Enterprise & Innovation Manager

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About this role

Research Business and Innovation (RBI) is a dynamic, friendly department with a strong team ethos. RBI supports and develops the University's engagement with communities, business, partners and stakeholders to shape and drive future prosperity, health and wellbeing, equality and diversity, sustainability, and community development across all parts of the region and to create opportunities for all. We are agile, bold, and collaborative in our approach to delivering all of our activities. Our people are what make us successful.

We are looking for a part-time Enterprise & Innovation Manager to work on a range of existing enterprise and business support programmes, such as Launch Space, as well as managing the promotion, development, and growth of new initiatives.

Launch Space is our onsite business incubator, providing fully funded support for early-stage ventures. We work with a range of people, from recent graduates and first-time founders to experienced entrepreneurs and businesses exploring new technologies. You will work with the incubation team to bolster delivery of the programme, including taking responsibility for recruitment and onboarding activity, cohort delivery plans, and developing the onsite and online communities.  

As part of the Business Services team, you will also connect with a wide variety of companies to advise and support them to undertake appropriate initiatives such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, collaborative research, and funding opportunities.

About you

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who wants to make an impact on our region by supporting innovative start-ups to succeed. Activities will work with and support people from a range of backgrounds, who are underrepresented in the sector, to enable them to access benefits from our programmes.

You will be an excellent communicator with passionate for helping businesses to build skills, drive innovation and accelerate growth. You will have good knowledge of the tech start-up landscape in the West of England, and experience of delivering business support initiatives and enterprise activity for early-stage founders and ventures.

You will be a creative thinker with strong analytical and planning skills, able to recognise gaps in support for early-stage ventures, and opportunities for new enterprise and innovation initiatives.

This role is part-time for 22.5 hours per week with the specific working pattern to be agreed with the hiring manager.

Get in touch with us

It’s difficult to describe all aspects of team culture and a job role in one document so we strongly encourage you to get in touch for an informal chat. These conversations will not have any bearing on subsequent recruitment decisions, but we can hopefully fill in some of the blanks, share some insight and bring to life what it’s like to work in RBI and UWE Bristol.

Where is this role based?

This post is predominately based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed.

Due to the nature of the role, you will be required to work from a mix of locations on Frenchay campus, including our main RBI office and the University Enterprise Zone. (Note that at present the team has blended working arrangements, with a mix of remote and office working.)

The post holder will be required to attend events and meetings throughout the West of England region and have a willingness to travel unaccompanied to various locations in the region and beyond.

Why UWE Bristol?

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 36,000 students and 4,200 staff from right across the globe. Based in Bristol , one of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking cities, we are regionally embedded and globally connected, with an established network of employer and academic partners.

In addition to progressive pay rates, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including generous annual leave and pension schemes as well as opportunities for training and personal development.

Add your individuality to ours

UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community . We are proud to be part of a vibrant, multicultural city that celebrates diversity, we’re always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our growing community and find yourself in a stimulating and supportive environment where you’ll thrive.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Multiple Heritage or Other Minority Ethnic and (fe)male candidates as we are currently under-represented in these areas within UWE Bristol, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

As a Disability Confident employer, we welcome applications from those who identify as having a disability.

Further information

If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Aimee Skinner on 0117 32 82434 or email: [email protected]

Interviews are scheduled to take place at our Frenchay Campus w/c 29 January 2024.

This is a 24-month fixed term post and is part-time working 22.5 hours per week.  The University’s normal practice is that new appointments will be made at the starting point of the grade.

UWE Bristol is a campus-based University, and it is vital to our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus based, with the opportunity to work from home.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role under the Home Office Skilled Worker visa route. As we are unable to sponsor anyone requiring a visa for this role candidates must therefore be able to provide their own right to work in the UK.

Should you be shortlisted you will be asked to provide your right to work documents at your interview. Please refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist which provides details of which documents are acceptable.

Please note that UWE does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.

Advice to applicants

We’d love to hear from you - if you are excited about joining us at UWE, please complete our application form as soon as possible.

Tell us about how your skills and experience relate to the requirements of this role by describing how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the Job Description and include specific examples wherever possible.

Once we have completed shortlisting, we will let you know the outcome of your application by email, so please check your inbox for updates.