Business in Focus is the lead delivery partner in Enterprise Partnership Cymru (EPC), along with Menter Môn, M-SParc and an eco-system of support agencies across Wales. EPC has won the contract to deliver the Business Wales service on behalf of the Welsh Government, providing advice and support to entrepreneurs pan Wales.
The Business Development and Growth Service focuses on providing a wide range of advice to growing businesses through a variety of means including digital, telephone and face to face support.
EPC was successful in their bid to deliver both Business Wales advice services; Entrepreneurship and Start-up Service and Business Development and Growth Service.
Provide Welsh SMEs a consistent means of accessing skills and employment support. Act as an honest broker facilitating access to various employment and skills support programmes and support available from both public and private sectors.
Develop strong network of internal and external stakeholders to build and share product knowledge, establish cross-referrals, promote Skills Gateway and wider Business Wales services.
Responsibilities
- In collaboration with Relationship Manager and Growth Adviser colleagues, undertake a detailed discussion with the client to establish an understanding of the client business and needs, identifying their skills and employment support requirements, e.g. client and colleague conversations and review of information about the business, the challenges they may be facing, objectives they are hoping to achieve by effective development of skills, learning and development of the workforce.
- Review and analyse the ‘Skills Assessment Tool’ diagnostic report to identify the business’ current skills. Discuss with each client the ‘Skills Profile’ and, where skills development is a priority for the business or a barrier for growth, identify appropriate skills and training support opportunities available.
- Record all actions in a ‘Skills Action Plan’. Accurately complete action plans/template and related paperwork. Ensure support hours are delivered, documented and signed off.
- Work with clients to overcome barriers during the implementation of their action plan, in order to sustain momentum towards the agreed goals.
- Acting as an ‘honest broker’, make referrals and facilitate access to national and regional employment and skills support programmes and other initiatives, e.g. Careers Wales, Apprenticeships Programme.
Person Specification
- Working with businesses on determining/reviewing skills and development plans for businesses and implementing appropriate plans to achieve business objectives OR Working in a role that included determining/reviewing skills and development plans for a business and implementing appropriate plans to achieve business objectives.
- Working under pressure to achieve targets/regional objectives.
- Good knowledge and understanding of the needs and issues impacting SMEs in Wales, the economy in Wales and wider influences in the UK. Understanding of local / regional differences in the Welsh economy.
- Effective in determining priorities, planning time, organising workload to establish measurable results, objectives and milestones for self and others.
At Business in Focus we value all of our employees, as an Investors in People employer we provide the following benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Generous holiday entitlement (25 days annual leave plus 8 days bank holiday based on FTE)
- 6% Employer contribution pension
- Flexible modern working practices such as TOIL
- 6 late starts/early finishes per annum (equates to two hours each)
- Learning and Development opportunities
After probation period:
- Income protection benefit
- Employee assistance programme
Please be aware we may withdraw the advert early if we receive a high volume of applicants.
As part of the recruitment process you will be invited to an Assessment based technical exercise.
Diversity Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment where staff treat one another with dignity and respect. We aim to create an equitable working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential no matter their disability, sex, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity or marriage and civil partnership status. Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
