We are recruiting for an experienced Innovation & Business Growth Advisor to join an established team delivering a publicly funded business growth and innovation programme.
This is an excellent opportunity to work directly with ambitious start-ups, scale-ups and high-growth SMEs, providing strategic advice and practical support to help them secure funding, commercialise innovations and accelerate their growth.
You'll act as a trusted advisor to business founders and senior leadership teams, helping them identify challenges, explore new opportunities and develop effective innovation and growth strategies.
The role would suit someone with a strong understanding of the start-up and scale-up ecosystem who enjoys building relationships, providing strategic guidance and helping innovative businesses achieve their commercial potential.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of innovative start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, providing tailored one-to-one business advice and support.
- Advise founders and leadership teams on business growth, innovation strategies, commercialisation and funding opportunities.
- Help businesses identify barriers to growth and develop practical, achievable action plans.
- Support companies in accessing R&D funding, investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
- Advise businesses on innovation management, intellectual property and opportunities for expansion.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem, including businesses, universities, investors and funding organisations.
- Deliver workshops, networking events and other activities to support business growth and collaboration.
- Maintain accurate client records and contribute to programme reporting and performance objectives.
About You
We're looking for a commercially minded, proactive and personable individual who has experience working with innovative businesses and understands the challenges faced by founders and growing companies.
Ideally, you'll have:
- Experience advising or supporting start-ups, scale-ups or high-growth SMEs, ideally working directly with founders and senior management teams.
- A strong understanding of business growth, innovation strategy, commercialisation and/or funding.
- Knowledge of the innovation funding landscape, including R&D grants and other sources of business finance.
- Experience supporting innovation projects, R&D collaborations or strategic business partnerships.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to challenge business leaders constructively and act as a trusted advisor.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify business challenges and recommend practical solutions.
- The ability to independently manage multiple client relationships, prioritise workloads and deliver against objectives.
- Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.
It would also be advantageous to have:
- Experience working on publicly funded business support, innovation or economic development programmes.
- Experience supporting technology-led businesses, spinouts or research-intensive SMEs.
- Knowledge of investment readiness, intellectual property and international business development.
Location: London – Hybrid, 2 days on-site per week
Contract: Until March 2027, with potential for extension
Innovation Consultant in London employer: Ventula Consulting
Join a leading hospitality client that values innovation and collaboration, offering a dynamic work culture where your expertise in project management will shine. With a focus on employee growth and development, this role provides the opportunity to work on high-impact divestment projects while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model in vibrant Central London. Experience a supportive environment that encourages professional advancement and rewards your contributions with competitive compensation.
