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 working knowledge of Net Zero – the key climate tech verticals, decarbonisation pathways, and commercialisation opportunities within the space
• 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.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The purpose of the role is to continue to develop and support Innovate UK Business Connect’s Net Zero 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 Net Zero 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 sustainable 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.
• Deliver projects to encourage more investor engagement and capital deployment into key Net Zero verticals
• Develop new communities of private investors in innovation in Climate technology domains
• Make connections to funding and finance for businesses seeking investment in R&D.
• 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.
• Work collaboratively with Net Zero sector teams across Innovate UK
• 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.