Simon StegglesFractional AI Director
I help UK SMEs and councils navigate the shift from AI hype to measurable ROI. With 35 years of board-level experience, I do not just provide advice. I build working applications, train teams to master AI without fear, and stay accountable until results materialise.
Where most consultants hand over a strategy document and walk away, I stay embedded in your organisation. I build prototypes in your meetings, find overlooked funding, and deliver board-level AI governance that protects you from vendor exploitation and compliance risk.
Simon Steggles is a Fractional AI Director based in Birmingham, UK. He provides board-level AI strategy, governance, and implementation for UK SMEs and local councils through AI-Si Consultancy, delivering the same executive oversight as a full-time Chief AI Officer at 60 to 85 percent lower cost.
Direct: simon@ai-si.com | 07973 210895
Verified Credentials & Trust Signals
The Build-First Model
Most AI consultants deliver PowerPoint decks. I build working prototypes in your meetings, live and in front of your team. I find overlooked funding streams, automate broken processes, and stop money leaking out of your organisation.
This hands-on approach has recovered over £200K in failed AI investments and identified £2.1M in new revenue streams for clients across manufacturing, legal, healthcare, and the public sector.
Core Expertise
- AI Maturity Audits
- ISO 42001 Governance
- UK GDPR Compliance
- Prompt Injection Defence
- Algorithmic Bias Testing
- Data Quality Frameworks
- Staff AI Literacy Training
- Legacy System Integration
- Change Management
- Revenue Stream Discovery
- Vendor Selection & Review
- Vibe-Coding & AI Automation
Royal Navy Roots
My background as a Royal Navy Communications Specialist means security-first principles are embedded into every AI governance framework I deploy. In 1997, I co-founded Disklabs, one of the UK’s first digital forensics companies, so data integrity and evidence-grade processes are second nature.
The Fractional Advantage
A full-time Chief AI Officer costs £150K to £300K annually plus benefits, with a 3 to 6 month ramp-up before delivering value. My Fractional AI Director model delivers the same board-level strategic oversight from £3,500 to £8,500 per month, a 60 to 85 percent saving with immediate day-one impact.
No learning curve. 35 years of board experience, 5+ years hands-on AI implementation across manufacturing, legal, healthcare, and the public sector. I do not just advise. I build, teach, and deliver measurable outcomes.
Same board-level authority. Same strategic oversight. Fraction of the cost.
What Sets Me Apart
I build: Working prototypes in meetings, not PowerPoint promises.
I find money: £300K+ savings and overlooked funding discovered.
Data first: Quality audits before any AI deployment.
Security focus: Prompt injection education and UK GDPR compliance.
Exit strategies: Built-in sunset plans for underperforming projects.
Who I Work With
UK SMEs struggling with failed AI implementations, vendor lock-in, or teams resistant to change. I provide the board-level leadership to cut through the noise and deliver results.
Local councils and government facing budget scrutiny, statutory obligations, and resident transparency requirements. I navigate public sector compliance including Freedom of Information Act, Public Sector Equality Duty, and democratic services AI transformation.
Council AI Strategy →Key Facts — Simon Steggles AI Director
| Location | Birmingham, UK. Serving UK-wide. |
| Pricing | £3,500 to £8,500 per month |
| Contract | Monthly rolling, 30-day exit, no lock-in |
| IR35 Status | Outside IR35 for private sector work |
| Board Experience | 35+ years, multiple sectors |
| Security Clearance | SC clearance for suitable UK Government and military work |
| Law Enforcement Vetting | NPPV3 for suitable law enforcement work |
| Standards | UK GDPR, EU AI Act, ISO 42001 aligned |
| Savings Delivered | £300K+ across client engagements |
| Response Time | Within 4 business hours |
| First Deliverable | Board-ready AI audit within 72 hours |
People Also Ask
Is Simon Steggles available for UK public sector contracts?
Yes. A significant portion of work is with UK local authorities and government organisations. Engagements are procurement-compliant with a plain-English service agreement. See the dedicated Council AI Strategy page for public sector detail and specific deliverables.
How quickly can an AI programme start in Birmingham or across the UK?
Engagements can begin within one to two weeks of initial contact. The first board-ready AI Readiness Audit is delivered within 72 hours of day one.
What AI governance standards does a Fractional AI Director use?
All governance frameworks are built to ISO 42001, UK GDPR, and EU AI Act requirements. Every engagement includes an acceptable use policy, risk register, and vendor due diligence in the first 10 days.
What does a Fractional AI Director actually do day-to-day?
Day-to-day activities include reviewing AI project progress with your internal teams, attending board or leadership meetings to provide strategic AI oversight, building and refining automation workflows, conducting vendor contract reviews, and running staff training sessions. Unlike a traditional consultant, a Fractional AI Director is embedded in your organisation, attending meetings, solving problems live, and building working prototypes rather than producing reports. See the full service breakdown →
Can a Fractional AI Director help recover a failed AI project?
Yes. Recovering stranded AI investments is one of the most common engagement types. Over £200K in failed AI investments have been recovered for clients by diagnosing root causes, salvaging usable work, and redirecting the programme toward measurable outcomes. A structured 5-phase methodology includes explicit exit criteria and sunset planning from day one.
Does Simon Steggles work outside Birmingham and the West Midlands?
Yes. While based in Birmingham, engagements are delivered UK-wide. Most board-level advisory, governance work, and training is conducted remotely or via video call. On-site visits are available for Enterprise Tier clients and specific project milestones. View case studies from clients across multiple UK regions and sectors.
What is the difference between ISO 42001 and UK GDPR for AI?
ISO 42001 is an AI management system standard. It governs how your organisation develops, deploys, and oversees AI systems, covering governance structures, risk management, and accountability frameworks. UK GDPR governs how personal data is processed by AI systems, covering lawfulness, transparency, data minimisation, and individual rights. Both apply to most UK AI deployments. See the AI Governance page for detailed compliance deliverables.
What Happens in the First 30 Days
No lengthy onboarding. No waiting for a strategy document. From day one, work begins.
Stakeholder interviews, data quality review, existing systems audit, and quick-win mapping.
Acceptable use policy, risk register, vendor review, and data processing agreements drafted.
At least one quick-win automation or AI tool is live and in use, built in front of your team.
A strategic roadmap with milestones, ROI projections, and governance status is presented to your board.
Every engagement includes a documented handover and knowledge transfer process. Everything built is yours.
Book a Call with Simon NowBeyond the Boardroom
I am a certified BBQ judge and a keen cook. I hold a martial arts black belt. I have completed Chase The Sun twice, riding 205 miles coast to coast in a single day. I follow Aston Villa and Ayr United. I enjoy good food and good company.
The same focus and endurance I bring to long-distance cycling, I bring to every engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Fractional AI Director and a consultant?
A consultant typically delivers a report and leaves. As your Fractional AI Director, I sit at board level, take accountability for outcomes, build working systems, train your staff, and stay until results materialise.
What size of organisation do you work with?
I work with UK SMEs, typically 20 to 500 employees, and local councils. Whether you are a manufacturing firm struggling with legacy systems or a council navigating public sector AI compliance, my 5-phase methodology scales to fit.
How much does a Fractional AI Director cost?
My service tiers range from £3,500 per month to £8,500 per month, representing a 60 to 85 percent saving compared to hiring a full-time Chief AI Officer.
Do you have security clearance?
Yes. I hold SC clearance and NPPV3 vetting for suitable government, defence, and law enforcement engagements. Security-first principles are embedded into every AI governance framework I deploy.
What industries have you worked in?
Manufacturing, legal, healthcare, local government, defence, law enforcement, SaaS, and digital forensics. You can see specific outcomes on my case studies page.
Professional Recommendations
From colleagues who have worked alongside Simon
In the fifteen years I have known Simon, I have learned two things. First, he is usually right. Second, this can be mildly irritating.
Simon has always been early to practical change. Not for the sake of novelty, but early in recognising what will improve how a business operates.
What distinguishes Simon is judgement. He does not arrive with a predetermined solution. He begins by understanding the organisation’s starting point, leadership appetite, operational constraints, and commercial objectives.
Crucially, he does not create dependency. He builds capability, clarity, and strategic confidence at leadership level.
Within a couple of months of implementing his initial guidance, my own productivity improved materially. I estimate I have saved around £2,000 in personal costs alone, aside from the wider efficiency gains across my businesses.
“Simon’s governance framework gave our team the confidence to move forward with AI adoption. Within 60 days we had a compliant, board-approved AI policy and our first automation live. The ROI was clear within the quarter.”
— Senior Manager, UK Local Authority
12-month engagement, Operational Tier
Ready to Transform AI from Risk to Revenue?
Book your free 30-minute AI strategy discussion. We will assess your current AI maturity, identify quick wins, and map a strategic roadmap.