Head of Small Business Programmes

The Small Business Unit at London & Partners is responsible for delivering Grow London Local (GLL) and other related in-person support for the everyday economy, providing a ‘single front door’ to business support, matching entrepreneurs and business owners to the help they need to grow. In addition to this, the Small Business Unit will start delivering a number of business support programmes starting in April 2025 which is why we are setting up a new Programmes team.

Purpose of role

The Head of Programmes will lead the Small Business Programmes team within the Small Business Unit including Made Smarter starting in April 2025. The team will be equipped to deliver other new programmes that may be added to the Unit’s portfolio. This is a new role which will lead a team that will deliver both the operational project implementation as well as the client service. This role will ensure delivery of the team’s work is to the highest standards, and will be responsible for achieving continuous innovation and improvement, and effective oversight of reporting, data and compliance.

Key Tasks

• Leadership & Management
  • Lead the programmes team: set clear direction and accountability, ensure high performance, create a culture of continuous personal development.
  • Encourage a culture of continuous innovation and adaptability in the team, ensuring evolution with industry best practice and responsive to small business feedback and funders requirements.
  • Build strong working relationships with the other Heads of Service across the Strategy Directorate and at London & Partners.
  • With the Small Business Director, develop a comprehensive delivery plan including objectives, KPIs and targets.
  • Lead the team to implement the programmes successfully and aligned with the overall L&P mission and Growth Plan ambitions.
  • With the Manager Director, Strategy and the Small Business Director, develop a long-term vision for the Small Business Programmes, ensuring it contributes to London’s Growth Plan mission of backing entrepreneurs fostering productivity, inclusivity and sustainability.
• Programme Delivery and Operational Excellence
  • Create a cohesive strategy for the programme, including annual business plans, objectives, and KPIs.
  • Lead the Project Managers to ensure each programme delivers to target and to L&P standards.
  • Provide progress against delivery milestones, and financial and outputs and outcome targets, ensuring delivery and quality concerns are raised and tackled promptly.
  • Implement and manage a risk and issue management process that increases awareness and understanding of these and implementation of appropriate and timely mitigations.
  • Identify opportunities for innovation within the programmes and to expansion of programmes to ensure its continued relevance and long-term sustainability.
  • With the MD, Strategy and the Leadership Team members, build and agree the budget for the programmes and ensure rigorous financial management.
  • Oversee the programme’s marketing and communications strategy to maintain a strong public profile and support with recruitment.
• Stakeholder and Partnership Management
  • Work closely with the GLA’s Team and other funders to ensure good flow of communication, compliance and alignment of the programme with broader mayoral strategies.
  • Build and manage senior stakeholder relationships to support the programme’s delivery and reputation.
  • Establish key relationships with commissioners, trade bodies, SME networks and industry clusters to facilitate collaborations for outreach and programme delivery.
  • Represent London & Partners at external events, contributing to panels, hosting roundtables, and sharing best practices on small business support services.
• Impact Measurement and Reporting
  • Ensure that solid systems are in place to track programme KPIs and impact reports, using Salesforce to ensure accurate reporting.
  • Provide robust reporting tailored to each programme as per funding requirements, ensuring compliance and transparency.

You’ll have/bring

• Operational Skills
  • Successful experience of delivering business support programmes for the public sector at a middle management level.
  • Proven track record of managing and delivering projects and programmes of work with available resources measuring and monitoring performance throughout.
• Relationship & Stakeholder Management
  • Track record of establishing good relationships and alliances with both internal and external networks that work to mutual benefit.
  • Is a clear, engaging and articulate communicator, able to convey a motivating and compelling sense of purpose, direction and success to key stakeholders.
• Organisational Skills
  • Personal efficiency, time management skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands are key.
• Problem Solving
  • Able to achieve plans and objectives through creative and considered thinking and a positive and innovative approach to problem solving.

You’ll Get

• To join a fast paced, flexible and inclusive social enterprise.
• Hybrid working environment.
• 30 days’ holiday in addition to UK public holidays.
• Excellent employer pension contribution and Medical Cash Plan.