Ad Hoc Data Protection Consultancy
Not every data protection question justifies a retainer, and not every organisation needs an outsourced DPO. Some situations require a senior practitioner for a defined period of time: a second opinion on a difficult decision, expert input on a project, support through a regulatory contact, or capacity when your in-house team is stretched.
Clark & Company provides ad hoc consultancy on a day rate or half-day rate, with no ongoing commitment. You get direct access to a senior practitioner with sector depth in education and the public sector, for as long as you need it and no longer.
Engagements are typically booked within a few working days and can often be arranged at shorter notice where the situation requires it.
Pricing
| Service | Published Price |
|---|---|
| Ad hoc consultancy, full day | £1,200 + VAT |
| Ad hoc consultancy, half day | £700 + VAT |
When ad hoc consultancy is the right fit
The following are among the most common reasons organisations engage Clark & Company on an ad hoc basis.
A second opinion on a difficult decision. Your DPO or IG lead has reached a position but wants senior, independent validation before the organisation acts on it. Common in areas with regulatory grey, reputational risk, or significant consequence.
Expert input on a specific project. A new system, a new processing activity, a restructure, a partnership with a third party. You need data protection expertise at the table for a defined phase, not indefinitely.
Support through a regulatory contact. You have received correspondence from the ICO, a complaint from a data subject, or a reprimand decision, and your team needs experienced support in drafting the response.
Capacity when your team is stretched. Your in-house team is carrying a temporary overload, a vacancy, or a period of absence. You need someone who can step in and operate at the right level without a long onboarding.
Board or committee briefing. Your governing body, audit committee, or senior leadership team needs a data protection briefing on a specific issue, and your team needs support preparing or delivering it.
Incident support. A personal data breach has occurred or is suspected and your team needs senior support through the assessment, containment, notification decision, and ICO correspondence.
What is Included
Every ad hoc engagement with Clark & Company includes the following as standard.
Named senior practitioner. You work directly with a senior practitioner with direct experience in UK higher education, further education, schools, and the public sector. There is no allocation to a junior team member.
Scoping conversation. Every engagement begins with a short conversation to confirm what you need, what a good outcome looks like, and whether the time estimate is realistic. There is no charge for the scoping conversation.
Direct availability. On the day of engagement, you have direct access to the practitioner by email, phone, or video call as needed. There is no ticket queue or intermediary.
Written output where appropriate. Where the engagement produces a deliverable, whether an advice note, a briefing paper, a draft response, or a review, it is provided in writing and documented to a standard you can rely on.
Follow-up. A brief follow-up after the engagement to confirm that the matter is resolved, that no further support is required, and that any outstanding actions are captured.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you start?
Most engagements are booked within a few working days. Where the matter is urgent, we can often arrange shorter notice availability. The scoping conversation is the fastest way to confirm.
What is covered in a day?
That depends on the complexity and scope. A day is typically sufficient for a single focused matter: a DPIA review, a regulatory response, a Board briefing, or a defined advisory task. The scoping conversation confirms whether a full day or half day is the right fit.
Can we book multiple days?
Yes. Some organisations book a block of days across a period for a defined piece of work. Where the engagement becomes recurring, we will usually recommend a retainer or outsourced DPO arrangement instead, and we will tell you when that line has been reached.
Is the half day a fixed morning or afternoon?
No. A half day is a flexible allocation of time, typically up to four hours within a single working day. It is scheduled around the matter at hand, not a fixed clock.
What if we need ongoing support rather than a one-off?
If the need is ongoing, ad hoc consultancy is not the most cost-effective model. We will tell you when a retainer or outsourced DPO engagement would serve you better, and we will help you work out which arrangement fits.