News and Views

Introduction
Cumbria LEP (CLEP) is preparing to deliver a contract on behalf of the Department for Energy and Industrial Strategy, to provide support and professional advice to a large number of businesses across Cumbria. CLEP is procuring delivery of the support from specialist professional services firms, and is looking to appoint a temporary, part-time, Project Manager to manage the project.

Purpose
The Business Support Project Manager will be responsible for triage and referral of businesses to the appropriate professional services firms, management and daily liaison with the firms delivering the various contracts, and management and delivery of a series of Business Recovery workshops, likely to be delivered virtually.

Responsibilities

• Triage of businesses enquiring about the programme and requesting support.
• Referral of businesses to the appropriate professional services firm delivering the type of support being requested.
• Recording of the enquiry and referral, response, and outcome in CLEP’s CRM System.
• Liaison with the professional services firms to ensure referrals are being picked up and business support is being provided.
• Gathering of feedback from professional services firms and recording of these on the CRM system.
• Develop and support the delivery of a series of a number of workshops to take place over the 6 month period, likely to be virtual, using the system being utilised by CLEP for virtual meetings and events.
• Liaise and manage relationships with various speakers for each workshop and recruit and manage attendance of businesses to each workshop and record these on the CRM system.
• Act as a credible and responsible Project Manager for this important project to provide ‘free at the point of access’ support to businesses at a challenging time, when businesses may be seeking assistance to address serious impacts of COVID-19 and other issues.

Person Specification

• Strong project management experience in a business related environment
• Ability to build, maintain and influence effective working relationships both internally and externally with businesses and other key stakeholders
• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced environment and effectively manage a significant workload in a short space of time
• Ability to organise and manage events with multiple participants and speakers
• A reasonable understanding of LEPs, their roles and responsibilities
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
• Qualified to degree level or equivalent

Equality Statement
CLEP is committed to representing the communities that we serve and creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, which allows people to succeed on merit. CLEP aims to go beyond compliance with equality legislation. It aspires to be a champion of best practice in all aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion, and seeks to create an inclusive working where all are equally valued. We therefore welcome all candidates regardless of their sex or gender reassignment; marital status (including civil partnership); sexual orientation; race, language, ethnic or national origins and nationality (including citizenship); religious belief; disability and / or medical conditions; age; and whether they have dependents.

Terms and Conditions

• Contract: This is a part-time, fixed term contract, for 6 months, beginning on 7 September 2020 to 31 March 2021.
• Salary: The salary will be £35,000 per annum, pro rata
• Hours: Part-time, 20 hours per week
• Base location: own home with possible time in the CLEP offices at Redhills if appropriate

Applications: Please send your CV, with a short covering letter explaining why you would be well-suited to this role, to info@thecumbrialep.co.uk by Friday 28th August 2020.