Board Advisory Services

The independent voice your board actually needs.

Senior-level strategic challenge, governance oversight and commercial scrutiny — without the cost or complexity of a formal non-executive directorship. Experienced. Independent. Personally accountable.

Book an introductory session - £135

WHAT IS BOARD ADVISORY?

More than a sounding board. Less than a full appointment.

Board advisory sits between informal mentoring and a formal non-executive directorship. You get genuine strategic challenge, independent scrutiny and deep commercial experience — without the governance overhead, the formal appointment process or the corporate price tag.

Strategic challenge

An independent perspective on decisions, direction and priorities — from someone with no stake in a particular outcome, and no reluctance to say so.

Governance & risk oversight

Structured thinking on governance, financial controls, risk management and board-level accountability — proportionate to your size and stage, not lifted from a corporate handbook.

Commercial scrutiny

Pressure-testing of business cases, funding bids, partnerships and growth plans before commitments are made — not after the fact.

Leadership support

A confidential space for directors and founders to think clearly, work through difficult calls, and make better decisions with more confidence.

Stakeholder navigation

Practical support with investors, funders, trustees, lenders and fellow directors — including preparation, positioning and communication strategy.

Strategic planning facilitation

Facilitation of planning sessions, board reviews and away days — keeping discussion on what actually matters rather than what feels most urgent in the room.

“Carl has an exceptional ability to cut through complexity and focus on what really matters. His deep understanding of the financial services landscape, combined with his commercial perspective and strong governance principles, makes him an outstanding strategic adviser.”
David Agar CEO & Co-Founder, Digital Ability Ltd | Founding Director, BankAbility UK CIC

HOW IT WORKS

Straightforward from the start.

No lengthy proposals, no retainer before we've established there's a fit. Here's how most board advisory relationships begin.

Start with a conversation.

No lengthy proposals, no retainer before we've established there's a fit. Here's how most board advisory relationships begin.

Agree the shape of the work

Board advisory can take several forms — a monthly retained engagement, quarterly strategy sessions, attendance at board meetings, or a project-specific piece of work. We agree what fits your stage and priorities.

Ongoing independent support

Regular engagement — typically monthly — keeps strategic thinking alive between board meetings. You have someone who knows your business and can respond quickly when something important comes up.

Review and adapt

We build in a review at three months. The work should be earning its place. If it isn't, we change it. The minimum commitment is three months — but most advisory relationships run considerably longer.

BOARD ADVISORY VS. COACHING & MENTORING

Why board advisory is priced differently to coaching.

Both are valuable. But they are different types of work — and honest pricing reflects that. Here's the distinction that matters.

 

Coaching & Mentoring

Board Advisory

Primary focus

Your development as a leader — mindset, skills, decision-making habits

The organisation's direction — strategy, governance, risk and commercial outcomes

Accountability

You are accountable for all decisions. The coach supports your thinking.

The adviser inputs into decisions that affect the business, its people, its finances and its stakeholders

Nature of input

Questions and frameworks to help you reach your own conclusions

Independent judgement, challenge and recommendation — drawing on 30+ years of senior experience

Risk & exposure

Low — the coach is not party to the organisation's decisions

Higher — the adviser's input carries weight and influences board-level outcomes

Expertise required

Coaching skills, frameworks, and broad business experience

Deep sector knowledge, governance understanding, financial services background, NED experience

Scope

Typically one-to-one. Personal and confidential.

Extends to board meetings, stakeholder preparation, governance documentation and strategic planning

Market rate

£450–£800 per session / £500–£1,000 per month (UK SME benchmarks)

£15,000–£40,000 per year for a formal SME NED appointment

When a director engages a coach or mentor, the work is about them — their growth, their thinking, their next step. The coach plays no role in the organisation's decisions. That's appropriate, and it's why coaching is priced the way it is.

Board advisory is a different category of engagement. The adviser is being brought into the room — sometimes literally — to contribute to decisions that affect the business, its employees, its funders and potentially its legal standing. That requires a deeper, more specific body of experience and carries a different level of responsibility.

Bradex board advisory is priced at £850 per month — significantly below the £15,000–£40,000 per year a formal NED appointment typically costs, but reflecting the genuine seniority, governance depth and accountability the work demands. It is not the same as coaching, and pricing it as though it were would misrepresent the nature of the service — and undervalue what you are getting.

IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Good advisory isn't for everyone. But it might be for you.

An honest picture of who tends to get the most from this kind of engagement.

This works well if you are…

✓  A director or founder running a business in the £500k–£5m turnover range

✓  At a point where decisions feel heavier and the stakes are higher

✓  Ready for honest challenge, not just reassurance

✓  Running a family business with governance or succession questions on the horizon

✓  Leading a CIC, CIO or charity that needs board-level commercial thinking

✓  Scaling through a difficult phase and carrying it largely alone

✓  Preparing for investment, a sale, or a significant strategic change

✓  Building a board and wanting external perspective on how it's functioning

This probably isn't right if you…

✗  Want validation more than genuine challenge

✗  Are you looking for someone to manage day-to-day operations alongside you

✗  Need specialist legal, financial or technical expertise as the primary requirement

✗  Are at an early pre-revenue stage — coaching or mentoring is likely the better starting point

✗  Want a formal NED with a seat on the board and full fiduciary responsibility — that's a separate conversation

FEES & PRICING

Transparent pricing. No hidden extras.

Senior-level board advisory at a fraction of a formal NED appointment — with the flexibility of a monthly arrangement and the reassurance of a named lead adviser.

  •  
  • STARTING POINT — Introductory Session

  • £135
  • ONE-OFF
  • A focused 60-minute session to explore your situation, test the fit, and agree whether structured advisory support makes sense..
  • BOOK NOW
  •  
  •  
  • ONGOING SUPPORT — Monthly Advisory Retainer ★

  • £850
  • PER MONTH
  • Regular monthly advisory engagement plus between-session access. Minimum three months. Covers one-to-one and board/group formats at the same rate.
  • BOOK NOW
  •  
  •  
  • PROJECT-BASED — Strategic Day or Board Review

  • From £1500
  • SINGLE PAYMENT
  • Facilitation of a strategy day, board effectiveness review, or planning session. Available standalone or alongside a retainer engagement.
  • BOOK NOW
  •  

How does this compare to a formal NED?  A non-executive directorship for an SME typically costs between £15,000 and £40,000 per year in fees alone, before considering D&O insurance requirements and the governance burden of a formal appointment. Bradex board advisory delivers equivalent strategic challenge and independent thinking at around £10,200 per year on a monthly retainer — with greater flexibility and without the administrative overhead of a formal NED arrangement.

Looking for coaching or mentoring instead?  If your focus is on your own development as a leader rather than the organisation's strategic direction, Bradex coaching and mentoring start at £500 per month with the same introductory session and money-back guarantee.

bradex.co.uk/coaching

WHAT CLIENTS AND COLLEAGUES SAY

“One of Carl's greatest strengths is his ability to balance strategic thinking with practical execution. He also has a remarkable ability to ask the right questions — challenging thinking in a constructive way that invariably leads to stronger outcomes.”
David Agar CEO & Co-Founder, Digital Ability Ltd | Founding Director, BankAbility UK CIC
“Carl helped me to look objectively at the business, which allowed us to grow and create more jobs. At the same time, he challenged me about the less profitable parts and asked me to concentrate on the more profitable areas.”
Graham Coulston-Herrmann — Business Owner

READY TO TALK?

The right conversation at the right time changes everything.

The introductory session is £135. It's a straight conversation — your situation, your decisions, your questions. No pitch, no generic framework presented back at you. If it's the right fit, we'll both know by the end of it. If it isn't, you'll still leave with something useful

Book your introductory session  →  calendly.com/carlbradshaw

Call  0161 751 2320

30-day money-back guarantee on the first month of any ongoing engagement. Introductory session fee credited against your first month if you proceed.