Innovation and Growth Specialist
| Posting date: | 16 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £45,000 to £47,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 01 July 2025 |
| Location: | BS8 3RA |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 4 days per week |
| Company: | Business West |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Business West helps companies grow, innovate and export. Everything we do contributes to making the South West the best place to live, learn and work. We have a proven track record of connecting people, public bodies and private companies, to nurture a more productive and inclusive business landscape.
We are recruiting for an Innovation and Growth Specialist to join our team!
THE ROLE
The Innovation and Growth Specialist role supports, advises, and account manages some of the most ambitious, innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the South West of England, helping them to grow and scale.
The role contributes to the success of these high growth potential businesses by providing bespoke support that identifies and helps them overcome barriers to growth.
Innovation and Growth Specialists provide integrated support packages comprising multiple Innovate UK funded support services available within the Innovate UK Business Growth portfolio, including but not limited to Enterprise Europe Network and Horizon Europe.
ABOUT YOU / ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The role requires knowledge of the Innovation Ecosystem within the South West of England, alongside technology sectors and experience working with companies within this region.
Experience of supporting and advising SMEs and their senior management teams at various stages of the business’ life cycle is mandatory.
To be considered as an Innovation and Growth Specialist, you will need:
• Ability to identify and successfully engage with innovative, high growth potential SMEs on Innovate UK Business Growth advisory services and initiatives
• Skills to be a combination of coach, mentor, critical friend, and champion to an extremely demanding group of client companies
• Ability to manage a substantial portfolio of clients with ever evolving needs and support teams through the different stages of their Innovate UK Business Growth customer journey.
• Process-oriented mindset to comply with the administrative aspects and requirements of a public sector contract
WHAT WE OFFER
• BHSF health cash plan scheme
• Pension - employer contributions up to 8%
• Life cover (x4 salary)
• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays (rising to 28 days after 3 years’ service)
• Length of service awards
• Your birthday day off every year
• 2 paid volunteer days to use each year
• Subscription to Headspace
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Enhanced parental leave
HOW TO APPLY
Please download the full application pack which includes the job description, information about Business West and an equal opportunities form - Job Opportunities | Business West
To apply for this role please:
- upload your CV - via the relevant vacancy page on our website
- upload a covering letter describing your skills and experience, including examples by answering the questions below:
1. What is your experience in supporting and advising High Growth Innovative SMEs and their senior management teams? What business life cycle stages were the businesses that you have supported in the past?
2. Give an example of how you supported an SME in your previous role, and how you helped to facilitate and manage their businesses growth over a 12-month period.
3. What experience do you have working within a consortium lead (National or Regional) programme which follows exacting processes and included specific products and services?
- upload a completed equal opportunities form.
Close date for completed applications: Wednesday 2nd July at 12 noon
Interview Process: 1st interview on Teams/online week commencing 21st July 2025
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please email hrteam@businesswest.co.uk. If you need any help or assistance completing the application process, please let us know and we will be happy to help you.
Business West is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.
We are recruiting for an Innovation and Growth Specialist to join our team!
THE ROLE
The Innovation and Growth Specialist role supports, advises, and account manages some of the most ambitious, innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the South West of England, helping them to grow and scale.
The role contributes to the success of these high growth potential businesses by providing bespoke support that identifies and helps them overcome barriers to growth.
Innovation and Growth Specialists provide integrated support packages comprising multiple Innovate UK funded support services available within the Innovate UK Business Growth portfolio, including but not limited to Enterprise Europe Network and Horizon Europe.
ABOUT YOU / ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The role requires knowledge of the Innovation Ecosystem within the South West of England, alongside technology sectors and experience working with companies within this region.
Experience of supporting and advising SMEs and their senior management teams at various stages of the business’ life cycle is mandatory.
To be considered as an Innovation and Growth Specialist, you will need:
• Ability to identify and successfully engage with innovative, high growth potential SMEs on Innovate UK Business Growth advisory services and initiatives
• Skills to be a combination of coach, mentor, critical friend, and champion to an extremely demanding group of client companies
• Ability to manage a substantial portfolio of clients with ever evolving needs and support teams through the different stages of their Innovate UK Business Growth customer journey.
• Process-oriented mindset to comply with the administrative aspects and requirements of a public sector contract
WHAT WE OFFER
• BHSF health cash plan scheme
• Pension - employer contributions up to 8%
• Life cover (x4 salary)
• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays (rising to 28 days after 3 years’ service)
• Length of service awards
• Your birthday day off every year
• 2 paid volunteer days to use each year
• Subscription to Headspace
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Enhanced parental leave
HOW TO APPLY
Please download the full application pack which includes the job description, information about Business West and an equal opportunities form - Job Opportunities | Business West
To apply for this role please:
- upload your CV - via the relevant vacancy page on our website
- upload a covering letter describing your skills and experience, including examples by answering the questions below:
1. What is your experience in supporting and advising High Growth Innovative SMEs and their senior management teams? What business life cycle stages were the businesses that you have supported in the past?
2. Give an example of how you supported an SME in your previous role, and how you helped to facilitate and manage their businesses growth over a 12-month period.
3. What experience do you have working within a consortium lead (National or Regional) programme which follows exacting processes and included specific products and services?
- upload a completed equal opportunities form.
Close date for completed applications: Wednesday 2nd July at 12 noon
Interview Process: 1st interview on Teams/online week commencing 21st July 2025
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please email hrteam@businesswest.co.uk. If you need any help or assistance completing the application process, please let us know and we will be happy to help you.
Business West is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.