The Growth Company (GC) is an award-winning Social Enterprise with a mission to enable growth, create jobs and improve lives. As a commercially driven not-for-profit, any surplus we make is reinvested into our services supporting growth that has real impact. We are looking to recruit two experienced Business Advisors, who will support different projects/programme opportunities as they arise. You w...
The Growth Company (GC) is an award-winning Social Enterprise with a mission to enable growth, create jobs and improve lives. As a commercially driven not-for-profit, any surplus we make is reinvested into our services supporting growth that has real impact. We are looking to recruit two experienced Business Advisors, who will support different projects/programme opportunities as they arise. You will deliver high quality specialist business growth advice to a portfolio of ambitious business owners and senior managers in Lancashire that are aiming to achieve growth. The role will assess the growth potential of eligible businesses, diagnose any barriers to innovation or advancement which may be holding back growth, and agree suitable growth strategy/action plans to address these and release growth opportunities. They will ensure this is delivered against operational plans and milestones. The role will directly be supporting the ambition set out by Lancashire County and District Councils. In this role you will have a responsibility is to ensure that the Growth Catalyst service is delivered to produce the maximum impact in terms of assisting the client company to reach their full growth potential, and delivery of outputs and outcomes in terms of improved performance, GVA growth, new jobs created, and jobs safeguarded. The role will also manage the services relationship with nominated District Councils. The Business Growth Advisor Growth Specialist will manage a portfolio of approximately 50 clients on an annual basis. They will work with customer groups and strategic partners. Blackburn and Preston Key Responsibilities: Handling client enquiries via phone and email, initially assessing the growth potential and business needs using appropriate tools, processes and systems where required and establishing and maintaining effective relationships and key client contacts. Ensure that potential clients comply with the project eligibility/suitability criteria. Making sure clients are personally introduced to those services identified as appropriate (internal and external) and monitor that the delivery of these services. Ensure that the monitoring and collection of output and impacts data is undertaken throughout the project and at the conclusion of each individual project in-line with funders requirements. Ensure client enquiries and partner referrals are correctly recorded on GCs, and or LCCs CRM and associated service specific data capturing systems, ensuring all administration is completed in timely manner. Work with and account manage the relevant businesses closely to monitor any outputs including new jobs created/safeguarded, any GVA increase and other service specific outputs and outcomes that result from activities undertaken. Undertake detailed diagnostics on a business or a detailed diagnostic on a particular functional or business area using various tools and methods to capture baseline data from clients and identify needs. Undertake detailed discussions with clients around complex business issues to understand their business challenges, to deliver bespoke growth support. Develop and maintain a high-level network of business/professional contacts that generate personal referrals. About You: Team player, but also a self-starter. Proven critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ability to identify opportunities and to be innovative. Sales and account management skills. Presentation skills, both written and oral. Excellent communication and networking skills. Skills and experience required: At least degree level business education, or degree level qualification with a management body or the relevant business experience to match these. Excellent planning, organisational, administrative, and project management skills. Well-developed IT skills, including an understanding of computerised management information systems, spreadsheets, diary management, email, and CRM databases. Proven track record in managing the range of business issues associated with periods of business growth. Understanding and experience in using project management techniques. Has technical knowledge in the key areas of strategy, growth enabling, sales & marketing, resources & operations, and financial planning. Knowledge and understanding of the key national, sub-regional, and local organisations and their role in supporting economic development and specifically business growth is desirable. This post will be initially funded under the UKSPF 22-2025 programme. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, we provide a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential requirements for a role. This commitment applies to candidates who have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community. As part of our application process, you can ask to be considered under this scheme if you are from an ethnic community or have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. Providing that you meet the essential criteria for the role, you will then be invited for an interview. Your guaranteed interview application will only be shared with the Hiring Manager and our Internal Recruitment Team. We are a member of the national campaign Ban the Box; this campaign aims to open opportunities for people with convictions to compete for jobs. Were supporting the campaign by removing conviction questions at the applications stage. GC aims to promote a culture of flexibility and agile working. Going forward we will be transitioning to a culture where full agile working will be a feature of many of our roles. We also recognise that there may be a need for more permanent flexibility in your working arrangements and in such cases, we encourage you to have these discussions at the interview stage, to enable your flexible working request to be considered as early as possible. JBRP1_UKTJ
