Business Growth & Skills Advisor
Fixed Term, 12-month contract
Full Time, 37 hours per week
£31,747 to £37,350 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style:
Closing Date: 1st April 2025
Essex County Council is a systems leader for Skills and Economic Growth, partnering with public and private sectors to position Essex as a hub of innovation, enterprise, and ambition. Through our business-facing services, we drive an inclusive, integrated approach to skills development, business support, sector growth, and inward investment across the County.
The Business Growth and Skills Advisor supports the delivery of ECC’s business growth, skill development and engagement initiatives to enable growth & retention of business and increase employment opportunities for residents. This includes a focus on strengthening local supply chains, supporting social value impacts, and increasing public sector spend within the Essex economy, enabling ECC to remain at the forefront of economic development practices, innovate and adapt to changes in the market, policy, and business landscape.
Working with the colleagues across ECC business-facing services, economic growth and procurement, the role supports implementation of tailored programs. The Advisor also supports ECC’s commitment to continuous improvement, benchmarking programme effectiveness, and ensuring services evolve in line with best practice, using data analytics, horizon scanning and project evaluations to make recommendations that enhance the quality and relevance of ECC’s economic development and skills efforts.
The Business Growth and Skills Advisor plays a vital role supporting the business facing functions by providing support focussed on business and partner engagement, business membership support, project procurement, project delivery and report writing.
Accountabilities
- Support the delivery of business growth and skills initiatives that enhance local supply chain participation and promote social value, including connecting local businesses with public sector procurement opportunities.
- Provide data-driven insights and strategic recommendations to support collaborative cross-functional working groups that enable a cohesive, data-driven approach to ECC’s economic development goals, reinforcing the role of outcomes measurement in achieving strategic objectives.
- Lead research into benchmarking and best practice to support service innovation and continuous improvement.
- Prepare detailed reports and presentations on programme performance, client feedback, and economic insights, providing data and analysis to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement across business-facing functions.
- Engage directly with Essex-based businesses to understand their capacity and readiness to supply to public and private sector projects.
- Collaborate with partner organisations, such as local authorities, educational institutions, and business intermediaries, to build a supportive network that boosts local supply chain development and social value contributions.
- Assist in the development and maintenance of a structured client engagement and business account management approach, facilitating effective communication and coordination with Essex businesses.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration between ECC, local authorities, educational institutions, and other partners to strengthen a cohesive business support network and drive local supply chain resilience.
- Assist in promoting ECC’s business-facing services through outreach activities, workshops, and events, helping to raise awareness and connect businesses with relevant support programs and procurement opportunities.
- Deliver ECC’s business account management approach and serve as a primary point of contact to build and maintain trusting relationships with businesses, industry representatives and partners, including supporting business membership of business partnerships. Visit Essex.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
· Educated to RQF level 4 in research and development, or business or growth activity or a relevant field or equivalent by experience
· Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
· Knowledge of the Essex economy and its key sectors, with an understanding of local supply chain, public sector procurement and social value.
· Strong analytical skills, with experience in data collection, performance measurement, and translating data into actionable insights to improve program effectiveness and support data-driven decision-making.
· Ability to provide robust written and verbal recommendations on proposed courses of action to leaders.
· Experience in client engagement, with a demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaboration with businesses and partners.
· Knowledge of business support programmes, economic development, and skills strategies, with a focus on helping businesses access resources, enhance productivity, and overcome growth and skills challenges.
· Project coordination skills, with the ability to manage tasks, meet timelines, and contribute to team objectives.
· Skilled in report writing and presenting findings to diverse audiences, with a focus on clarity and relevance to drive informed strategic actions.
· Analytical skills to interpret economic data, market intelligence, and client feedback, providing insights to improve program effectiveness and support data-driven decision-making.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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