News and Views

Introduction

Cumbria LEP (CLEP) has been invited to deliver a contract on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

As the UK moves to exit the current Transition period with the EU and enters a new trading relationship both with the EU and wider world markets, Government is seeking to raise awareness with business in order to encourage them to prepare for this change. As part of the national campaign CLEP will work with local businesses to ensure they are able to access the advice they need, whether exporting, or importing, or from legislative and regulatory changes following EU Transition.

To complete this activity CLEP is seeking to appoint 3 Business Advisors to work with businesses to guide them through the changes.

Purpose

The Business Advisors will be responsible for sourcing, through Government guidance, particularly Gov.uk/transition, appropriate advice and information for businesses to enable them to prepare for new trading relationships post 31 December 2020.

Responsibilities

• Proactively reach out to businesses through direct contact via a ‘promotion of service’ campaign
• Reach out to businesses through referrals from internal CLEP business support programmes and third-party partners
• Provide advice based on official Government rules and guidance to businesses on issues such as international trade, employment, VAT changes, transporting goods and other subjects.
• Increase reach and intensity of information provided particularly to vulnerable sectors
• Provide outreach and proactive business support in an EU Exit framework
• Provide capacity for businesses to respond to change
• Refer businesses who need specialist advice to other CLEP services such as Business Support and Advice Programme
• Record the advice given and outcome in CLEP’s CRM System.

Person Specification

Experience as a Business Advisor is important as these are roles that need to start immediately, with a requirement to reach as many businesses as possible in a short space of time.

The successful applicants would ideally have a reasonable understanding of the public sector environment or business advice landscape in Cumbria to be able to hit the ground running.

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to demonstrate credibility with others including understanding of issues businesses face in a change scenario.

Detailed knowledge of the EU exit process is not a requirement but an ability to quickly learn the overarching policies and proposals, and identify the relevant official guidance is paramount.

The successful candidates must also have:

• The ability to focus and achieve results through the development of consultative relationships at a senior level
• Excellent communication skills – written, oral and broader presentation skills, both virtual and face to face
• The ability to deliver quality outcomes in a fast-paced challenging time period
• Excellent planning, organisational, administrative and project management skills
• Well-developed IT skills, including an understanding of management information systems, diary management, e-mail and CRM databases.
• A reasonable understanding of LEPs, their roles and responsibilities

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: There are 3 posts on offer for this full-time, fixed term contract, beginning as soon as possible following a successful interview through until 31 March 2021.

Salary: The salary will be circa £35,000k per annum (pro rata for part-time candidates).

Hours: Full-time, at 37 hours per week; part-time applications will also be considered.

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 4 December.