— How HONED works
Start with the challenge. Get the right senior support around your team.
HONED introduces carefully chosen specialists who work alongside your leadership team on a fractional basis, when and where you need them.
Senior support that fits your business
Most growing businesses cannot justify a full-time specialist in every area. Yet the decisions still need experienced judgement.
HONED introduces carefully chosen senior specialists who work with your business on a fractional basis. They work alongside your leadership team, for the time and tasks that matter, and then step back.
HONED helps you start with the challenge and identify the right specialist support. Once you have chosen to work together, the commercial arrangement and delivery terms are agreed directly with the specialist.
A carefully chosen team of HONED specialists stands behind the service. Meet the team.
Start with a conversation
You do not need to know which specialist you need. Tell us what is happening in your business and what you would like to change.
We listen first. Then we help you decide what kind of support would be most useful, and which specialist or team is best placed to give it.
The right support, at the right level
Some challenges need a steady senior presence. Others need a short, focused piece of work. Many sit somewhere between the two.
We help you think about the level of support that suits the challenge and your team. The specifics are then agreed directly with the specialist.
Ongoing fractional support
A specialist works with your leadership team on a regular basis, for an agreed number of days or hours. This suits challenges that need steady attention over time.
You and the specialist agree how the support is planned and reviewed, so you can see what is working and change course if you need to.
One-off projects
A defined piece of work with a clear start, a clear scope and a clear finish. This suits a specific question or a particular decision.
Before work begins, you and the specialist agree the scope, so you know what to expect.
What happens next
- Talk through the challenge.
- Agree what support would be most useful.
- Meet the right HONED specialist or team.
- Confirm the scope and commercial arrangement.
- Begin work with clear points for review.
From step 4, the scope and commercial arrangement are agreed directly between you and the specialist.
Questions you may have
Some answers depend on the support you choose. Where that is the case, we say so rather than guess. More general questions are on the main FAQ page.
What is HONED?
HONED helps SME businesses start with a business challenge and find the right senior specialist support. We introduce carefully chosen specialists who work alongside your leadership team, often on a fractional basis. Once you have chosen to work together, the commercial arrangement and delivery terms are agreed directly with the specialist.
Who does HONED work with?
HONED works with owners, directors and HR leads in small and medium sized businesses. These are often stretched teams with no in-house specialist for every challenge.
Do I need to know which specialist I need before I get in touch?
No. Start with the challenge you are facing. We will listen, help you decide what kind of support would be most useful, and suggest who is best placed to give it.
What does fractional support mean?
It means an experienced specialist works with your business for part of the week or month, or for a defined piece of work, instead of joining as a full-time employee.
Is support ongoing or can it be a one-off project?
Either. Some support is ongoing, with a specialist working alongside your team over time. Some is a focused project with a clear scope and finish. You choose what fits your business, and agree it with the specialist.
What happens in the first conversation?
We ask about your business and the challenge you are facing. We listen, ask questions and talk through the options. We then help you identify the specialist or team who may be right for you.
Who will I work with?
You work with the specialist you choose. We help you identify who is best placed to help, and you can read about our specialists on their profile pages. You can talk to them before you decide to go ahead.
Can more than one specialist support my business?
Yes, where a challenge touches more than one area. We can help you identify who might be involved. You agree the work with each specialist directly.
How is ongoing support planned and reviewed?
You and the specialist agree how ongoing support is planned and reviewed.
How is one-off work scoped?
Before work begins, you and the specialist agree the scope, intended outcomes, timings, responsibilities and fees.
What happens if the scope changes?
Discuss the change with the specialist. Any revised scope, timings or fees should be agreed before further work begins.
How does pricing work?
Pricing is agreed directly with the specialist and will reflect the scope, level of support and duration of the work.
Is there a minimum commitment?
Any minimum commitment is agreed directly with the specialist before work begins.
Who holds the contract?
You agree the contract directly with the specialist providing the work.
Who invoices the business?
The specialist invoices you directly under the arrangement you agree together.
Can we change or end ongoing support?
Any changes or notice arrangements are agreed directly with the specialist as part of your engagement.
How are confidentiality, data protection and conflicts of interest handled?
These should be discussed and agreed with the specialist before work begins, including any confidentiality, data protection or conflict requirements relevant to your business.
What happens when the work is complete?
You and the specialist review the work and agree what, if anything, should come next. That might be a close, a follow-on project or ongoing support. The decision is yours.