Pre-startup Advisor

**Location**

Manchester

**Company**

Business Support Business Finance (BSBF)

**Contract type**

Permanent/ Full
- time

**Salary**

Up to £38,100 per annum

**Closing Date**

04/06/2025

**Ref No**

4650

**The Growth Company’s (GC)**Business Growth Hub is seeking a Pre-Startup Advisor to support aspiring entrepreneurs. The role involves assessing business readiness, identifying barriers to progress, and guiding clients from initial enquiry through to growth plan implementation. Advisors will connect clients with tailored support and ensure delivery aligns with operational goals.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Handle client enquiries, assess business potential using diagnostic tools, and build strong relationships with pre-start individuals and enterprises.
- Conduct eligibility checks, develop tailored action plans, and ensure clients are referred to and supported by the most appropriate internal or external services.
- Monitor and record client progress, outputs, and outcomes (e.g. GVA growth, job creation, business formation) using CRM systems, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with funder requirements.
- Undertake detailed diagnostics on startups or specific business functions, capturing baseline data and developing comprehensive growth plans.
- Engage in in-depth discussions with clients to understand their goals, identify barriers to growth, and recommend actions that lead to business creation or expansion.
- Track service delivery effectiveness, follow up on referrals, and ensure support aligns with client strategies and objectives.
- Build and maintain a strong network of professional contacts and referral partners to enhance service reach and generate new client opportunities.
- Support Health & Safety compliance and contribute to a safe, inclusive, and high-performing service environment.

**About You**:

- Motivating and supportive, with a passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed and a proactive, organised approach to managing a portfolio of up to 250 clients annually.
- A confident communicator who builds trust with clients and stakeholders, thrives both independently and in team settings, and brings a customer-focused mindset.
- Strong sales, account management, and networking skills, with excellent written and verbal communication and presentation abilities.
- Proficient in CRM systems, digital tools, and project management techniques, with strong planning, administrative, and organisational skills.

**Skills Required**:

- Proven experience in delivering business advice and support, ideally in a pre-start or early-stage business context, with knowledge of economic development, startup ecosystems, and funder compliance.
- Degree-level business education or equivalent experience, ideally with senior-level exposure in the private sector.
- Demonstrated success in managing pre-start business support, working in professional teams, and delivering measurable outcomes.
- Strong understanding of project management, startup development, and the roles of national and local organisations in economic growth.
- Familiarity with customer-focused approaches to business engagement and long-term development.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.

Examples include:

- Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance
- Extra time for tasks
- Interview questions shared beforehand
- Accessibility software or equipment for assessments

GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working. Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements. If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.

All GC colleagues will work inline with the Health & Safety at work act and the GC Health & Safety Policy.