Project Delivery & Rescue

Project delivery and rescue provides senior technical leadership to guide your team through complex builds or recover failing projects. You need it when projects are behind schedule or over budget, your team lacks senior architectural guidance, AI-generated code has created production issues, or you're starting a complex build that needs experienced leadership. This service combines technical leadership with architectural oversight, ensuring your team has the guidance they need to get projects back on track or start on solid foundations.

I provide engaged technical leadership, not just scheduling and reporting. This means reviewing architecture, making technical decisions, mentoring your team, and contributing to implementation when it adds value. Traditional project managers track progress but can't solve technical blockers or validate architectural approaches. My CTO and architect background means I understand the technical work deeply, can course-correct technical decisions, and deliver working systems, not just status reports.

Yes. Project rescue engagements typically start with rapid assessment (2-3 days) to identify root causes, stabilise immediate issues, and create a recovery roadmap. Common rescue scenarios include architectural problems causing performance issues, unclear requirements creating scope creep, technical debt preventing progress, or team skill gaps blocking delivery. I've successfully rescued projects by rebuilding core systems (risk engine in 3 days), introducing proper architecture patterns, and bringing clarity to chaotic situations.

I work with your existing team, not replace them. My role is to provide the senior leadership, technical direction, and architectural capability your team needs to succeed. Many project failures aren't due to bad developers but lack of clear technical leadership and architectural guidance. I empower your team through mentoring, clear decision-making, and removing technical blockers. Most clients find their teams become more effective and confident with consistent senior guidance.

I offer flexible models including dedicated project engagement (full-time or near full-time for project duration) and fractional engagement (2-3 days per week for longer projects). Engagements can be time-and-materials or fixed-scope depending on project clarity. For project rescue, I typically start with a rapid assessment before committing to a full recovery engagement, ensuring I understand the situation before proposing solutions.

Project delivery and rescue work can be structured as fixed-scope projects or time-and-materials engagements, depending on project clarity. For well-defined work, I provide fixed-scope pricing focused on outcomes. For exploratory or rescue work where the full scope isn't clear, I work at my standard day rate (£800-1,000/day) with regular check-ins to ensure we're delivering value. Project rescue typically starts with a paid rapid assessment (2-3 days, £2,400-3,000) that provides root cause analysis and a recovery roadmap with no obligation to proceed to full engagement. You get actionable insights whether or not we continue working together. Contact me for a project review to discuss the right approach for your situation.

I provide honest assessment even when it's difficult to hear. If rescue isn't viable or cost-effective, I'll explain why and recommend alternatives: managed project sunset, rebuild with salvaged components, or alternative approaches. You're paying for honest expertise and realistic options, not false hope. Most projects can be rescued with the right approach, but I won't take your money for a doomed effort. The rapid assessment exists precisely to answer this question before you commit significant resources.

Hiring takes 3-6 months (recruitment, onboarding, ramp-up) and costs £80-120k/year plus benefits. By the time they're productive, your troubled project may have failed. Project delivery and rescue engagements provide immediate senior capability - I can start assessing your project within days and guiding solutions within weeks. What makes this different: I have experience as both a senior developer and a project manager, so I can bridge technical and management perspectives. For projects with defined endpoints, a time-boxed engagement is faster and more cost-effective than permanent hiring.