Senior Business Advisor

About Us

A Leader in Business Support

At Portobello Business Centre (PBC), we stand as a dynamic social enterprise nationally acclaimed for helping individuals start, grow and expand their business ventures. Our mission is clear: to provide aspiring and existing business owners with state-of-the-art tools, unmatched resources and steadfast support essential for navigating today's business environment. Our offerings include an array of webinars, comprehensive training programs, interactive workshops and networking events, complemented by personalised one-to-one business advice. Since our establishment in the vibrant 1990s, we have been a cornerstone for over 15,000 clients in a multitude of sectors. In fact, our early support has been crucial for household names like Innocent Drinks, Charlie Bigham’s and Karen Millen.

Vibrant Headquarters

Located in the newly renovated Morley College North Kensington Centre for Skills, our headquarters are more than just an office. They're a bustling hub nestled near the lively Portobello and Golborne Roads in London, brimming with creative and business energy. This unique setting provides an ideal mix of educational resources and a business-oriented atmosphere, ensuring each day is filled with new and exciting challenges.

Role Summary

The Senior Business Advisor is pivotal in bolstering the journeys of pre-start, small and medium-sized businesses. You will have a Business Advisory, business education or similar background, be experienced in providing expert business advice, mentorship and support to aspiring and existing business owners, guiding them through the maze of starting and scaling their businesses. Working under the guidance of our existing Senior Business Advisors and the senior team, you will help to transform aspirations into thriving ventures.

Key Responsibilities

1. Mentorship & Advising

• Deliver high quality, bespoke, independent and confidential face-to-face and virtual business support to individuals starting and growing their businesses, helping them navigate business challenges.
• Assist businesses in developing business plans, strategies and operational guidelines.
• Signpost owners to both internal and external business development resources.

2. Programme Support

• Collaborate with the senior team to ensure the successful roll-out of both commercial and non-commercial business support programmes.
• Continuously assess the quality of the business support programmes we provide by soliciting feedback from business owners and implement insights into actionable improvements.

3. Resource Development

• Assist the senior team in the creation and updating of resources, tools and materials in our business support portfolio to support business owners effectively.
• Assist the Head of Marketing in organising and facilitating workshops, webinars and conferences to impart essential business knowledge.

4. Collaboration & Networking

• Engage with the broader business community to stay updated on industry trends and best practices.
• Facilitate connections between business owners and potential partners, investors, funding providers and any other relevant stakeholders through our networking forums and beyond.

5. Reporting & Analysis

• Document and report on the progress of business owners and businesses you support as required by individual projects using our bespoke CRM system.

6. Development

• Undergo any required training to identify the organisation and its Business Advisors as leading business support providers.

7. Other

• Perform additional tasks as deemed necessary by the senior team.

Requirements

The following are essential requirements for this role:

• At least three years of experience providing bespoke, one-to-one business advice to pre-start and SME businesses.
• Demonstrated ability in providing high-quality, independent and confidential support and mentorship to SME business owners.
• Experience in the development of business plans, strategies and operational guidelines appropriate for SMEs.
• Expertise in at least two of the following to support business owners on a deeper level: financial management and analysis, marketing, sales, business strategy and planning, industry-specific knowledge or fundraising.
• Strong networking capabilities to facilitate connections between business owners and potential partners, investors and funding providers.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated in both face-to-face and virtual settings.
• Familiarity with signposting business owners to relevant business support resources.
• Experience in sales with a commercial outlook; a brand ambassador able to promote our products and services to new and existing business owners.
• High proficiency with technology and using digital productivity tools such as Microsoft365, Teams and Zoom to deliver business advice.
• Knowledge of the digital business tools utilised by early-stage businesses, how they work and add value.
• Experience with using CRMs and documenting and managing data through them.
• Willingness to pitch in, support and learn from all aspects of the business as we are at a pivotal moment of growth.

The following are desirable for this role:

• Experience of the auditing processes of government delivered business support programmes would be a bonus and attract the top end of the salary range being offered.
• Team management or leadership experience.
• Experience of engagement with business communities such as those for charities, councils, faith groups, chambers of commerce etc.
• An entrepreneurial background would help you to better understand the start-up mindset.

Join us in making a meaningful difference to the businesses we serve.

To apply, please submit a maximum 2-page CV and a 1-page cover letter detailing your skills and suitability to the role. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK indefinitely.