Innovation and Growth - Investment Ecosystem Specialist

Handle leads, assess suitability for Innovation & Growth support, and deliver services to meet targets.
Conduct initial eligibility checks before formal assessment and action planning.
Connect clients to appropriate services and monitor their delivery to support client strategies and objectives.
Provide advice, coaching, and mentoring to help clients develop long-term innovation commercialisation plans, including access to funding, supply chain mentoring, training, and expert resources.
Conduct in-depth analysis of business performance and growth potential, prioritise issues, and provide strategic advice.
Ensure accurate monitoring and collection of output and impact data throughout the project.
Record client enquiries and partner referrals, update progress, and ensure timely and accurate administration.
Build a network of business contacts, manage innovation workshops, and facilitate networking and best practice sharing., 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. We're 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.

Extensive contacts in the technology and innovation-rich SME ecosystem, especially in the Northwest of England.
Understanding of the UK innovation support landscape.
Knowledge of budget and contract management, P&L, balance sheets, ROI, breakeven, cash-flow, and working capital.
Understanding what investors seek in companies raising finance.
Previous experience using innovation/strategic management tools in SMEs/
Exposure to international collaboration and strategic partnering.
Skills Required:

Proficient in managing sales and accounts.
Strong written and oral presentation abilities.
Networking and business development skills, which can deliver a pipeline of clients
Excellent planning, administrative, and project management skills.
Well-developed IT skills, including CRM databases and management information systems.
Good financial, analytical, reasoning, and decision-making abilities.
Ability to assess business plans, financial accounts, and potential borrowers.
Clear verbal and written communication, active listening, and networking abilities.
Senior professional experience in business growth, finance strategies, and innovation support landscape.
Travel in and out of core hours in the Northwest and occasionally the UK may be required.
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.

The Growth Company (GC) is seeking a Senior Innovation & Growth Specialist - Ecosystem to join their Innovate UK Business Growth Team delivery team.

This role involves providing in-depth, specialist business and innovation growth advice to a portfolio of ambitious business owners and senior managers of innovative businesses primarily based in the Northwest. The focus is on helping these businesses achieve growth both in the UK and internationally, particularly through new product and service development.

GC is an award-winning, accredited, social enterprise with a mission to enable growth, create jobs and improve lives. We deliver a range of services, working with customers and stakeholders to achieve our vision of a society where economic growth and prosperity are inclusive, and sustainable and leave no person or community behind., All GC colleagues will work inline with the Health & Safety at work act and the GC Health & Safety Policy.