For businesses
For developers, contractors, investors and consultancies engaging senior operators on defined commercial terms — directly, with the engagement recorded.
The sequence
01
Define the engagement: discipline, sector, value band, geography, expected duration, engagement type, and whether the appointment is open or confidential.
02
Submit an introduction to a published operator. Where the appointment is confidential, NDA acceptance gates identity unlock and messaging.
03
Receive or issue a structured proposal — scope, fee model, milestones, expenses, notice, assumptions, acceptance deadline. Versions are immutable.
04
On confirmation, the engagement is declared with annualised value, start date, expected duration and engagement path.
05
Renewals, scope changes and end-of-engagement notes are recorded against the same engagement, preserving a continuous chronology.
The full procedural reference is on the How it works page; governance is on the Trust page.
Engagement examples
Indicative only. Each engagement is structured directly between the business and the operator on terms they agree.
Targeted operational engagement
Declared annualised value: £60,000
A commercial manager retained two days a week through a 14-month delivery phase. Engaged as an independent contractor, invoicing the developer monthly with VAT where registered. Off-payroll responsibility sits with the developer.
Interim commercial leadership
Declared annualised value: £180,000
A Commercial Director seat covered for nine months through a leadership transition. Day rate, monthly invoice, IR35 status determined by the contractor and confirmed in the proposal. Engagement declared at start; revised on extension.
Programme-stage advisory
Declared annualised value: £35,000
Specialist procurement input across two framework competitions. Fixed-fee proposal, milestone-based invoicing, no contingent element. Declared at the engagement formation point; closed cleanly on completion.
Procurement realism
Engagements are direct between the business and the operator (or the operator's company). Operance is not a party to the engagement, not an employer, not a paymaster and does not invoice on either party's behalf.
Operators invoice the business directly on their own terms. Where the operator is VAT-registered, VAT is charged in the ordinary way. Operance issues separate invoices for subscription and engagement governance participation.
Status determination remains the responsibility of the engaging business under the off-payroll rules where they apply. Proposals carry the assumed status; revised determinations are recorded against the engagement.
Operators can be onboarded through standard supplier processes. The engagement record provides a single auditable chronology suitable for internal governance, finance and audit reference.