Interim Support

What is an interim support agreement?

An interim support agreement is basically your backup plan for when a developer leaves unexpectedly or finding the right hire is taking way longer than expected. It gives you access to skilled technical experts who can serve as an interim bridge to keep your projects on track and your business functioning with the resource it needs even when the unexpected happens.

Characteristics of interim support agreements

As with any agreement between you and your supplier of choice, the terms of an interim support arrangement will vary depending on your particular needs. Some agreements are short term, others longer term. Some may only cover specific services, whilst others offer broad technical support. However, there are several characteristics you can typically expect to see in most agreements:

Characteristic	Description
A Specific Timeframe	Interim retainers usually define a specific timeframe within the agreement. This could be for “x number of weeks” or “until a specific project is finished.” Many development companies build in flexibility upfront to account for unforeseen circumstances or delays.
Guaranteed Availability	Interim agreements generally guarantee access to resources for a specified number of hours, days or weeks per month. You secure this access through upfront payment or a deposit, which allows the development team to block the time exclusively for your projects.
Upfront Payment	Most interim agreements require payment in advance to secure guaranteed access to the resources you need. For short term agreements, full payment upfront may be requested. For longer or more flexible arrangements, an initial deposit followed by ongoing monthly payments is often used, especially if the arrangement lasts until a replacement full time employee is found.

Why might I consider an interim support agreement?

The software development market is an extremely competitive one and UK based developers are always in high demand. Needless to say, in such a competitive industry and as a result, developers may move around a lot leaving critical skills gaps in their wake. When this happens, you may find yourself with:

A recruitment gap

If your organisation has had a developer leave the business unexpectedly, this might of led to the risk of your projects not being delivered on time or to the quality expected. In order to ensure your projects are delivered as originally intended, you might choose to consider an interim support agreement for business continuity.

A specific project that requires additional skills

Sometimes you might take on a project that needs skills your team doesn’t currently have. Rather than turning it down, you can bring in outside experts with the right experience for the duration of the project, ensuring it’s delivered on time and to the standard you expect. You can learn more about the technologies we work with and the skills we could offer to your business here.

Projects that require additional resource

In contrast to the last point, sometimes you may have the right skills in house but sill not enough capacity to deliver a project on time. In these cases, an interim support agreement can bring in external developers who act as an extension of your team, helping you meet deadlines and maintain quality.

Final thoughts

At Cool Code Company, we can become a part of your existing IT team, offer expert consultancy or fill any resource gaps you're facing from a developer perspective. This ensures your operations can continue even when you're facing the unexpected.

Based in Nottingham, our team is available for on-site visits in the local area and can travel further afield as necessary.

Our UK based full-stack developers bring over 30 years of experience across all areas of software development with hands on expertise in a diverse range of technologies. If you need additional support, no matter the reason, reach out to us today - we’d be happy to become part of your team!