Scaleup PartnerCandidate Pack

About UsThe North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and RTC North are working together to help deliver a key component of the North East Strategic Economic Plan.

As the delivery organisation for the Scaleup North East project, RTC North want to recruit the A team to unlock the potential of the North East’s most progressive businesses.

Scaleup Partners will be the change agents of the region- if you are a dynamic person who gets a kick from working with dynamic businesses to unleash their true potential, you should apply for this role. You will be part of a team that will achieve extraordinary things, with countless opportunities to learn new skills and have loads of fun along the way.

We also need a Programme Director, to hold everything together and who has the skills and commitment to manage a £7million programme. Please get in touch if you think you are that person.

Job DescriptionPosition: Scaleup Partner, Scaleup North East

Reports to: Programme Director, Scaleup North East

Salary: £40 – 50K

1. Job Purpose The postholder will be required to identify and manage a portfolio of clients and to work in close partnership with these clients to help them identify and overcome the barriers to scaleup and to meet their growth aspirations.

2. Specific Responsibilities (performance targets will be set for each)

Lead Generation and Client Management• To work with the RTC marketing team, with the North East LEP and with other

stakeholders in the region to help market the programme to SMEs and key stakeholders in the North East LEP area, through events, PR, social media, etc.

• To work in partnership with the North East LEP to source and analyse SME data in order to generate a target list of both existing and “high potential” scaleup businesses

• To work with the RTC marketing team, the North East LEP and with other stakeholders in the region to generate SME prospects for participation in the programme, through direct contact with “high potential” scaleup businesses, through marketing campaigns and through the mobilisation of a network of referral partners

• To build and maintain a strong network of stakeholders based both in the in the North East and nationally and, in particular, with organisations or individuals who can act as referral partners and/or provide a range of scaleup solutions to client companies

• To work with clients to understand their growth aspirations and their attitudes towards risk and to identify barriers which may impede them in starting their scaleup journey or their ability to continue to scale

• To provide mentoring and coaching to business leaders and their teams to help them frame their growth plans and to understand and overcome potential barriers to growth

• To work with clients to develop a focused, costed and time bound Action Plan, designed to address the key barriers to scaleup

• To work with clients to identify the most appropriate organisations, programmes, people, resources and technologies which are able to support the implementation of the Action Plan

• Where appropriate, to support clients in applying for either a revenue and/or capital grant to part fund implementation activities, working with the RTC Grant Manager to apply for and process grant awards

• To maintain a long-term relationship with clients in order to both track their growth over time, as well as to provide additional services where appropriate.

Information Management• To screen prospective clients to ensure that they are eligible and suitable to

participate in the programme

• To set up client details on the RTC Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and to ensure that all subsequent client engagement activities are recorded on the CRM in a timely fashion

Reporting• To provide prospect and client data on a regular basis to assist the Programme

Director in reporting to RTC’s internal Executive Team, the Scaleup Advisory Board and the North East LEP on programme performance

3. Skills and Experience Required

3.1 Core skills• Proven ability to meet demanding targets without compromising quality

• Well-developed client and relationship management skills, with demonstrable ability to build credibility and empathy and to identify client needs

• A willingness to take the initiative and to apply sound decision making

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• First class interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and leverage networks

• Capable of working under pressure

• Flexible and adaptable in coping with changing priorities

• Proven analytical and problem-solving capabilities

3.2 Specialist skills• Familiarity with the North East business landscape and its economic challenges

• Strong domain knowledge in at least one of the North East’s Smart Specialisation sectors (Advanced Manufacturing, Health & Life Sciences, Subsea, Offshore and Energy Technologies, Creative, Digital, IT and Software)

• Knowledge of business support networks and offerings within the North East

• A high level of commercial and financial literacy, with deep expertise in a number of the following areas: business strategy, finance, business systems, management & leadership development, new product/service development, manufacturing, quality management, supply chain development, sales & marketing, internationalisation, IT & digital.

3.3 Experience• Likely to be a graduate, ideally with a post-graduate business qualification

• A successful business leader and/or entrepreneur with at least 10 years’ experience of working across a range of sectors and disciplines

• First-hand experience of the key challenges facing scaleup and potential scaleup businesses, ideally gained within a mix of both SMEs and larger organisations; experience of leading or working for a business which is scaling would be particularly beneficial

• A strong personal business network within the North East

• Experience of working with the public sector is desirable but not essential

This is a full time, permanent post and may include other duties not specified above as stipulated by the Programme Director. Employment on a part time basis would also be considered.

Apply nowScot McHarg T: 0191 232 1222 M: 07711 111 278 E: scotmcharg@nrgplc.com