Innovation Lead in Cheltenham
Here East Cheltenham About the role
The Innovation Programme Lead will work collaboratively with the Innovation Services team to design, curate and deliver high impact innovation programmes that provide startup innovators with access to world-class insight and expertise.
The role is busy, fast-paced, complex, and will require a highly- organised approach to manage the multiple tasks simultaneously.
What You'll Do
- Designing and delivering innovation programmes, such as startup accelerators, bootcamps, hackathons
- Managing the team (virtually and in-person) delivering the programmes
- Providing business support and mentoring entrepreneurs
- Engaging and managing senior stakeholders (clients, delivery partners)
- Managing programme schedules and deliveries to agreed workplan
- Managing financials to meet or beat budget performance
- Focus on ensuring high-quality standards of delivery to delight customers and partners
- Identifying new ideas and themes from market intelligence and developing potential follow-on or new innovation programmes
- Coordinating regional activation activity, including events, roundtables, employer engagement sessions, insight gathering, referral pathways and partnership development.
- Translating local ecosystem intelligence into programme design, delivery decisions and continuous improvement, ensuring national programmes are adapted appropriately to regional strengths and sector clusters.
The Role's Purpose
The Innovation Programme Lead will work collaboratively with the Innovation Services team to design, curate and deliver high impact innovation programmes that provide startup innovators with access to world-class insight and expertise.
The role is busy, fast-paced, complex, and will require a highly- organised approach to manage the multiple tasks simultaneously.
What You'll Do
- Designing and delivering innovation programmes, such as startup accelerators, bootcamps, hackathons
- Facilitating innovation workshops
- Managing the team (virtually and in-person) delivering the programmes
- Providing business support and mentoring entrepreneurs
- Engaging and managing senior stakeholders (clients, delivery partners)
- Managing programme schedules and deliveries to agreed workplan Managing financials to meet or beat budget performance
- Focus on ensuring high-quality standards of delivery to delight customers and partners
- Identifying new ideas and themes from market intelligence and developing potential follow-on or new innovation programmes
- Coordinating regional activation activity, including events, roundtables, employer engagement sessions, insight gathering, referral pathways and partnership development.
- Translating local ecosystem intelligence into programme design, delivery decisions and continuous improvement, ensuring national programmes are adapted appropriately to regional strengths and sector clusters.
Due to the nature of this position, our work, and our client engagements, you must be willing and eligible to achieve a minimum of SC clearance.
To qualify for SC clearance, you must be a British Citizen or have resided in the UK for the last 5 years with no extensive periods outside of the UK.
Pre-existing SC welcome.
- For more information about clearance eligibility, please see
- Your Skills
- A deep understanding of product development processes, commercialisation, startup growth strategies and technology incubation
- Excellent communication skills, including excellent workshop facilitation skills
- Problem solving skills that can quickly identify issues and find solutions, often in high- pressure situations
- Able to be flexible and open to change of direction and thinking on your feet effectively
- Advanced knowledge of Excel, Power Point and Word
- Relationship building skills, with the ability to build and engage networks to deliver business outcomes
- Skilled in identifying emerging themes and working to create market facing solutions to meet the demands
- Your Experience
- Proven experience working with or in a technology, innovation, venture or startup environment
- Previous experience of mentoring startups and innovators
- Programme management expertise, with solid organisational skills and a structured approach to delivery
- Experience of managing programme budgets, suppliers and other third-party relationships
- Experience with managing complex relationships and stakeholders
Why us?
As a start-up, we thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment dedicated to empowering innovators.
We embrace individuals who leverage technology and creativity to tackle our greatest challenges head-on.
We strongly advocate for maintaining a harmonious work-life balance, our goal is to ensure every member of our team can authentically be themselves and live their best lives.
We firmly believe that innovation and creativity flourish when we cultivate a diverse workforce, comprising highly skilled individuals with a wide range of perspectives to contribute.
In return we will offer you
- Salary: £65,000 - £80,000 depending on skills and experience
- Annual bonus scheme
- A generous pension scheme (with a company contribution of up to 10%)
- Private healthcare, life assurance and critical illness cover
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Volunteering day
Plexal is an equal opportunities employer and we actively encourage applicants from individuals from all backgrounds.
We are a Disability Committed employer and are willing to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
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Your tasks
Design and deliver innovative programmes for startups, including accelerators and hackathons.
Your profile
Experience in tech, innovation, or startups; strong communication and problem-solving skills.
What's also included
Competitive salary, annual bonus, generous pension, private healthcare, and 25 days holiday.
Tech stack & ways of working
Innovation Lead in Cheltenham employer: Here East
Plexal is an exceptional employer that thrives in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, dedicated to empowering innovators. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, diverse perspectives, and personal authenticity, employees benefit from competitive salaries, generous pension contributions, private healthcare, and ample holiday time, all while engaging in meaningful work that drives innovation and creativity.
Your perspectives
Make a real impact by mentoring entrepreneurs and shaping the future of innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice
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 Here East!
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 Here East.
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 Here East.
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 Here East — a personal touch goes a long way!
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 Here East. 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 Here East
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!
Locations
- Cheltenham
