Job Description
Business Information Officer
Operating in all Sheffield’s local high streets, in district and local centres the proposal funded 6 Business Information Officers to work on the high streets supporting local independent retail and hospitality businesses in Sheffield’s 40 local high streets and 15 shopping areas/precincts.
The team has retail, hospitality or a financial background and have experience of working in retail and/or hospitality sector previously.
Each Business information officer is given their own “patch” and their role to build rapport and go from door to door to offer support to businesses covering what we know are the key issues for independent businesses including the following key activities –
1. Help businesses to understand their energy bills, new deals.
2. Help businesses to understand new lease agreements.
3. Focus on viability, survival and recovery, cash flow, e-commerce and customer engagement and social media support to encourage new football and customers.
4. Growth support for businesses looking to expand into the city centre and other local high streets.
5. Build rapport and develop trust, help businesses solve their individual issues and high street problems so will act as an advocate with other Council services including Planning, Parking, Licensing, Business Rates, Waste and Environmental Health and the Local Area Committees
6. Work with faith leaders, local community organisations.
7. Act as a live pulse and barometer of the high street, a key resource when determining the Council’s key messages to businesses including provision of recorded workshops aimed at independent high street businesses.
8. Use of specialist knowledge and skills across the high streets when required.
9. It is an essential requirement to complete data input on all drops in and 1-2-1 meetings as part of the funding requirement and to highlight the value of the role and the business support service.
10. 275 per day, 12 days per month
We are looking for consultants with specialist knowledge in any of the following areas –
11. Retail
12. Hospitality
13. Finance/cashflow forecasting
14. A good understanding of the business regulations required for high street independents is highly desirable.
The role of the Business Information Officer is a self-employed position for a period of 12 months starting from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.