How much does a brand partnerships consultant cost in the UK?

A brand partnerships consultant in the UK usually charges by the day, by the project or by a monthly retainer. My fees start at £5,000 for a project or £750 a day for advisory work. Project fees scale with the partnership budget, at roughly 10 to 15% of the budget I manage. The final price depends on scope, timeline and how much delivery you want me to take on.

The three ways consultants charge

Day rate. You pay for time. It suits short pieces of work such as reviewing a partnership proposal or advising on a shortlist of partners. My day rate is £750, with a two-day minimum.

Project fee. You pay a fixed amount for a defined outcome, for example finding a partner, shaping the idea and delivering one activation. It gives you a clear budget before work starts. Projects start at £5,000.

Monthly retainer. You pay a set amount each month for ongoing partnership work, such as a programme of collaborations across a year. Retainers suit brands that want steady output rather than a single campaign. They start at £3,000 a month for up to four days.

What changes the price

1. Scope. Advising on a partnership costs less than planning and delivering it end to end.

2. Complexity. A partnership between two brands is simpler than one that also involves talent, venues and media.

3. Timeline. A tight deadline needs more of my time in a shorter window.

4. Delivery. If I also run the event or produce the content, that work is priced separately from strategy.

5. Sector. Luxury, music, hospitality and sport each bring different approvals, rights and audiences to manage.

What a partnership budget usually needs to cover

My fee is only one line. A partnership budget also needs to allow for venue or production costs, talent fees, content and measurement. I price each project against your partnership budget, so my fee scales with what you are spending.

What you get for the fee

I have spent twenty years building partnerships across music, luxury, hospitality and sport, and I am CIM-accredited. Recent work includes an invite-only showcase for Roc Nation that introduced three new artists, bespoke backpacks and keyholders made with YGWYPF, a first for Rolls-Royce, and a hotel and running community partnership that drew more than 150 attendees. You can read each in the case studies.

Questions people ask

Is a retainer better than a project fee? A project fee is better when you have one clear goal. A retainer is better when you want partnerships to be a regular part of your marketing.

Can I hire you for just one part of a partnership? Yes. Some clients ask only for partner sourcing or a review of an existing plan.

How do I get a quote? Tell me your goal, your audience and your timeline through the contact page, and I will reply with a proposal.

About the author: Mustafa Akindele is an independent brand partnerships consultant based in London, CIM-accredited, with twenty years of experience.