M4C Admin
Getting out from the home office...as lockdown eases
It's mid June & after 3 months lockdown restrictions are easing, non-essential retail is coming out of hiberation. Matthew Curtis has also started to venture out from the home office this week too... we catch up on what's been going on.
Like many people across the UK M4C Director & Founder Matthew Curtis has been tucked away in his home office during lockdown. Matthew's home office is in rural Northumberland, we catch up with him today to find out more about his experience of lockdown and how the pandemic has affected M4C.
When did the pandemic first start to affect your daily activities and the business?
Apart from a crazy day of snow in the North East on the 24th February when I had a very wet and slushy walk to a meeting locally February was very much business as usual. In businesses across the UK there was a post election confidence and clarity around Brexit and all the indicators were that 2020 would be a good year.
Even into the first days of March when there was mounting & more worrying news coverage and a rising awareness that the once distant (might not happen here) Coronavirus threat was indeed going to impact the UK severely, many events went ahead still, with attendees jovially greeting each other with an elbow bump or a foot tap. Thinking back that phase of the crisis was very short lived and so remote from the restrictions that became necessary later in the same month.
For M4C March was going to be a record month in terms of projects delivered for clients...on the 12th March whilst attending an event in Carlisle, phone calls started to come through from clients that understandably wanted to postpone projects that involved bringing together groups of people. Most notably for M4C this included a 2 week Senior Leadership programme for a government institution that was due to be delivered in the last week of March and the first week of April. The last physical meeting that went ahead before lockdown was on the 16th March a week ahead of the lockdown announcement.
What has lockdown been like for you and for the business?
Although I haven't worked in a 5 days a week fixed office location to for more than 20 years, I have never worked from home more than a few days in a month... and never before have the whole family been confined to quarters. We've had online Uni exams, home schooling and two of us working from home... I don't think the dog can figure it out.. he's probably feeling sleep deprived!
In terms of the business M4C has continued to support existing clients, particularly as they navigate their way through the morass of guidance and confusion. In our "business as usual" model working with our clients means exactly that we are WITH
them, delivering workshops, facilitating & participating in meetings as well as joining them at their project and client locations too. In that model dates are agreed and booked in advance travel arrangements and accommodation reservations made... the plans become "semi-fixed" and have a regularity and consistency to them. During the crisis the service has become much more "On-Demand"
and delivered at times of the day to suit the changing situation and the needs of our clients. On the night of the 23rd March when the PM announced lockdown, clients were engaging and planning their responses and communications to teams and customers up until midnight that night and re-commenced at around 6:00am the following morning. The use of technology has meant that more clients were supported on any a single day than would have been possible had travel and physical meetings been held.
Lockdown has also meant that the volume of content being created for consumption online, on social media and via virtual events has sky rocketed. M4C has hosted peer to peer forums around the topics of leadership in a crisis and resilient leadership and I have also been a guest speaker at virtual conferences on the topic of organizational resilience. There have also been a lot of individuals that M4C has been able to connect with in the global online market for career and transition coaching, business coaching and mentoring. New clients have come France, Italy, Ireland & USA - definitely an un-expected positive as the business wasn't really pushing to be a global online service provider.
Flexibility and innovation are key strands in resilience, it's important to make good things happen not just minimise the impact of the bad things to be resilient.
What are the future plans?
To continue to give all M4C clients the best support possible and to continue to demonstrate that together we can deliver outstanding results and build more resilient businesses equipped to withstand the challenges of operating in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. To continue to "bounce - forwards" adopting and embracing the positive adaptions and changes that have been made and recognise that pre-covid best practise represents the best thinking of yesterday and not necessarily of tomorrow.
There is undoubtably going to be global economic challenges as the world lives and works with covid. There will also be huge demand for an increased leadership capacity in business, leaders that can drive optimisation, nurture innovations and make bold investments of energy and finance, whilst also providing consistency of direction and good governance. Inevitably there will be tensions so and leaders will need to demonstrate courage and vulnerability & recognising that often they
should be asking great questions of their teams rather than taking it upon themselves alone to be the ideas engine room.
In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, agility and expertise are more critical than ever. For UK businesses—especially SMEs and startups—accessing top-tier leadership without the financial burden of full-time executive hires is no longer a pipe dream. Enter the fractional director : a flexible, cost-effective solution that’s reshaping how companies scale, strategise, and succeed. What Is a Fractional Director? A fractional director is a seasoned executive—such as a CFO, CMO, or Commercial Director—who works with a business on a part-time, interim, or project basis. Unlike traditional full-time hires, fractional directors bring high-level strategic insight and leadership while offering the flexibility to engage only when needed. The Business Case for Fractional Leadership UK companies are increasingly embracing fractional leadership, and the reasons are compelling: Access to Elite Talent : Fractional directors often come with decades of experience across industries. For smaller firms that may struggle to attract full-time C-suite talent, fractional roles open the door to expertise that would otherwise be out of reach. Cost Efficiency : Businesses report savings of 40–60% in labour costs by hiring fractional executives compared to full-time counterparts This model allows companies to pay only for the time and expertise they need—no overheads, no long-term commitments. Strategic Agility : Fractional directors are adept at hitting the ground running. Whether it’s navigating a growth phase, entering new markets, or managing change, they deliver rapid impact with minimal disruption. Scalability and Flexibility : Companies can scale leadership resources up or down based on evolving needs. This is especially valuable in uncertain economic climates, where adaptability is key. Objective Decision-Making : Operating outside internal politics, fractional directors offer unbiased perspectives and challenge the status quo—often leading to innovative solutions and improved performance . A Growing Trend in the UK The rise of fractional working in the UK is more than a passing trend—it’s a strategic shift. In early 2025, around 5% of UK employees were in interim roles, with many more operating as independent contractors. Why Now? Post-pandemic shifts, economic uncertainty, and the rise of AI-driven automation have all contributed to a rethinking of traditional employment models. Businesses are under pressure to stay lean while still accessing the strategic leadership needed to thrive. Fractional directors offer a way to do just that. As Roei Samuel, CEO of Connectd, puts it: “Fractional leadership isn’t a stopgap. It’s a scalable, sustainable model for the future of work that enables smaller companies to grow smarter.” Conclusion: A Smarter Way to Scale For UK businesses looking to stay competitive, fractional directors offer a powerful blend of expertise, flexibility, and financial efficiency. Whether you're a startup navigating early growth or an established firm seeking fresh strategic insight, fractional leadership could be the key to unlocking your next phase of success. At M4C Ltd , we help businesses connect with the right fractional talent to drive transformation and growth. Get in touch to explore how a fractional director could elevate your business.
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In today’s dynamic business landscape, the need for flexible, expert leadership is more critical than ever. Enter the fractional director—a seasoned executive who brings not just valuable skills, deep industry experience, and strategic insight, but also the much-needed capacity to get things done. At M4C Ltd, we believe that fractional directors are the secret weapon for businesses ready to accelerate growth and drive meaningful change. The Dual Value Proposition of Fractional Directors Expertise That Transforms Strategy Fractional directors come equipped with years of experience from diverse sectors. Their wealth of knowledge helps businesses to.. Develop Clear Strategies: They offer an external perspective that cuts through internal noise, crafting clear, actionable strategies. Identify Growth Opportunities: With a keen eye for emerging trends, they can pinpoint opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked. Guide Critical Decision-Making: Their informed advice ensures that every strategic move is backed by data and real-world insights. Hands-On Execution: Bringing Capacity to Your Team While many leaders provide excellent advice, fractional directors are unique in their commitment to execution. They don’t just set the direction—they work as part of your team to make progress happen.. Bridging the Gap: They act as a critical link between high-level strategy and day-to-day operations, ensuring that plans are not just designed but effectively implemented. Immediate Impact: With the ability to hit the ground running, fractional directors offer an immediate boost in capacity, helping your business to overcome operational bottlenecks and speed up project timelines. Cost-Effective Leadership: By engaging fractional directors, companies gain access to top-tier expertise without the overhead of a full-time executive salary. This model is particularly beneficial for SMEs and growing businesses that need robust leadership without breaking the bank. Real-World Success: Making Strategy Work Consider the case of businesses that have partnered with fractional directors during times of transition or rapid growth. These leaders have been instrumental in.. Streamlining Operations: By re-engineering processes, they enable teams to work more efficiently. Driving Revenue Growth: Their strategic interventions have often resulted in measurable improvements in sales and market penetration. Enhancing Team Morale: By providing clear direction and hands-on support, they empower teams to tackle challenges confidently and collaboratively. Why does M4C Champion the Fractional Director Model? Our commitment is to help businesses not just dream big but also achieve their ambitions. We recognize that the modern business environment demands agile, responsive leadership that can balance high-level strategy with day-to-day operational needs. Our fractional directors are dedicated to.. Partnering: We integrate seamlessly with your existing processes to ensure that every strategy is actionable. Focusing on Measurable Outcomes: From boosting efficiency to driving revenue, our focus is on delivering results that matter. Empowering Your Business: By augmenting your leadership capacity, we ensure that you’re never alone in navigating complex challenges. The Bottom Line: Ready, Set, Execute! If your business is ready to unlock new levels of growth and efficiency, it’s time to consider the power of fractional directors. They don’t just offer advice—they roll up their sleeves and work with you to get things done. Let’s turn strategic plans into tangible results together.