Coventry and Warwickshire CDA is a not for profit organisation which aims to support local people to lead economically active and fulfilling lives by providing useful, practical and accessible services that make a positive difference.

We now require a: Business Adviser to join our Social Enterprise team.

The successful applicant will be expected to provide support to new and existing Social Enterprises across Coventry and Warwickshire.

This support will cover a range of issues such as company formation, governance, strategic and business planning, income generation and identifying markets.

• Salary £33,782 (pro rata) plus 8% pension contribution
• Hours negotiable between18 and 30 hours per week
• The Post is for a fixed term and ends 31st March 2023
• The role will be a combination of remote and office working.

For an application pack:
www.cwcda.co.uk/Recruitment

Application forms only. No CVs

Coventry and Warwickshire CDA is an equal opportunities employer

This contract is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Closing date: 5pm, Thursday 7th October 2021
Interview Date: Wednesday 13th October 2021

Job Description

The Coventry and Warwickshire CDA are a delivery partner on the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support programme. As part of the project CWCDA will promote social enterprise and provide business advice to start up social enterprises across Coventry and Warwickshire, or existing social enterprises experiencing barriers to growth.

A Purpose of the post
To provide outreach business advisory support to groups of individuals interested in establishing social enterprises and to existing social enterprises to promote sustainability

B Responsible to
Operations Manager

C Duties and responsibilities specific to the post
1. Promote the concept of social enterprise to a wide range of individuals and community and voluntary groups
2. Act as a first point of contact for individuals and groups seeking to set up social enterprises
3. Provide business advice and intensive development support to groups of individuals and voluntary and community organisations seeking to establish social enterprises
4. Help potential social enterprises carry out initial feasibility work on their business idea
5. Help potential social enterprises prepare business plans and secure finance and premises.
6. Provide advice, guidance and development support to established social enterprises to promote sustainability
7. Enhance Social Enterprises understanding of Investment readiness.
8. Support social enterprises to network effectively
9. Support the setting up of a peer to peer support programme.
10. Offer a range of support methods including but not limited to one to one and one to many support and remote working e.g. Zoom and telephone appointments.

D General duties and responsibilities

1. Maintain appropriate work records in accordance with Agency systems and pass them to relevant staff for statistical processing. This includes ensuring the office diary is maintained
2. Keep abreast of current knowledge and best practice in the field of social enterprise development work and notify her/his manager of any training needs or opportunities
3. Participate in appropriate meetings of the Agency
4. Participate in relevant local, regional and national networking
5. Provide cover for other staff, both development and administrative, as appropriate
6. Work to quality standards current in the Agency
7. Undertake any other work which the Operations manager may require in keeping with the general purposes of the job

Person specification

Essential requirements
1. At least one year’s experience of providing intensive business development support to small or medium sized enterprises
2. An understanding of the nature and needs of small enterprises
3. Ability to manage one’s own work and work as part of a team
4. Ability to produce business plans and other written reports to a high standard
5. Ability to produce and interpret profit and loss accounts, cash-flows and balance sheets
6. Ability to produce the above financial documents using computer spreadsheet software
7. Ability to word-process
8. Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, with a wide range of people
9. A commitment to equal opportunities
10. Ability to drive and access to a car
11. A proactive approach to work

Desirable attributes

1. Experience providing business development support to people establishing social enterprises
2. Experience of working in a multi-racial community
3. Experience of working with community groups
4. A relevant business qualification (such as a business degree, post-graduate business qualification or professional qualification in a business related area.