- Advertised from 19th March 2025
Role
The Ventures Lab is a programme led by The Challenges Group, bringing over 25 years of experience in supporting impact-driven enterprises across 80 countries. Through The Ventures Lab, we apply this expertise to Scotland, building a pipeline of ventures that drive economic and social impact at scale.
Our Impact Venture Builder Programme provides a structured, hands-on approach to venture-building, offering: Tailored business support to strengthen enterprises and their ecosystems. Learning and leadership development to build entrepreneurial capability. Access to finance through patient capital and investment readiness support. Workspace and a collaborative ecosystem to nurture ideas and innovation. A strong business network connecting founders to mentors, partners, and market opportunities.
Market research Manager:
We’re looking for an exceptional Market Research Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping the success of ventures at The Ventures Lab.
This role goes beyond conducting research, it’s about equipping ventures with the tools, frameworks, and methodologies they need to understand and apply market insights effectively. You’ll provide practical, hands-on support, helping ventures navigate market trends, identify opportunities, and make informed, strategic decisions about their business models and growth
As a Market Research Manager, you will:
- Conduct in-depth market research to assess industry trends, customer needs, and competitive landscapes for ventures in the Builder Programme.
- Support ventures in market segmentation, including defining each target market, its wants and needs, and how the venture will address them.
- Analyse market size and challenges, assessing potential demand and barriers to entry.
- Provide insights on market outlook, identifying emerging trends and long-term growth potential.
- Assist ventures in defining their target market
- Guide ventures through competitive analysis, identifying key competitors and highlighting key differences between their businesses and the venture’s offering.
- Assess competitive advantages and positioning within the market.
- Conduct customer validation through surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
- Provide data-driven recommendations to refine business models, value propositions, and go-to-market strategies.
- Work collaboratively with entrepreneurs, mentors, and advisors within The Ventures Lab to integrate research findings into business planning.
This is more than just a role, it’s an opportunity to be at the heart of Scotland’s social enterprise movement, helping ventures reach £1m+ in revenue within 3-5 years and driving real, measurable change.
Application notes
For more information please contact angie.lee@thechallengesgroup.com
Download the full recruitment pack below
Downloads
Communications Manager
- Part time
- £30,000 – £35,000 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 13th April 2025
We're looking for a Communications Manager to lead, oversee all the marketing, communications, and engagement functions for The Challenges Group. Working to increase our visibility as a purpose-led enterprise development organisation amongst our various audiences.
A recruitment pack can be downloaded below.
Top job! Director of Venture Support Services
- Full time
- £45,000 – £50,000
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 11th April 2025
The Ventures Lab is a programme led by The Challenges Group, bringing over 25 years of experience in supporting impact-driven enterprises across 80 countries. Through The Ventures Lab, we apply this expertise to Scotland, building a pipeline of ventures that drive economic and social impact at scale.
The Ventures Lab is redefining how purpose-led enterprises access the expertise they need to grow and succeed. Through our pioneering Pooled Services model, we provide high quality business support in finance, legal, marketing, and business development, allowing ventures to focus on impact without the overheads of costly in-house teams.
Following a successful pilot with a select group of clients, we are now entering a crucial growth phase scaling pooled services into a national offering that will support social enterprises across Scotland. This is an exciting moment to shape and lead a transformative service.
We are seeking an experienced, strategic leader to drive the scaling, innovation, and long-term sustainability of pooled services, positioning The Ventures Lab as the go-to platform for social enterprises seeking expert business support
Role Overview
The Director of Venture Support Services will drive the strategic development and growth of The Ventures Lab’s pooled services. This role requires a strong balance of strategic leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement to ensure high-quality service delivery and long-term sustainability.
A key part of this role will be building and leading a team to deliver high-quality business support services. The successful candidate will be responsible for recruiting, managing, and developing a team of professionals to ensure seamless service delivery.
Additionally, the Director of Venture Support Services will develop a network of professional partners across various sectors and disciplines, securing a community of trusted advisors, pro-bono experts, and service providers who are committed to supporting purpose-led businesses through volunteering, discounted services, or strategic collaboration.
Growth Targets
In 2025, The Ventures Lab aims to recruit 20 new businesses into the pooled services model. From there, we plan to grow by a minimum of 50% year on year, steadily increasing our reach and impact. The Director of Venture Support Services will play a crucial role in achieving these targets by ensuring the model is scalable, effective, and financially sustainable.
Head of Communications and Gaelic
- Part time
- £35,340 pro-rata
- On site: Isle of Tiree
- Closing 17th April 2025
Tiree Community Development Trust (known as “Urras Thiriodh”) are seeking a Head of Comms and Gaelic to take on a lead role in delivering our ambitious ongoing community development work for the beautiful and vibrant Inner Hebridean island of Tiree.
The newly created role combines management and direct project delivery work and would suit a candidate with relevant experience, strong Scots Gaelic language skills, and a pro-active approach looking to take on a challenge in a unique, bustling and diverse community development environment. You’d join a strong established team with a track record of delivering ambitious projects and vital community services, with the goal of ensuring the sustainable development of a small island community, making Tiree the best possible place to live, work and grow. The role involves working across our company group to support communications with key stakeholders, and with a key focus on embedding the use of Gaelic across our work and ensuring ongoing efforts to retain Gaelic as a living community language.
The role will play a key part in the ongoing delivery of our Community Development Plan – tireetrust.org.uk/the-development-plan.
We are looking for an experienced communication professional to join Inspiring Scotland’s small, but effective and ambitious communication team. Alongside the Communications Manager and Communications Assistant, you will plan and deliver activity to engage and influence a range of stakeholders including Scottish Charities, The Scottish Government, Trusts and Foundations, and private individuals.
What’s in it for you?
- Salary: £29,500 to £30,500 pa
- Full time: 35h per week
- Employer pension contribution 9.25%
- Private Medical Insurance
- Medicash plan
We are a flexible employer and offer an excellent benefits package. We have won or been nominated for Family Friendly Awards three times. We also have been nominated for Best Flexible Working Initiative – sponsored by Flexibility Works. Inspiring Scotland is committed Living Wage and Disability Confident Employer.
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