At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the development of new ventures and turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions.
- Company: Join E.ON Next, a leader in sustainable energy with a people-first culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and outstanding benefits including 26 days annual leave.
- Other info: Award-winning workplace with excellent growth opportunities and a commitment to inclusivity.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission to create a zero carbon future while gaining hands-on business experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial projects and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are looking for commercially-driven, agile-minded individuals to join us on our mission to create a zero carbon, zero bill, zero friction future for our customers. Our internal venture studio is where we turn groundbreaking ideas into reality, shaping a sustainable energy future.
We are seeking a Venture Associate who wants to learn how to build businesses from the ground up, translating ideas into real world solutions to help real world people by designing practical solutions and acting as the connection between multi-functional workstreams to accelerate progress and mitigate risks. This role is focused on supporting the development of new ventures. Working closely with our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiRs), you'll contribute to validating ideas, building solutions and scaling new ventures, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to turn innovative ideas into practical outcomes for our customers.
Here’s a taste of what you’ll be doing:
- Customer Discovery & Validation: Support market and customer research, conduct customer interviews, and synthesise feedback to identify real pain points and validate early-stage business hypotheses.
- Venture Execution: Design and run rapid growth experiments, test landing pages, and analyse performance data to help the venture pivot or persevere. You will focus on how we can optimise efficiency today to create scalable frameworks for tomorrow.
- Venture Operations & Hygiene: Take ownership of the startup's operational pulse. This includes keeping project management tools (like Jira, Asana, or Confluence) tidy, and ensuring tasks, risks, and milestones are accurately logged and tracked.
- Financial & Budget Tracking: Assist in monitoring the venture's financial runway, managing budgets, and keeping spend organised so the venture operates lean and efficiently.
- Commercial Strategy: Support the EiR in building financial models, defining go-to-market strategies, and mapping out the Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
- Investment Readiness: Assist the EIR in gathering data, shaping the business case, and organising documentation ahead of crucial investment committee pitches.
- Operational Agility: Act as the commercial co-pilot to the EiR, navigating the corporate landscape to unblock the team and keep the venture moving at startup speed.
Are we the perfect match?
- Commercial Foundation: Experience supporting commercial, strategy, consulting, innovation or business transformation projects, or equivalent transferable experience.
- Exceptional Communication: You have strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and accessible way to team members, stakeholders and customers.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: You can dissect a business model, interpret market data, and turn complex information into actionable insights.
- Experience with lean startup methodologies: You understand that plans change quickly in a venture. You are comfortable with ambiguity, testing assumptions, and failing fast to learn quicker.
- A self-starter: You have a bias for action and a relentless focus on keeping the team moving forward, and an ability to learn quickly on the go.
It would be great if you had:
- Experience in the energy sector or navigating the processes of a large corporate environment.
- Supported an EIR, founder, or project team in an incubator, accelerator, or early-stage startup.
- A track record of launching a side hustle, entrepreneurial project, or taking a new product to market.
- Proficiency in presentation and communication tools (e.g., PowerPoint and Outlook), alongside PMO and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Asana, Monday.com, or SAP).
We encourage you to apply if you have a passion for building disruptive solutions and shaping the future of innovation!
Here’s what else you need to know:
- Role may close earlier due to high applications. Please note that a cover letter is required as part of your application.
- Fixed term contract length - 12 months.
- Competitive salary.
- Location – London, Solihull or Nottingham with travel to our other sites when required.
- Excellent parental leave allowance.
- Award-Winning Workplace - We’re proud to be named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2025 and the Best Place to Work for 16–34-year-olds.
- Outstanding Benefits - Enjoy 26 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, a generous pension, life cover, bonus opportunities and access to 20 flexible benefits with tax/NI savings.
- Flexible & Family-Friendly - Our industry-leading hybrid and family-friendly policies earned us double recognition at the Personnel Today Awards 2024.
- Inclusive & Diverse - We’re the only energy company in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers.
- Support at Every Stage of Life - We’re Fertility Friendly and Menopause Friendly accredited, with inclusive support for everyone.
- Accessible & Supportive - Do you consider yourself as having a disability? As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role.
- Invested in Your Growth - From inclusive talent networks to top-tier development programmes, we’ll support your growth every step of the way.
For all successful candidates, due to the nature of this role your employment will be subject to a basic DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check being carried out by ourselves via a 3rd party service provider.
Any questions on the role - please reach out to Eonnext.recruitment@eonnext.com.
At E.ON Next, our customers are our number 1 priority! All Nexties - including our executive team - regularly directly support customers so we stay close to their needs and make better decisions that deliver the best experience.
Venture Associate in Solihull employer: E.ON Next Energy
E.ON Next is an exceptional employer that prioritises innovation and sustainability, making it an ideal place for a Venture Associate to thrive. With a strong commitment to employee growth, flexible working arrangements, and a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, you will be supported every step of the way in your journey to create impactful solutions. Located in vibrant cities like London, Solihull, and Nottingham, E.ON Next offers a dynamic work environment where your contributions directly shape a zero carbon future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Venture Associate in Solihull
✨Get Involved in Startup Events
Dive into the local startup scene! Attend pitch nights, hackathons, and networking events. It's a great way to meet founders and like-minded folks. Plus, you never know who might put in a good word for you at a startup like E.ON Next Energy!
✨Show Off Your Creativity
Startups love unique ideas! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your past projects, especially those relevant to startups. This personal touch can really make you stand out when you're applying for that full-time gig at E.ON Next Energy.
✨Leverage Startup Communities Online
Get active on platforms such as Indie Hackers, Startup Grind, or even LinkedIn groups focused on startups. Participating in discussions can increase your visibility and open up potential job leads, especially at buzzing companies like E.ON Next Energy.
✨Direct Applications are Your Best Bet
Don't shy away from applying directly through our website. Startups often check their own portals first before other job sites. Tailor your application to show how you can add value to E.ON Next Energy — a personal touch goes a long way!
We think you need these skills to ace Venture Associate in Solihull
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Entrepreneurial Spirit:When applying for a role in startups and entrepreneurship, it's crucial to highlight any experience you have with starting your own projects or businesses. We love seeing examples of your initiative, so sprinkle in stories of how you’ve taken risks or solved problems creatively—this is what makes you stand out!
Tailor Your CV for Impact:In the startup world, your CV should reflect not just your experience, but the impact you've made. Use quantifiable achievements to show your contributions, like percentage increases in growth or revenue. Remember, we’re looking for go-getters who know how to get results!
Craft a Provocative Cover Letter:Your cover letter is a chance to showcase your passion and motivation for working at E.ON Next Energy. Don't just list your skills—share your vision and what excites you about the entrepreneurial journey. Connect your personal aspirations with what we need, and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Keep Your Portfolio Handy:If you have a portfolio showcasing any past projects or entrepreneurial efforts, definitely mention it in your application. Though not always necessary for full-time roles, it can provide us with deeper insights into your work style and creativity. If you have a blog, products, or any innovation, we'd love to see it!
How to prepare for a job interview at E.ON Next Energy
✨Show Your Entrepreneurial Spirit
In startups, they love seeing passion and initiative. Be ready to share any personal projects or ideas you've worked on. This shows you’re not just about the 9-to-5, but you’re invested in creating value, which is key in this fast-paced environment.
✨Brush Up on Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to be thrown some curveballs during the interview—startups often face unexpected challenges. Having a couple of examples up your sleeve where you’ve creatively solved problems will really impress them. It's all about how you think on your feet!
✨Know Your Stuff About the Industry
Since you're applying for a full-time role, they’ll want to see you've done your homework. Make sure you understand where the startup stands in its industry, including competitors and market trends. It’s a great way to show you're genuinely interested and can contribute from day one.
✨Show Flexibility and Adaptability
Startups can pivot quickly, so highlight your adaptability. Share examples of when you've successfully navigated change or taken on roles outside your comfort zone. This shows you’re ready for whatever comes your way, which is crucial in a startup atmosphere!