Innovation Manager – Investor Communities

Job Title – Knowledge Transfer Manager (Innovation Manager) Investor Communities – Future Economy

Contract – Fixed term contract until 31st March 2025

Hours – Full time (37.5 hours)

Location – Home based (UK)

Salary – £34,215 – £40,000

Investment at Innovate UK Business Connect

Finance is a key enabler for innovation to flourish from initial invention to transforming markets. Significant finance for innovation is provided by the public sector, such as UKRI Innovate UK grant programmes or debt and equity programmes via the British Business Bank, however, there is a clear need for investment from the private sector. This need is increasingly exacerbated by the scale and urgency of societal and environmental challenges the world and we all face.

Against this backdrop the investment team at Innovate UK Business Connect exists to increase private investment in UK innovation and in our Future Economy, and to increase investor connectivity and diversity across the UK innovation ecosystem at regional, national and international level.

Purpose of the Role

The purpose of the role is to continue to develop and support Innovate UK Business Connect’s private investment network, and support Innovate UK Business Connect colleagues as well as colleagues across the wider IUK Group in their interactions with businesses and in leveraging investment into UK innovation. Typically, this will be through blending public innovation funding with private finance in areas where investment in innovation can create a positive change.

The role sits within the Innovate UK Business Connect Investment team and encompasses all aspects of building our external network of contacts, our knowledge and capability around private investment in innovation.

Focus areas of the wider investment team include regional investment and innovation ecosystems, stimulating greater diversity in founding and investing teams, prioritising investment for positive societal and environmental change and foreign investment.

This role is a key interface between investors, entrepreneurs and Innovate UK Business Connect wide programmes with particular focus on Future Economy technologies. The role works across Innovate UK Business Connect and the wider Innovate UK Group (including Innovate UK, the catapult Network and Innovate UK Business Growth) ensuring internal capability in finance models and support to colleagues in areas where investment can create positive change. In connecting investment to innovation this role plays a crucial role in ensuring societal prosperity and sustainability for us all and future generations to come.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Engage with private finance providers; understand the key contact points and the typical profile of investment opportunities they prefer to consider and ultimately invest in.
• Develop new communities of private investors in innovation in future economy technology domains (e.g. such as NetZero, Healthy Living & Agriculture, Digital & Technologies, and associated sectors).
• Make connections to funding and finance for businesses seeking investment in R&D.
• Seek opportunities for Innovate UK Business Connect, with potential for new revenue.
• Track progress of businesses to determine outcomes resulting from Innovate UK Business Connect interventions, seeking case studies and metrics (KPI) capture.
• Maintain a strong relationship with counterparts in Innovate UK and relevant financial stakeholders.
• Share knowledge with Innovate UK Business Connect colleagues on the investment landscape through internal training workshops.
• Enthusiastically contribute to Innovate UK Business Connect wide communications and projects, helping colleagues as required.
• Take responsibility for contributing towards own development with guidance of the Line Manager, attending training courses as identified.
• Attend to any reasonable request made by Innovate UK Business Connect in support of our strategy.

Essential experience

• Degree level or demonstrable equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Applied investment experience (e.g. VC, PE, cVC, debt finance, institutional or project finance, etc.) desirable.
• FCA regulatory experience and/or innovation experience desirable.
• Good understanding of investor requirements for companies is essential.
• Good understanding of the Government funding for innovation systems and knowledge of relevant technology policies and their impact.
• Understanding value propositions and investment drivers across a spectrum of industries and types of finance.
• Experience of leading and developing high performing technical teams across multiple sites desirable.
• Experience of working in a busy, high pressured environment and ability to work well under pressure.

Skills

• This role requires a highly motivated, self-starting and results oriented individual.
• Must be a good listener – able to interact with and understand the needs and capabilities of a wide variety of clients.
• Flexible, reliable and adaptable with good time management skills.
• Sound knowledge across a range of technical and/or creative disciplines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently and build effective relationships.
• Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open, honest, and diverse environment.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, explaining complicated matters simply.
• Proactive creative thinking and problem solving.
• High level of IT literacy.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills.

About Innovate UK Business Connect

We connect ideas, people, and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.

Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research. Innovate UK Business Connect exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.

The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.

Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.

While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector. This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development, and innovation.

Benefits

• This role has a salary of £34,215 – £40,000
• 28 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank and public holidays
• Enhanced Pension Plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Wider Wallet employee benefits high street discounts scheme
• Opportunities for continuous professional development as part of our Talent & Development Programme

This is a fixed term contract until 31st March 2025.

This advert will close on Sunday 30th June though some circumstances may require us to close earlier, so early application is advised.

First stage interviews to be held w/c 8th July.

Second stage interviews to be held w/c 15th July.

Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.

Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK without restrictions as sponsorship for visas is not provided. Unfortunately, owing to the high number of applications received, we can only provide feedback to applicants selected for interview.

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to [email protected].

Innovate UK Business Connect strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry: people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, women, disabled people, people of any age or family status. We know that diversity makes us stronger and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to removing barriers for individuals with conditions, illnesses or disabilities and we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, and in their future role.

If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing [email protected].