At a Glance
- Tasks: Support innovative businesses in scaling globally through tailored advice and mentorship.
- Company: Join East Midlands Chamber, a leading organisation enhancing local businesses and communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, wellbeing support, and a non-contributory pension scheme.
- Other info: Agile working options available; part-time roles considered.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving impactful business growth and innovation in the Midlands.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-growth business environments and strategic consultancy is essential.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 42000 £ per year.
East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) is a well-respected and award winning membership, representation and business support organisation that aims to enhance businesses and communities in the three cities and three counties. With more than 4,100 members and working with 12,000 businesses each year, we have established a reputation as the voice of the region’s business community.
Job title: Innovation & Growth Specialist
Salary: £42,500 to £45,000 per annum (dependant on experience and qualifications). Pro rata for part time
Based at: Nottingham, Chesterfield, Derby or Leicester with agile working. Additional travel required within the geography and occasionally nationally or internationally
Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours per week). Part-time at a minimum of 21 hours per week over 3 days (Monday to Friday) also considered
1. WHY THE POST EXISTS
Can you seek and identify businesses with ideas and ambitions to succeed on a global scale? Do you have experience of exceeding expectations and delivering impactful business support in the Midlands? If so, you could be our next team member.
As part of the Chamber’s Innovation Services team, you will focus on delivering bespoke business support to Innovate UK Business Growth clients who want to grow and scale at pace. Your task is to seek and identify businesses with ideas and ambitions to succeed on a global scale.
This role operates as an experienced coach, mentor, critical friend and champion for a group of clients. Knowledge of UK Government Future Economies is vital, as is an understanding of investment raising in order to deliver impactful support across the region.
This contract is funded through Innovate UK until 31 March 2026.
2. THE KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- To provide innovation and business advice to a portfolio of growth and scale clients.
- To make a significant contribution to the development of competitiveness of East Midlands businesses across the UK and global markets.
- Acting as a strategic coach and mentor to SME clients to support them in developing their own long-term growth and innovation commercialisation plans.
- Providing an account management function for the delivery of business support services, that enable clients to enhance their innovation management capacity.
- Using business analysis tools to review client needs and provide tailored support through Innovate UK Business Growth services and wider Ecosystem of business support.
- Focusing on supporting the most ambitious, high-growth potential innovative SMEs to benefit from national and global opportunities.
- Providing information and guidance on exploit innovation. Signposting or referring to professional support as required.
3. IDEALLY APPLICANTS WILL POSSESS
- Business experience at a senior level within the high-growth and R&D business environment.
- Strategic and management or consultancy experience in the commercialisation of ideas, including IP, access to investment finance and internationalisation.
- Assessing risk through analysis of business plans, financial accounts, and other supporting information.
- Interpreting outputs of business diagnostic and benchmarking tools, developing action plans to support growth and scale.
- Critical appraisal of bids for innovation funding.
- Understanding of the business support landscape, together with funding and support available through Innovate UK.
4. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN RETURN
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays each year (pro rata for part time).
- 8% non-contributory pension scheme.
- Wellbeing support including access to Westfield Health plan, Mental Health First Aiders, self help toolkits, discounts and more.
- Your Birthday off plus an extra day of leave after 5 and 10 years\' service.
- Life assurance (death in service support scheme) for your beneficiaries.
- Dress for the day policy and agile working practices (role dependent).
- 2 CSR days to take per year (volunteering activity).
- Access to tax-free childcare and Bike2Work schemes.
- Special leave for bereavement, compassionate leave & dependent related time off.
- Learning and development opportunities.
- Flexibility to take unpaid leave, paid study leave & special leave for territorial army.
- Recognition and engagement schemes including our Our Stars.
- Tax free 45p per business mile for cars (up to 10,000 miles per year).
5. HOW TO APPLY
If you have an enthusiastic approach to your work and feel you could make a significant contribution to our organisation, we would like to hear from you.
Please visit East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) job vacancies website. Unfortunately we cannot accept applications from this platform for compliance purposes.
The closing date for applications is ongoing (we close ongoing adverts once sufficient applications are received).
6. COMPANY STATEMENT
See Chamber website.
Innovation & Growth Specialist in Derby employer: East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)
East Midlands Chamber is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and growth. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, competitive benefits including a generous holiday allowance, and opportunities for professional development, we empower our team to make a meaningful impact on the business community across the East Midlands. Our agile working practices and supportive culture ensure that every member can thrive while contributing to the success of ambitious SMEs in the region.
Contact Details:
East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation & Growth Specialist in Derby
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire).
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire).
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation & Growth Specialist in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
