Description
Working alongside the GLA, London and Partners has created the Grow London Local service, a “Single Front Door” which acts as a gateway to the business support ecosystem, thus simplifying how London businesses currently navigate and access business support information, advice, and guidance.
Purpose of role
You will connect micro and small businesses with service providers and will remain on-hand throughout the journey to ensure the business is receiving the support it needs.
This is a target-driven role and monthly objectives will be key to the role.
This role has 5 distinct elements to it:
1. To identify opportunities for us to engage with small businesses - particularly those that are hardest to reach and know they need business support but are not accessing any – and attend events / carry out activities to promote the service to those small businesses.
2. To build relationships with community groups, local authorities and other agencies.
3. To meet with small and micro business owners to understand the problems their business faces and to connect them to an appropriate, approved service provider.
4. To identify and engage with service providers, ensuring you understand the business support ecosystem and the various business support programmes.
5. To track and monitor the progress and user satisfaction of the business, ensuring all findings are recorded, shared with the team, and used for continuous service improvement.
The distinct elements will enable small businesses to access the support they need to determine and achieve the best outcome for their business.
Key Tasks
* Engage and support local businesses who could benefit from accessing relevant, accurate and expert business support services.
* Function as a key contact and support for any business who submit an enquiry to the Grow London Local service.
* Provide a diagnostic assessment and refer them to the most relevant business expert or provider(s) available either within or outside their local area.
* Monitor the progress of each business to ensure that they are actively progressing and that their interaction and experience of the service is always positive.
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT:
* Identify, establish, and develop new relationships with community groups, event organisers, and service providers.
* Make relevant referrals to service providers, ensuring referrals are fairly allocated, without bias or prejudice.
* Conduct needs analysis and diagnostic assessments to identify each business’s personal barriers to accessing support.
* Contribute to local outreach, marketing, and promotional activities including attending or assisting in the organising of workshops, roundtables, exhibitions, PR opportunities etc.
* Provide ongoing information and guidance helping each SME to access a range of services that will enhance and improve their outcomes.
* Work collaboratively with the other Business Support Managers, sharing best practices, knowledge, and contacts. Effectively utilise each other’s skills to address any business support requirements.
* Promoting the service and representing the team at meetings, events and other public facing opportunities.
* Maintain relationships with the relevant local authorities providing regular updates on the uptake of the service.
SERVICE OWNERSHIP
* Take an active role in developing and monitoring the service offered.
* Conduct research on good practice in the field of business support services.
* Undertake training, identified through supervision and annual appraisal process; and implement knowledge and skills acquired to enhance the service.
MONITORING & PERFORMANCE
* Issue businesses with a feedback survey, ensuring completion at the required stages of the process.
* Aim to engage with and support an allocated number of businesses per month and provide them with required training and support.
* Maintaining/entering accurate/required data into the agreed reporting systems.
* Capture outcomes of the customer journey as part of the SME account management.
GDPR & RECORD KEEPING
* Ensure that a high level of confidentiality is always maintained and that both service provision and record storage comply with the latest data protection regulations.
* Maintain complete, accurate and up to date client records as appropriate, including entries into nominated management information and client management systems.
You’ll have/bring
Essential:
* Excellent communication and people skills.
* The ability and willingness to show empathy, kindness and understanding – dealing with each case on a unique and individual basis.
* Experience of working with small businesses, going beyond where required to achieve a positive outcome for the business.
* Experience working in a target driven and/ or sales environment.
Preferred:
* A good understanding of the London business ecosystem and a solid understanding of underserved communities.
* Ability to speak multiple languages.
You’ll Get
* To join a fast paced, flexible and inclusive social enterprise
* Hybrid working environment
* 30 days’ holiday in addition to UK public holidays
* Excellent employer pension contribution and private medical health insurance
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date. This is to ensure our teams can manage application levels while maintaining a positive candidate experience. Once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
London's diversity is its biggest asset. At London & Partners, we aim to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity of the city that we promote. We encourage applications from people of any age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or assignment, faith or disability. We also appreciate that many people require flexibility in their working patterns and encourage you to talk to us at interview about any flexibility you may need, be it full-time, job-share, or part-time.
We encourage applications from all sections of the community.
London & Partners is the business growth and destination agency for London – it is our mission to create economic growth that is resilient, sustainable and inclusive.
Our work shines a global spotlight on London; we support the Mayor of London's priorities by promoting London internationally as a leading world city.