional support instead of hiring permanently?
Usually when People operations have outgrown the founder but the company is not yet ready for a full-time Head of People, which often happens around Series A or B. It also works well for covering senior leave, handling a hiring surge, or getting People infrastructure into shape ahead of a funding round.
How quickly can a consultant start?
In most cases you will interview consultants within two to three days of your first conversation with us. Every brief receives a detailed response within 24 hours, including initial consultant suggestions. Start dates depend on consultant availability and agreed terms.
How is this different from an HR consultancy or an RPO?
Three ways. You choose your consultant from the open market rather than being allocated someone from an in-house bench. Our consultants have spent most of their careers in permanent, in-house roles, so they execute rather than advise. And because this is an extension of our recruitment business, our overheads are lower than a consultancy’s or an RPO’s.
What roles can be filled on a fractional basis?
Most senior People and Talent roles. That includes fractional Head of People, HR Director, People Operations Manager, Head of Talent Acquisition, and founding or embedded recruiters. If the role exists in a scaling technology company, we can usually find someone who has held it before.