Jobs in Hillhead, Glasgow

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled and experienced social entrepreneur to support the establishment of a new social enterprise organisation, CHI2.

Following two successful rounds of Economic and Social and Research Council funding (2017-27), the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) wants to now move on to its next phase.

Following discussions with its host, the University of Glasgow, the CaCHE academic leadership is considering a spin out company that would raise research income on projects concerned with influencing housing policy and practice through rigorous research evidence across the UK and, potentially, internationally. It is envisaged that the new entity would hold a portfolio of funding with different research partners across the UK and beyond. Further information about the work CaCHE does can be found at: housingevidence.ac.uk

We are looking for a consultant to develop a business plan and to work with the project team to support the project’s ambition to establish and scale.

The ideal consultant will be an experienced social entrepreneur with a proven track record in generating sustainable revenue and the successful development of social enterprise businesses within the housing sector or a business area related to the CHI2 project, who can build upon extensive relevant networks to promote the venture externally to strategic partners, stakeholders and investors. Additionally, the consultant must be willing and capable of mentoring the project team, ensuring transfer of knowledge and experience.

Key Tasks

• Develop a funder-ready business plan that optimises income opportunities and supports the social enterprise’s ambition to scale
• Review and build on existing market data to identify the strongest financial and philanthropic opportunities for the project.
• Work with the team to develop a business strategy and commercial plan including financial budget.
• Verify the plan with commercial feedback from potential funders and partners (e.g. at partner meetings) and cultivate strategic relationships within the relevant sectors (across think tanks and government).
• Provide a strategic vision and evaluate its relevance with the ability to review and change direction if required.

Skills / Experience

The ideal consultant will meet most of the following criteria:

• Highly motivated, entrepreneurial personality.
• Value and mission-driven with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Experience of, and knowledge of the housing and housing policy sectors
• Strong commercial credentials and background in social enterprise development and growth.
• Experience of producing and implementing business plans.
• Demonstrable commercial achievements and experience.
• Proven track record of raising funding from funders, partners or high net worth philanthropic donors.
• Excellent leadership qualities and strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience of, or interest in, engaging with applied research
• Demonstrable ability to provide hands-on support, guidance and advice to those joining the social enterprise spin-out.
• Extensive network of relevant contacts, including potential stakeholders, development partners and funders.
• Ability to clearly articulate core value propositions and develop and optimize corresponding business models.
• Ability to utilise innovative thinking to devise creative and entrepreneurial solutions to overcome the many challenges in spinning out a social enterprise with high-impact potential.
• Experience of the corporate governance and financial management obligations of managing a social enterprise entity, ideally as a Company executive director.
• Experience of leading a small, results driven project team.
• Ability to mentor and identify skills gaps within an existing team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled and experienced social entrepreneur to support the establishment of a new charitable organisation, Changing Realities. What started life as a research project in 2020 has now become a fixture on the policy and anti-poverty scene, with Changing Realities working with academic researchers, parents and carers on a low-income and Child Poverty Action Group to document life on a low-income and to push for change.

We are looking for a consultant to develop a business plan and to work with the project team to support the project’s ambition to establish and scale.

The ideal consultant will be an experienced social entrepreneur with a proven track record in generating sustainable revenue and the successful development of charities, ideally within the policy and/or anti-poverty spheres. We are looking for someone who can build upon extensive relevant networks to promote the venture externally to strategic partners, stakeholders and potential funders. Additionally, the Commercial Champion must be willing and capable of mentoring the project team, ensuring transfer of knowledge and experience.

Key Tasks

• Develop a funder-ready business plan that optimises income opportunities and supports the charity's ambition to scale
• Review and build on existing market data to identify the strongest financial and philanthropic opportunities for the project.
• Work with the team to develop a business strategy and commercial plan including financial budget.
• Verify the plan with commercial feedback from potential funders and partners (e.g. at partner meetings) and cultivate strategic relationships within the relevant sectors (across anti-poverty charities, think tanks and government).
• Provide a strategic vision and evaluate its relevance with the ability to review and change direction if required.

Skills / Experience

The ideal consultant will meet most of the following criteria:

• Highly motivated, entrepreneurial personality.
• Value and mission-driven with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Experience of, and knowledge of the anti-poverty and policy sectors
• Strong commercial credentials and background in charity development and growth.
• Experience of producing and implementing business plans.
• Demonstrable commercial achievements and experience.
• Proven track record of raising funding from funders, partners or high net worth philanthropic donors.
• Excellent leadership qualities and strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience of, or interest in, engaging with applied research
• Demonstrable ability to provide hands-on support, guidance and advice to those joining the spin-out charity.
• Extensive network of relevant contacts, including potential stakeholders, development partners and funders.
• Ability to clearly articulate core value propositions and develop and optimize corresponding business models.
• Ability to utilise innovative thinking to devise creative and entrepreneurial solutions to overcome the many challenges in spinning out a social enterprise with high-impact potential.
• Experience of the corporate governance and financial management obligations of managing a charitable entity, ideally as a Company executive director.
• Experience of leading a small, results driven project team.
• Ability to mentor and identify skills gaps within an existing team.