Most growing companies reach a stage where marketing feels too important to muddle through… but too early to justify a full-time Chief Marketing Officer.
That’s where I come in.
I’m Steven Oakes, a Manchester-based Fractional Marketing Director / Fractional CMO with 25+ years’ experience helping businesses grow through brand clarity, digital transformation and practical, measurable marketing.
If your marketing lacks direction, your team needs senior leadership, or your business is ready to step up a level, this page is where your next chapter starts.
What Is a Fractional CMO?
A Fractional CMO is a part-time Chief Marketing Officer who works with your business on a flexible basis to provide high-level marketing leadership, strategy and momentum — without the £120–£180k full-time salary.
You get:
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Strategic clarity
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Better decisions made faster
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Leadership for your marketing team
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A more effective funnel
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Someone accountable for performance
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A clear plan the team can actually deliver
In short: senior direction, without the headcount risk.
What I Do as Your Fractional Marketing Director / CMO
1. Create clarity and a direction everyone can get behind
Positioning, messaging, segmentation, audience definition and a simple, believable strategy that gives your business focus.
2. Build a modern digital funnel that generates consistent demand
From See–Think–Do–Care to paid media, content, email, analytics and conversion.
Everything becomes measurable. Everything becomes purposeful.
3. Fix stuck teams and develop confident marketers
A big part of my work is coaching, upskilling and strengthening internal teams.
I help marketers think more strategically, communicate more effectively and deliver work that actually moves the needle.
4. Lead brand and digital transformations
Whether you need a new website, a tighter brand, a clearer value proposition or a digital overhaul — I guide the process from blueprint to execution.
5. Connect marketing to revenue
Dashboards, attribution, forecasting, decision-making, pricing and commercial alignment with sales.
No fluff. No vanity metrics. Just progress.
6. Bring momentum when everything feels a bit stuck
Many clients bring me in because:
“we’re busy, but nothing’s changing.”
I unblock, simplify, structure and drive things forward.
Who I Work With
I partner with founder-led businesses, SMEs and scale-ups across:
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Tech & SaaS
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Education & training
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Hospitality & leisure
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Healthcare
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Media & digital
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B2B services
If you’re growing, pivoting, entering a new market, or simply tired of “random acts of marketing,” we’ll likely be a good fit.
What It’s Like Working Together
Every engagement begins with clarity.
Month 1 — The Strategy & Clarity Phase
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Audit of brand, website, funnel, data and team
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Positioning + messaging
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A simple 90-day plan
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Priority quick wins
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Clear roles + rituals for your team
Months 2–3 — Momentum & Build Phase
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Campaigns
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Digital funnel
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Website improvements
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Team coaching
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Analytics + dashboards
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Agency oversight (if you have one)
Ongoing — Your Part-Time CMO
I become your senior marketing leader:
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Part of your leadership conversations
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A mentor for your team
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A strategic partner for your founder/CEO
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The person accountable for marketing performance
What Does a Fractional CMO Cost?
Every business is different, but typical engagements start at:
£1,800/month
For light-touch advisory, clarity and structure.
£2,500–£4,000/month
For active leadership, team coaching, funnel development and regular involvement.
Custom retainers
For deeper transformations or interim leadership.
You also get access to the AMOS Academy, my training system for marketers who want to level up.
Why Work With Me
I’ve spent 25+ years helping businesses grow through practical, measurable marketing.
Most recently I was Chief Marketing Officer at Northcoders Group PLC, where I:
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Increased monthly registrations from 394 → 1,396
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Launched new products and divisions
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Led website, brand and digital transformations
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Improved profitability and pipeline generation
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Built high-performing teams and leaders
I now use that experience to support businesses that need structure, clarity, momentum and senior leadership — without the full-time hire.
Success Stories
Steven’s mentorship was a turning point for me. He helped me build the confidence, structure and strategic thinking I needed to step up into a Marketing Manager role, something I wanted to do but was unsure of how to show I was able to do so. His guidance made a huge difference in helping me grow, he provided real insights and developments from the marketing world and was there when I had any questions.
Thank you for taking your time to listen and provide helpful concise advice which had helped me further my marketing career.
Marie – Marketing Manager, Legal Profession
