Programme Officer - Arden Enterprise Incubator
Programme Officer - Arden Enterprise Incubator

Programme Officer - Arden Enterprise Incubator

Manchester Full-Time 30000 - 30000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
A

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support 1,500+ students in developing entrepreneurial skills and building ventures.
  • Company: Join Arden University, a multi-award-winning institution focused on innovation and digital education.
  • Benefits: 30 days holiday, pension plan, free courses, and other fantastic perks.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on aspiring entrepreneurs while growing your career in enterprise education.
  • Qualifications: Experience in start-ups or enterprise education and strong communication skills required.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional development in a fast-growing incubator.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.

Overview

Salary: £30,000 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Arden Enterprise Incubator Lead

Department: Academic Office

Hybrid working: This role operates on a hybrid working arrangement that will require 3 days travel a week into our Campuses. This may fluctuate in line with business requirements. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

Travel will be required to: Coventry head office, Birmingham campus, Leeds campus, Nottingham campus, Manchester campus, London area (Ealing, Holborn & Stratford)

About Arden University

We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education. There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.

About our Department

The Academic Office at Arden University plays an important role in supporting academic governance, quality assurance, and student success. The department oversees key processes such as programme validation and approval, policy development, regulatory compliance, and assessment management. Working closely with faculties, professional services, and external regulatory bodies, the Academic Office ensures that Arden’s academic standards align with sector benchmarks and accreditation requirements. It is also responsible for enhancing student experience by maintaining fair and transparent academic policies, supporting assessment boards, and facilitating effective learning and teaching practices.

About the Opportunity

Are you excited by start-ups, entrepreneurship and helping people achieve more than they thought possible?

Arden University is looking for an Incubator Programme Officer to join our fast-growing Arden Enterprise Incubator (AEI).

This is a hands-on role where you’ll support 1,500+ students to develop entrepreneurial skills, build ventures, and gain real-world experience. You will coach student founders and support development of their ventures, deliver workshops and events, and create digital content that brings our enterprise community to life.

It’s a chance to make a tangible difference to aspiring entrepreneurs while developing your own career in enterprise, coaching, and programme delivery.

What you’ll be doing

  • Coaching students 1:1 and in small groups on business ideas, pitching, validation and growth
  • Helping deliver AEI events, boot-camps, workshops, and our big London AEI Showcase Event
  • Creating newsletters, spotlights, blogs and digital content to celebrate student ventures
  • Supporting reporting and dashboards to track engagement and impact
  • Building strong connections with mentors, staff and external partners

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in scaling a high-profile, high impact, fast growing university incubator. You will work with inspiring student founders across multiple sectors and multiple ideas, shape events, communications and programme delivery in a fast-moving environment, and enjoy professional development and growth in enterprise education.

About You

You will need to have:

  • Experience in start-ups, enterprise education, incubators, or early-stage business support
  • A good degree in a relevant field (e.g. Business, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Marketing, Education, or similar)
  • Strong communication, empathy and organisational skills
  • Confidence using digital tools (MS365, Teams, Canva, SharePoint etc.)
  • A real enthusiasm for working with students from diverse backgrounds and helping them succeed
  • Mentoring / Facilitation experience and knowledge of the UK start-up ecosystem, or familiarity with higher education environments, is highly desirable

Why Arden

At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students journeys are the best they can possibly be, as such we want to reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:

  • 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure
  • A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
  • SimplyHealth plan option
  • Access to Perkbox benefits
  • Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
  • Plus, other excellent benefits
  • Our Golden Ticket which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education

Our Values

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness. If these reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines and locations.

Closing Date: Sunday 21st September

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date should we receive sufficient applications or in order to respond to business needs. In order to avoid missing an opportunity to apply please submit your application as early as possible.

If you are a current Arden student or have an upcoming course with us, you are not eligible to apply for Student Experience roles due to a conflict of interest related to system access.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role. If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. By doing so, you are also consenting for this information to be shared with the hiring team. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, please refer to the guidance here.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people\’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.

Sponsorship statement: Some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa under the points-based immigration system. However, we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Programme Officer - Arden Enterprise Incubator employer: Arden University

Arden University is an innovative and rapidly growing institution that prioritises accessibility and student success, making it an exceptional employer for those passionate about entrepreneurship and education. With a supportive work culture, generous benefits including 30 days of holiday, a robust pension plan, and opportunities for professional development, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact while advancing their careers. The hybrid working model allows for flexibility, and the chance to engage with diverse student founders across multiple campuses adds to the dynamic and rewarding nature of this role.
A

Contact Detail:

Arden University Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Programme Officer - Arden Enterprise Incubator

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, workshops, and meet-ups related to entrepreneurship and education. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can introduce you to someone at Arden University.

✨Tip Number 2

Show your passion for helping students succeed! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your enthusiasm for coaching and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs. Highlight any relevant experience you have in mentoring or facilitating workshops.

✨Tip Number 3

Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to the Arden Enterprise Incubator team or other departments at Arden University. Express your interest in their work and ask if they have any upcoming opportunities.

✨Tip Number 4

Utilise digital tools to your advantage! Familiarise yourself with platforms like MS365, Teams, and Canva. Show that you’re tech-savvy and ready to hit the ground running. Create a portfolio showcasing any digital content you've produced, especially if it relates to entrepreneurship or education.

We think you need these skills to ace Programme Officer - Arden Enterprise Incubator

Coaching Skills
Event Management
Digital Content Creation
Communication Skills
Empathy
Organisational Skills
Experience in Start-ups
Knowledge of UK Start-up Ecosystem
Mentoring Experience
Familiarity with Higher Education Environments
Confidence using Digital Tools (MS365, Teams, Canva, SharePoint)
Entrepreneurship
Business Support
Workshop Facilitation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and helping students shine through. We want to see how excited you are about the role and how you can contribute to our mission at Arden University.

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in start-ups, coaching, or education. We love seeing how your background aligns with what we do, so don’t be shy about showcasing your skills and achievements!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Programme Officer role. Be specific about your experiences and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. We want to know you better!

Apply Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We might close the vacancy early if we find the right candidate, so get your application in as soon as possible through our website to avoid missing out.

How to prepare for a job interview at Arden University

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you understand the role of a Programme Officer and the mission of Arden University. Familiarise yourself with their incubator initiatives, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with supporting students in entrepreneurship.

✨Show Your Passion for Start-ups

During the interview, express your enthusiasm for start-ups and enterprise education. Share specific examples of how you've helped others develop their business ideas or any relevant workshops you've led. This will demonstrate your commitment to the role.

✨Prepare Questions

Have a few thoughtful questions ready about the role and the team. Ask about the types of ventures students are currently working on or how success is measured within the incubator. This shows you're genuinely interested and engaged.

✨Highlight Your Digital Skills

Since the role involves using digital tools like MS365 and Canva, be prepared to discuss your proficiency with these platforms. Maybe even mention a project where you used these tools effectively to support students or enhance learning experiences.

Programme Officer - Arden Enterprise Incubator
Arden University

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

A
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>