24 Oct
Innovate UK Business Connect
Great Britain
Job description
Description
Investment at Innovate UK Business Connect
Finance is a key enabler for innovation to flourish from initial invention to transforming markets. Significant finance for innovation is provided by the public sector, such as UKRI Innovate UK grant programmes or debt and equity programmes via the British Business Bank, however, there is a clear need for investment from the private sector.
This need is increasingly exacerbated by the scale and urgency of societal and environmental challenges the world and we all face.
The investment team at Innovate UK Business Connect exists to increase private investment in UK innovation and the Future Economy,
and to increase investor connectivity and diversity across the UK innovation ecosystem at regional, national and international level.
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion is one of Innovate UK Business Connect’s priority areas and our Diversity & Inclusion Plan sets out ambitions and goals for driving forward Diversity & Inclusion both internally and externally.
As well as enabling our staff Innovate UK Business Connect has a pivotal role to play in championing Diversity & Inclusion and its benefits across the innovation ecosystem and sector audiences we support.
In the context of investment this includes diverse founders as well as diverse investors and investor communities.
Purpose of the Role
The purpose of the role is to continue to develop and support Innovate UK Business Connect’s private investment network, and support Innovate UK Business Connect colleagues as well as colleagues across the wider IUK Group in their interactions with businesses and in leveraging investment into UK innovation.
Typically,
this will be through blending public innovation funding with private finance in areas where investment in innovation can create a positive change.
The role sits within the Innovate UK Business Connect Investment team and encompasses all aspects of building our external network of contacts, our knowledge and capability around private investment in innovation.
Focus areas of the wider investment team include regional investment and innovation ecosystems, stimulating greater diversity in founding and investing teams, prioritising investment for positive societal and environmental change and foreign investment.
This role is a key interface between investors, entrepreneurs, and Innovate UK Business Connect wide programmes with particular focus on Diversity & Inclusion.
The role works across Innovate UK Business Connect and the wider Innovate UK Group (including Innovate UK, the Catapult Network and Innovate UK Business Growth) ensuring internal capability in finance models and support to colleagues in areas where investment can create positive change.
In connecting investment to innovation this role plays a crucial role in ensuring societal prosperity and sustainability for us all and future generations to come.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Lead and be a team member who supports investment in innovation and business growth from all aspects of Diversity & Inclusion and supporting the ongoing delivery of Innovate UK Business Connect’s Work Plan and Diversity & Inclusion plan.
- Build a strong and engaged community of UK investors in Diversity & Inclusion, with a particular focus on supporting business-led innovation.
- Directly engage with diverse businesses providing support through access to investment and making new connections and collaborations to investors.
- Engage diverse investors and businesses with the UK research and innovation assets (including Catapults and Research Centres) and engage with business communities through our networks and sector development growth projects.
- Develop, maintain and monitor relationships with Innovate UK Business Connect members, members of the wider Innovate UK Group and key external stakeholders.
- Champion Diversity & Inclusion and other defined areas of importance to the UK economy such as specific themes,
or areas of emerging potential, and identify and engage relevant investor audiences.
- Deliver key business metrics agreed with line manager, and to track progress, capturing outcomes and success stories.
- Lead / manage a series of key programmes and / or events of relevance to a key UK industry sector or strategic technology.
- Act as a network facilitator within and across communities.
- Engage across Innovate UK Business Connect and Innovate UK to stimulate cross-sector collaboration, support colleagues and share knowledge with colleagues on the investment landscape.
- Undertake reporting obligations in line with Innovate UK Business Connect goals for impact measurement.
- Lead on workshops / programme delivery, with high levels of company seniority or complexity.
- Take responsibility for complex and new areas, scoping out the challenge and defining knowledge transfer activities to meet a defined outcome.
- Identify new opportunities that can support the specific project and subsequent projects.
Experience & Skills
Essential Experience
- Technical qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience relevant to the post.
- Experience in business environments that span a range of functions including R&D;, innovation, business development, growth and particularly business finance, such as angel investments, venture capital, private equity, corporate venturing, debt finance, institutional finance, project finance, investment markets, etc.
Desirable : FCA regulatory experience).
- Excellent understanding of investor requirements for companies.
- Understanding value propositions and investment drivers across a spectrum of industries and types of finance.
- Experience in stakeholder engagement.
- Leadership experience in the sector.
- Recognised as active and credible within the innovation and investment sector landscape.
- Experience in managing / leading complex projects / programmes, including budget management.
- Experience of government policies and research and innovation strategies.
Desirable Experience
Experience in Diversity & Inclusion advocacy desirable.
Skills
- Thorough understanding of the investment industry; strong personal network of senior figures in many companies and demonstrable reputation for representing business at conferences and workshops.
- Representative on key networks / committees which shape UK strategy.
- Track record in innovation and business finance, demonstrating the impact of such experience.
- Adaptability and openness to work in new emerging business niches and across other relevant business sectors.
- Results orientated and demonstrated delivery capability including for complex projects.
- Demonstrable track record of managing large, multi-scale and multiple programmes (or change programmes).
- Leadership of teams of diverse people, through projects involving innovation.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently and build effective relationships at all levels.
- Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open, honest, and diverse environment.
- Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, explaining complicated matters simply.
- High level of IT literacy.
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills.
- Ability to work well under pressure.
Benefits & how to apply
- This role has a salary of £34,215 to £40,000 pa depending on experience
- 28 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank and public holidays
- Enhanced Pension Plan
- Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Wider Wallet employee benefits high street discounts scheme
- Opportunities for continuous professional development as part of our Talent & Development Programme
This advert will close on Friday 15th November though some circumstances may require us to close earlier, so early application is advised.
First stage interviews to be held w / c 25th November.
Second stage interviews to be held w / c 2nd December.
Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.
The postholder will be home based (UK) or office based (Edinburgh, Harwell, London) with UK travel.
Applicants must have the existing and ongoing right to work in the UK without restrictions as sponsorship for visas is not provided.
Unfortunately, owing to the high number of applications received, we can only provide feedback to applicants selected for interview.
Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to [email protected].
Innovate UK Business Connect strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry : people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, women, disabled people, people of any age or family status.
We know that diversity makes us stronger and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status.
We are committed to removing barriers for individuals with conditions, illnesses or disabilities and we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, and in their future role.
If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing [email protected].
We connect ideas, people, and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.
Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research.
Innovate UK Business Connect exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking - accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.
The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.
Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.
While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector.
This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development, and innovation.
▶️ Knowledge Transfer Manager - Investor Communities - Diversity & Inclusion (FTC March 2025)
🖊️ Innovate UK Business Connect
📍 Great Britain