DESCRIPTION

This role will support the delivery of knowledge transfer and other activities aimed at stimulating the development and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. This role will play a key part in identifying innovations and connecting the opportunities to make an impact and translate UK potential into commercial reality.
The role sits within Innovate UK Business Connect’s Materials and Manufacturing team. Our core purpose is to connect innovators with new partners and to develop new opportunities in a collaborative effort. The team is dedicated to identifying and supporting the development of sustainable cutting-edge, cross-sector technologies, world-class design processes and new business models that have the potential to transform the UK’s economy and society. We work closely with businesses, academia, policy makers, regulators, and other innovation partners to provide expertise, connections to help turn game-changing ideas into successful commercial products and services, and access to funding and investment opportunities.
On a day-to-day basis, you will work with other team members to engage with high-growth businesses to understand their innovation needs and direct them towards public and private finance, potential commercial and academic partners, and other opportunities to support their growth.
The successful candidate will support the design and delivery of a broad programme of activities, including workshops and desk research, to accelerate the understanding, development and uptake of innovative manufacturing technologies in the UK as we transition to a Net Zero economy.
You will contribute to Innovate UK Business Connect’s success, working with colleagues on cross-sector collaboration projects, capturing and reporting KPI achievements.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

• Degree qualification or equivalent industry experience
• Experience of working in a technical, engineering or scientific research role
• Good level of understanding and knowledge of some of the manufacturing technologies of relevance to the role
• Good writing and presentation skills, with ability to translate complex topics for a broad audience
• Demonstrable project co-ordination skills

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrable understanding of knowledge transfer and experience of industry-academia collaboration
• Understanding of the importance of networks
• Some experience in business development and organising and delivering events and workshops

SKILLS

• 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
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, explaining complicated matters in an easy to grasp manner
• High level of IT literacy

• Work with the developers and users of manufacturing technologies to understand their innovation needs and the opportunities for growth of UK industry, the scientific capabilities of the research base and supporting the transfer of knowledge within and between these groups and the establishment of collaborations.
• Support the wider Materials and Manufacturing team in the delivery of key programmes and challenges.
• Understand and facilitate access to innovation support mechanisms for businesses and to help develop funding and investment applications.
• Promote the benefits of Innovate UK Business Connect and innovation within a business context to the manufacturing sector, including the preparation of promotional material and the use of various media.
• Liaise closely with Innovate UK Business Connect staff across all sectors and technologies to ensure a good understanding of other sector activities, to ensure well informed and integrated working.
• Produce articles for newsletters, blogs of interest to our members and similar media.
• Organise meetings, workshops and networking events in a variety of commercial and scientific areas.
• Undertake necessary administrative duties including the timely completion of accurate reports, meeting minutes, timesheets and expenses.
• Maintain and disseminate an up-to-date view of the industry and application areas, including technology developments, key innovators, market trends/needs and business funding opportunities.
• Regularly capture and report KPI achievements.
• Capture success stories from projects and workshops for case studies and impact measure
• Promote diversity and inclusion both within Innovate UK Business Connect and across engaged sectors