At a Glance
- Tasks: Help aspiring founders turn their business dreams into reality with expert advice and support.
- Company: Join the innovative Virgin StartUp team, part of the dynamic Virgin Group.
- Benefits: Enjoy unlimited leave, flexible working, and a learning budget to fuel your growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by guiding start-ups through their journey to success.
- Qualifications: Experience in assessing business plans and a passion for entrepreneurship.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 44000 ÂŁ per year.
Are you self-motivated, have a passion for business and want to help aspiring founders bring their business dreams to life? As we look to support even more founders at greater scale, we're searching for x3 Business Advisors on fixedâterm contracts, to support founders through every step of the Start Up Loan application journey.
Our Virgin Family: Join the Virgin Group â a diverse collective driving change, enhancing customer experience, and having a blast. We're daring, disrupting industries from finance to space, united as part of the Virgin Family. Virgin StartUp, born out of Virgin's entrepreneurial spirit in 2013, is here to fuel the fire of the next generation of disruptors. As a notâforâprofit, our mission is to propel startâups to success. We offer advice, funding, mentorship, and training, creating a supportive community for every step of a founder's journey.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct initial assessments of the viability of business ideas, determining what support is needed, agreeing action plans, and providing feedback and support to founders.
- Review Business Plans and assist applicants to further develop their underlying proposition and ensure Cash Flow Forecasts are accurate and financially sound.
- Evaluate applications, providing written assessments to support decisions to approve or decline, and present to our inâhouse Loan Panel for final decisions to be made.
- Ensure that the support provided conforms to the Start Up Loans Company's Minimum Standards and Lending Standards and any additional policies set out by Virgin Start Up.
- Manage caseload effectively to ensure the right founders are supported through their startâup journey in a reasonable time frame and are kept motivated to proceed.
- Keep our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform updated with interactions and documentation received.
- Maintain all quality procedures relating to client files and records, in line with our requirements.
Requirements:
- Direct experience in assessing Business Plans and Cash Flow Forecasts.
- Solid business acumen.
- An understanding of commercial businesses gained through either previous employment or experience of running your own business.
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assimilate complex information, identify and prioritise key issues and assist an applicant to identify practical solutions.
- Well-developed or keen to learn coaching, mentoring and motivational skills.
- Solid IT skills, proficient in Microsoft Office, especially in MS Excel.
- Ability to multiâtask and manage a high volume of applicants.
Role details:
- Role type: Contract (12â15 months)
- Location: Your home space + our London HQ (approx. once per month)
- Salary: ÂŁ38,000 â ÂŁ44,000 plus bonus
- Working hours: Full time â We embrace flexible working.
- Benefits: Unlimited leave for your globeâtrotting dreams, a learning budget, topânot health care, family support, a pension plan, electric vehicles, flexible volunteering and more.
Closing date: 09 January 2026
We pride ourselves on welcoming people from all walks of life, with all sorts of skill sets. We truly value passion for Purpose and Sustainability, welcoming creative thinkers and innovators. Any uniqueness is a strength and will be considered an asset to our workforce.
Ready to turn your career into the ultimate adventure? Virgin's got the map, the compass, and the crew. Your great adventure awaits!
Business Advisor in London employer: Virgin StartUp
Contact Detail:
Virgin StartUp Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Business Advisor in London
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up social media groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Business Advisor role.
â¨Tip Number 2
Practice your pitch! You never know when you'll get a chance to impress someone with your skills. Prepare a short, snappy summary of your experience and what you can bring to Virgin StartUp. Make it memorable!
â¨Tip Number 3
Research, research, research! Know everything about Virgin StartUp and their mission. This will not only help you in interviews but also show your genuine interest in helping aspiring founders succeed.
â¨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the Virgin Family. Donât miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Advisor in London
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Be Yourself: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so donât be afraid to share your passion for business and how you can help aspiring founders.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills. Show us how your background aligns with the role of a Business Advisor and why youâre the perfect fit for our team!
Showcase Your Skills: Donât just list your skills; give us examples of how you've used them in real-life situations. Whether itâs assessing business plans or mentoring others, we want to know how youâve made an impact.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us youâre serious about joining the Virgin StartUp family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Virgin StartUp
â¨Know Your Business Basics
Before the interview, brush up on your understanding of business plans and cash flow forecasts. Familiarise yourself with common challenges start-ups face and think about how you can help founders navigate these issues.
â¨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully mentored or coached others in the past. Highlight your ability to motivate and support individuals, as this is crucial for a Business Advisor role.
â¨Be Ready to Assess
Expect to discuss how you would evaluate business ideas and applications. Think through the criteria you would use to determine viability and be prepared to explain your thought process clearly.
â¨Embrace Virgin's Culture
Research Virgin StartUpâs mission and values. Be ready to express why you resonate with their entrepreneurial spirit and how you can contribute to their supportive community for founders.