Retained access to experienced business expertise.
CATO Advisory Desk gives organisations priority access to expert calls, specialist input, quick reviews, executive briefings, advisor matching, and selected learning support through a retained advisory model.
For organisations that regularly face decisions, projects, risks, and capability gaps, CATO Advisory Desk provides a structured way to keep experienced expertise close.
An external advisory bench for your leadership team.
Advisory Desk gives your organisation retained access to CATO's practitioner network and advisory support. It is designed for leaders who want trusted expertise available before issues become larger projects.
CATO is an expert-led advisory and execution platform that connects organisations with proven practitioners for advisory, expert access, executive education, specialist delivery, and retained advisory support. Advisory Desk is the retained model within that platform.
Where Advisory Desk sits.
Advisory Desk fills the gap between one-off projects and permanent hires. Ongoing access to expertise, without the cost or commitment of either.
A one-off consulting project
Deep help for a defined problem - then the engagement ends.
CATO Advisory Desk
Retained access to expertise for the decisions, questions, and reviews that arise between projects - with a priority pathway into deeper work when needed.
A full-time senior hire
Permanent capability - at permanent cost and commitment.
What Advisory Desk includes.
Priority expert matching
Expert calls
Quick document or decision reviews
Specialist input
Executive briefings
Quarterly advisory sessions
Selected CATO Academy access
Priority pathway into Advisory & Delivery
Optional workshop access
Advisory Desk access levels.
Advisory Desk is offered at three levels of access. The right model — and its cost — is discussed based on the scope, users, and support you need.
Essential
Best for: SMEs / founders
Light retained access to expertise.
Executive
Best for: leadership teams
Regular advisory access for ongoing decisions.
Enterprise
Best for: larger organisations
Multi-user access, briefings, and specialist support.
Who Advisory Desk is for.
How Advisory Desk works.
Example ways organisations use Advisory Desk.
A board needs specialist perspective before a decision.
A CEO wants an external sounding board.
A project sponsor needs quick expert input.
An HR leader needs specialist workforce advice.
A regulated firm needs risk or governance input.
An executive team wants quarterly market briefings.
A company needs flexible access to multiple specialists.
The right expertise is selected for the problem.
CATO does not operate as a public consultant directory. Expertise is selected for the problem - based on issue, sector, engagement type, required experience, availability, and fit.
CATO works through a curated network of experienced practitioners. We assess the client's issue, identify suitable expertise, and structure the engagement. If the proposed advisor is not the right fit, CATO can identify another suitable practitioner from the network.
Why leaders choose CATO Advisory Desk.
Advisory Desk — common questions.
What is CATO Advisory Desk?
CATO Advisory Desk is a retained advisory model that gives organisations priority access to experienced practitioners — expert calls, specialist input, quick reviews, executive briefings, advisor matching, and selected learning support. It is an external advisory bench for your leadership team.
What is retained advisory?
Retained advisory means keeping experienced expertise available on an ongoing basis, rather than starting a new consulting project or hiring full-time each time an issue arises. With Advisory Desk, leaders can draw on specialist input before decisions, projects, and risks become more costly.
How is Advisory Desk different from consulting?
A consulting engagement is scoped for a defined project and then ends. Advisory Desk is a continuous relationship — retained access to expertise for the smaller decisions, questions, and reviews that arise between projects — with a priority pathway into CATO Advisory & Delivery when something needs deeper work.
Is Advisory Desk suitable for SMEs?
Yes. Advisory Desk is designed for growing SMEs, boards, and leadership teams that want trusted expertise available without the cost of a full-time senior hire or a new project each time — as well as regulated and project-heavy organisations.
What is included in Advisory Desk?
Advisory Desk can include priority expert matching, expert calls, quick document or decision reviews, specialist input, executive briefings, quarterly advisory sessions, selected CATO Academy access, a priority pathway into Advisory & Delivery, and optional workshop access.
How does Advisory Desk pricing work?
Advisory Desk is offered at three levels — Essential, Executive, and Enterprise. Each model is tailored, so the right level and its cost are discussed based on the scope, users, and support your organisation needs.
Keep specialist expertise close to your organisation.
CATO Advisory Desk gives leaders retained access to experienced practitioners before decisions, projects, and risks become more costly.