Join VCMO as an Associate Fractional CMO

VCMO is designed for experienced marketing leaders who:

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✅ Operate at true C-suite level

✅ Deliver fractional CMO services professionally

✅ Value standards, credibility and peer challenge

✅ Want to work with serious businesses and investors

✅ Care about how fractional leadership is represented in the UK

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This is not a platform for:

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❌ Freelancers repositioning as “fractional”

❌ Consultants without senior leadership experience

❌ Side-hustle operators

❌ Juniors seeking credibility by association

Our Associates are independent Fractional CMOs who:

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• Operate under the VCMO professional framework
• Are listed on the CIM's Chartered Marketer Directory
• Meet defined standards of experience and conduct
• Are trusted to represent VCMO with clients and investors
• Retain autonomy over how they work and engage

You are not employed by us.

You are not managed day-to-day by us.

You are treated as a peer.

We set a high bar not to exclude, but to protect the quality and reputation of our brand. To become an Associate you must:

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✅ Be listed on the CIM's Chartered Marketer Directory

✅ Be a SOSTAC® Certified Planner (see below)

✅ Hold genuine C-suite marketing leadership experience (10+ years)

✅ Demonstrate proven delivery in fractional or interim roles (2+ years)

✅ Possess strong commercial and board-level judgement

✅ Have recent case studies where you've delivered tangible growth

‍✅ Hold an active Registered UK Company – VAT registered, insured, compliant.

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We welcome marketers who are committed to building a successful portfolio career — not those who are ‘in-between roles’. Every Associate is assessed before joining.

To join VCMO, you must hold SOSTAC® Certified Planner status. Every client engagement is underpinned using the globally recognised SOSTAC® framework — developed by PR Smith.
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You can become a Certified Planner through a 20-hour self-study programme that costs £195 plus VAT.

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✅ What this means for our clients: Robust plans that drive business outcomes — not just marketing activity.

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✅ What this means for you: You join a select cohort of professionals committed to applying the perfect structure to any business or marketing plan.

Associates typically join VCMO because they:

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• Want to be part of a credible, senior-level collective
• Value structured, professional engagement models
• Want access to serious businesses and investors
• Don’t want to dilute their reputation through low-quality platforms
• Appreciate peer challenge and shared standards

VCMO is designed to protect the integrity of fractional marketing leadership, not commoditise it.

When VCMO is engaged by a client:

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• The requirement is scoped at leadership level
• The right Associate is identified based on fit and experience
• Engagement terms are clear and professional
• Delivery is trusted — not micromanaged
• VCMO manages legal agreements and invoicing

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Thinking about moving into a portfolio career? Our Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Fractional CMO shows what it really takes. Many marketers find the shift from salaried C-suite to self-employed business ownership challenging. Success demands a new mindset, sharper organisation, and the ability to both hunt and farm your own opportunities.

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This guide offers a warts-and-all look at the highs — and some of the lows — of building a fractional career. Plus, we've included useful links to resources that will help you get on the road to fractional success.

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(No contact details required)

Offered by No-Nonsense Leadership, this 10-week sprint helps marketers transition from in-house roles to thriving fractional leaders.

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• Build your positioning, offers, and outreach rhythm
• Install scalable systems for client acquisition and delivery
• Gain clarity, consistency, and control for your portfolio career

The course is led by Dan Gwalter, who was our special guest in season 1 of the Fractional Futures podcast. This is not a pre-requesite to becoming a VCMO Associate, but it can significantly improve your chances of having a successful portfolio career.

If you are an experienced Fractional CMO and believe your standards align with ours, we invite you to take our short survey to assess your fit and readiness to join as a VCMO Associate.

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This is a quick, confidential check to determine if you meet the practical, strategic, and professional standards required to represent the VCMO brand. It takes just 4-minutes and includes:

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• 36 Yes/No questions
• 7 core capability areas
• Instant feedback on your readiness level with a personalised report

If you meet our readiness criteria, you'll be invited for an initial mutual fit discussion with our founder Paul Mills.