We’re on a journey to create fairer communities by facilitating 10 million social entrepreneurs globally by 2030. Do you want to help make this a reality?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Research and Development Officer with strong research and analytical skills who wants to make a difference to young people here in the UK and internationally.

This is a 12-month position run as part of the Rank Time to Shine (T2S) programme. T2S provides employment and unique learning and development opportunities for a candidate (aged 18+), who is currently underemployed, to stretch their leadership potential. It creates a vibrant and sustainable social sector across the U.K., fit to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Your role will be to work with learning and development specialists within our Global Learning Lab team leading on research to identify global best practice in entrepreneurship education for young people disengaged with education. The role would work closely with others in the Academy including our Schools Teams in Scotland and England. You can find out more about our Social Enterprise Schools programme here.

We are looking for someone who wants to work with vibrant, entrepreneurial and dedicated people and colleagues and with a good value-fit with our organisation.

Having the right mindset, attitude and approach is as important for us as having the right experience and skills. We appreciate that the best person might not have all the listed criteria yet so if you feel your experience, skills and attitude will help you to make a great contribution in this role and you have the right mindset, we would welcome an application from you.

Job Purpose:

The Time to Shine Placement will lead on research to identify global best practice in entrepreneurship education for young people disengaged with education.

This role will explore what offer exists for young people to engage in social enterprise around the world, including the Academy’s Social Enterprise Schools, and explore how we can share this learning and support the Academy to develop a product ready for scaling internationally.

Key Responsibilities:

All tasks will be undertaken with support and guidance from a dedicated line manager.

The role has three key objectives:

• Undertake research in global best practice of experiential entrepreneurship learning for young people aged 11-18. Identify critical success factors that focus on activity that enables young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to re-engage with education and with their own futures and how longitudinal impact of learning is evidenced and attributed.
• Support colleagues to develop the Social Enterprise Schools product in the Global North to incorporate leadership outcomes, enhancing the self-leadership and teamwork skills of disadvantaged young people. The product would need to be scalable, saleable and aligned with relevant policy priorities.
• Support colleagues in Social Enterprise Schools, Global Learning Lab and International Teams to develop a Social Enterprise Schools self-serve product available at little or no cost for schools in the Global South.

For a full set of criteria, information about the Time to Shine Leadership Programme and how to apply for this post please download the recruitment pack from our website.

Organisation profile:

At the Social Enterprise Academy, we believe social entrepreneurs play an essential role in changing the world.

We strengthen their role in local communities through transformational learning programmes that will increase their community impact.

Our programmes are accredited, responsive to learner needs, and are delivered by experienced facilitators who are social change leaders themselves.

Since 2004, we have delivered over 1,900 learning programmes to 28,000+ learners in over 30 countries. We have also engaged over 55,000 young people around the world, using social enterprise as a tool to help them reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities.

Do you want to work for a social enterprise that thrives on making a difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged young people, adults and communities? Are you passionate about all people being able to reach their full potential and generating creative solutions to the barriers that prevent this from happening with the individuals.

We are seeking a creative, energetic and compassionate individual to fill this vacancy and work in our amazing training team.

The Larder is committed to creating a more equal and just Scotland through the alternative economic model of social enterprise and calling for a Scotland without poverty, where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and the right to food is enshrined in Scots law.

The Service

The role will be instrumental in the continued development of our training academy for young people and adults who experience complex and multiple barriers to reaching their full potential. Last year we support 350 learners with 100% of those that we worked with being more confident, 93% gaining qualifications and 81% reaching a positive destination where eligible.

The Job

We are recruiting for an experienced and dynamic Project Co-ordinator to join our award winning training team to develop and establish our new Youth Enterprise Support Programme (YES).

The role is instrumental in the continued development of our training academy for young people and adults experiencing complex and multiple barriers to reaching their full potential. Last year we supported 350 children, young people and adults with 100% telling us they were more confident, 93% gaining qualifications and 81% reaching a positive destination.

The Project Co-ordinator will be responsible for Developing two, co-produced enterprise training programmes with young people being involved in the design, development and delivery of the projects:

• Shooting Stars and Slippery Slopes board game, raising awareness of gambling in a fun and engaging way.

• Adapting the workplace for Neurodivergence - to raise awareness with employers on how to support young people and adults who are living with neurodivergence into sustainable employment. The programmes will be designed and delivered by young people with lived experience.

The successful post holder will be responsible for developing the project from scratch, recruiting young people and developing the ideas as enterprising projects that can be sustainable beyond the funding period of two years.

The YES programme Project Co-ordinator will recruit and support 20 young people to co-produce and deliver an enterprise project.

The successful candidate will have strong youth work skills and at least three years’ experience of working with young people in co-production. We are also looking for someone who can work on a strengths based model of youth work and has an understanding of social enterprise.

The role is full time position but we would consider part time and/or flexible working. We have a fantastic facility to deliver training and amazing team to help you become part of The Larder family. Core hours are Monday - Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm but you may be required to work alternative hours, including evenings and weekends. You will have 29 days annual leave per year, inclusive of public holidays.

This is a permanent role within Scran Academy with the core purpose of leading the personal and social development of young people by being the driving force of our Academy Programme.

The successful candidate will help change the lives of young people facing poverty by supporting them through a year-long programme of non-formal learning in a youth work setting. The role is incredibly rewarding but also particularly challenging, as professional boundaries and responsibilities need to be balanced skilfully within compassionate, positive relationships. Candidates with demonstrable experience of this in a role supporting vulnerable groups will be at an advantage.

The post holder will act as a critical relationship builder and point of contact for young people on the programme, and be the operational link for families and referral partners, including schools.

The Youth Development Coordinator will be responsible for the overall delivery and development of the Academy programme, and for ensuring young people are engaged across our organisation.

Due to growth in our services, we are looking for proactive, empathetic and flexible part time Wellbeing Practitioners to join our Adult Services Team. These roles will be based primarily in Treehouse, a specialised service for neurodivergent individuals who require bespoke packages of wellbeing and learning support.

You will use person-centred approach to ensure the needs of adults in our services are met, supporting them to engage with agreed outcomes, building confidence and resilience, and enhancing their wellbeing and opportunities for independence. You will work collaboratively to create a safe and nurturing environment and ensure the highest quality of support and safeguarding standards.

Experience of working with individuals with additional support needs, good understanding of safeguarding and commitment to Donaldsons’ values and ethos are essential. You will be a creative problem-solver, able to respond flexibly to changing circumstances while providing structured and consistent support that needs individual support needs. A relevant qualification, such as SVQ 2 in social care, would be advantageous.

The post is subject to PVG Scheme Record/Update.

This vacancy is advertised on a rolling basis, with applications reviewed as they come in. The vacancy may close earlier if the positions are filled ahead of closing date.