How to work with Way

At Way, we try keep the “how to hire us” as simple and human as the work itself. Tell us what outcome you need; we’ll map the quickest, cleanest way to get there; whether that’s a direct contract with us or a compliant public-sector route like Bloom. More frameworks are on the way, and we’ll always advise the path that fits your rules, timelines and budget.

You’ll get excellent delivery, plain English and visible progress from day one. No conveyor-belt process, no mystery. Just clear scope, calm rhythms and decisions that stick.

If you already have a preferred buying route, we’ll align. If you don’t, we can guide you. Whichever path you choose, the experience is the same: thoughtful people, practical tools, and work that lands.

Route 1: Direct award (contract with Way)

Best for: private sector, charities, social enterprises — or public teams with authority to buy direct.

How is works (simple):

Discovery chat → outcomes, scope, timelines.
Proposal + SOW → deliverables, plan, commercials (fixed price, T&M with cap, or phased).
Contract + kick-off → we start

Route 2: Bloom (public sector)

Best for: central government, NHS/ALBs, ICS/ICBs, local government, regulators.

How it works (simple):

You share the outcome you need.
Bloom issues a brief; we respond.
You award; we start.

Approvals, milestones and payments run through Bloom’s portal. We can support you and Bloom to shape an outcomes-based brief, then respond via the Bloom ITT like any other supplier.

Coming soon

Route 3: Other frameworks

We’re adding more compliant routes. As each goes live we’ll list who can use it and how to buy.

If you have a preferred route already, tell us and we’ll align.

What you get (whichever route)

Clear Scope

We frame the work around outcomes, not busywork. Everyone knows what good looks like and how we’ll measure it.

Visible, calm delivery

Simple routines, regular check-ins, and straight-up reporting. Risks and decisions are surfaced early and owned.

Human + systems

We bring people with us and design operating models that actually work. Engagement that sticks; ways of working that last.

Capability transfer

We leave you stronger. Tools, habits and confidence stay with your team so you rely on us less, not more.

What else do you need to know

Pricing options that suit the work
- Fixed price for well-defined deliverables with a clear acceptance test - this is our favourite
- Time and materials with a cap for adaptive pieces. We'll keep a live burn chart so you can see pace vs budget.
- Phased approach. Stop/go at each gate so you only commit when value is proven.

Open, plain-English commercials
- Clear scope, assumptions, and what’s out of scope. Simple change control if things shift.
- Day rates and role mixes listed up front. No surprise add-ons.
- Expenses are typically built into the price. If not, we agree the basis before we start.

Invoicing
- Bloom: you approve milestones or timesheets in the portal; Bloom self-bills and pays us.
- Direct: we invoice to the agreed schedule (e.g., milestones or monthly). VAT shown clearly.

Fair risk sharing
- Caps and limits agreed in writing. Sensible liability and IP terms so both sides are protected.

Bloom route
- Week 0–1: you share the outcome needed. Bloom helps shapes the brief.
- Week 1–2: ITT issued in the portal. We respond. You evaluate and award.
- Week 2–3: kickoff and delivery start.
Note - urgent pieces can move faster. Timings depend on internal approvals and access to people and data.

Direct route
- Days 1–3: discovery call and short brief.
- Days 3–5: proposal and statement of work refined together.
- Days 5–10: contract signed, kickoff, delivery starts.
Note - This can move quicker or slower depending on legal reviews etc. We’ll keep the critical path visible and unblock quickly.

Insurance & standards — Professional Indemnity and Public Liability in place; evidence on request. Associates held to the same bar.

Data protection & security — GDPR-aligned controls (MFA, access, encryption where appropriate), data sharing/processing terms, secure transfer and tidy data-closure at project end.

Ethics, inclusion & sustainability — Ethical Business and Modern Slavery controls; accessible, inclusive delivery as standard; practical sustainability with Net Zero intent and transparent reporting.

Health, safety & continuity — Risk assessment for workshops and travel, lone-working protocols when relevant, version control/backups, and trusted associate cover if needed.

Governance & transparency — Clear roles and decision rights, straightforward reporting, recorded conflicts of interest, no conveyor-belt process.