Top Outsourced COO Agencies in the UK 2025

2025's Best Part-time Operations Directors in the United Kingdom

Introduction to Fractional COO Services & Part-Time Operations Directors

In the competitive UK business landscape, companies must balance growth, scalability, and operational efficiency. However, hiring a full-time Chief Operating Officer (COO) is not always feasible, especially for startups, SMEs, and companies in transition. Part-time COO services offer a cost-effective and flexible solution, providing companies with on-demand operational leadership without the overhead of a full-time executive.

A Fractional COO is an experienced executive who works with businesses on a part-time, interim, or project-based basis. These professionals enhance business operations, streamline processes, improve profitability, and manage teams—all crucial for sustained success.

Many UK-based companies turn to outsourced COO agencies to gain top-tier operational guidance. These agencies help businesses scale, increase efficiency, and implement strategic initiatives, ensuring long-term stability and growth.

To assist businesses in finding the right Fractional COO partner, Digital Reference has compiled a list of the top outsourced COO agencies in the UK for 2025.

Methodology: How We Selected the Best Outsourced COO Agencies Based in the UK

This list is the result of extensive research into each firm’s reputation, leadership team, client feedback, and service offerings. We evaluated these agencies based on:

1. Experience & Reputation – Number of years in operation, client success stories, and industry impact.
2. Key Leadership & COO Professionals – The expertise, credentials, and industry experience of key executives.
3. Client Reviews & Testimonials – Analysis of customer feedback, online ratings, and case studies.
4. Service Offerings – The breadth of services, including strategy consulting, business transformation, process optimization, and team leadership.
5. Industry Specialization – Whether the firm specializes in startups, SMEs, SaaS, finance, manufacturing, or eCommerce.

Best Outsourced COO Agencies in the UK (2025)

Fractional Executives UK

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This agency provides senior operational leadership on demand, working with scaling companies in tech, finance, and healthcare.

• Offers plug-and-play executive talent for companies that need immediate operational support—without the long hiring cycle.
• Especially strong in regulated and high-growth environments, including fintech and medtech.
• Perfect for teams looking to stabilize operations during a funding round, product launch, or post-merger integration.

Boardroom Advisors

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Boardroom Advisors provides interim and fractional COO services, helping SMEs and startups navigate operational challenges, increase efficiency, and implement strategic changes.

Leadership Services Limited

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Leadership Services Limited is a leading outsourced executive service provider in the UK, offering COO and operational leadership solutions to businesses across various industries.

The Growth Chain

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The Growth Chain specializes in business transformation and operational efficiency, providing interim COOs to companies in transition.

Osmo Partners

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Osmo Partners focuses on operational restructuring, performance improvement, and cost optimization. Their Fractional COOs are highly experienced in managing growth, risk, and efficiency.

Why You Should Choose Them:

• Great fit for businesses undergoing rapid change
• Emphasis on risk mitigation and cost controls
• Proven operators who know how to restructure at speed

Simon Wakeman

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Simon comes highly recommended as a part-time operations director. His client say this “Simon is a serious company builder. He knows how to take a founder’s vision for their business and make it real step by step. He’s got a collaborative and thoughtful approach to leading teams and getting things done. If you want a trusted partner in scaling your business, work with Simon.”

The Second C‍

About The Second C:
The Second C is a leading provider of outsourced COO and operational consulting services in the UAE. Their team specializes in transforming business operations, improving efficiency, and developing long-term growth strategies for startups and enterprises alike.

Key Services:

• Business transformation and operational strategy
• Process automation and workflow optimization
• Interim and fractional COO leadership
• Scaling strategies for growing businesses

Why Choose The Second C?
The Second C stands out for its data-driven approach to operational improvement, helping businesses implement scalable and sustainable systems. Their experienced fractional COOs work closely with leadership teams to identify inefficiencies, drive performance, and enhance profitability.

Transparency Check:
Before engaging with The Second C, businesses should request case studies and references to assess how their fractional COOs have driven success in previous engagements.

Ser Team

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Ser Team focuses mostly on medium-sized businesses. For medium-sized enterprises looking to enhance operational efficiency and drive growth, Ser Team's Fractional COO services provide a strategic, flexible, and cost-effective solution.

Lagom Consulting

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Lagom Consulting is a more general marketing and management consulting but highlight fractional COO services as one of their offerings.

Choosing the Right Fractional COO Service for Your Business

With many high-quality options available, selecting the right Fractional COO agency depends on your company’s industry, needs, and budget. Here’s a quick guide:

• For fast-growing startups: The COO Centre, Your Fractional COO, Next Level COO
• For SMEs & mid-sized companies: Boardroom Advisors, Freeman Clarke, COO Advisory UK
• For digital transformation & automation: The Change Partners, Virtual COO UK
• For finance & investment firms: Insight Partners UK, Fractional Executives UK

By choosing the right outsourced COO agency, businesses can gain operational expertise, scale effectively, and enhance performance—without the cost of a full-time hire.

More From Digital Reference?

Guides like this are part of our broader mission: to make the talent ecosystem more transparent, more human, and more efficient. A few more guides worth looking into:

• Best Platforms to Hire Fractional COOs
• Full Directory of Local Fractional COO Listings
• Best Communities for Operations Professionals

We believe the future of work doesn’t live in resumes—it lives in reputation, results, and relationships.

Explore our talent insights or reach out (hello@digitalreference.co) for a curated recommendation.

Start your journey today by reaching out to one of these top-tier COO agencies and take your business to the next level in 2025!

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