Freelance Business Advisor (Part-time)

Virgin StartUp exists to help founders in the UK to not only start up and survive, but thrive.

Since late 2013, we’ve worked with tens of thousands of founders to help them turn their business ideas into a reality, providing over £60m in Start Up Loan funding to over 4,000 entrepreneurs.

Each one of those founders works with one of our Business Advisors to help them craft their business idea and set them up for success. In addition, every founder that we fund joins our exclusive ‘Funded Club’ and becomes part of the Virgin StartUp community – benefitting from the mentoring support and other opportunities that we provide.

Early-stage support is a really important part of what Virgin StartUp is all about and it provides the opportunity for founders to work with someone to realise their dream of setting up their own business.

We’re looking for Freelance Business Advisors who have a passion for helping start-ups thrive. This is an ideal position for someone who is interested in helping a broad range of founders across a variety of different industries. Someone who can manage multiple applications at various stages and support founders as required. You will need to be a strong team player, be highly organised and be willing to positively represent Virgin StartUp.

Key Responsibilities

Business Advisors work with the Founder Support Team and our Funding Managers to support founders through the application process by:

• Conducting an initial assessment of the viability of the business idea, determine what support is needed, agree action plans and provide feedback.
• Review applicant’s Business Plan and assist them to further develop and improve their underlying proposition and ensure Cash Flow Forecasts are accurate and financially sound until they are ready to submit to the Loan Panel.
•  Produce detailed loan application appraisals in order to submit the applications to Loan Panel for a funding decision.
• Ensure that the support provided conforms to the Start Up Loans Company’s Minimum Standards and any additional policies set out by Virgin StartUp.
• Motivate founders and manage caseload effectively to ensure founders are supported through their start up journey in a reasonable time frame.

Knowledge and experience

• Direct experience in assessing Business Plans and Cash Flow Forecasts.
• Proven understanding of commercial business gained through either SME management or experience of running own business
• Extensive knowledge of key aspects of business that affect the success of start-ups
• Well-developed analytical skills, including the ability to assimilate complex information, identify and prioritise key issues and assist the applicant to identify practical solutions
• Sound understanding of financial forecasts and their impact on business
• Strong business acumen
• Well-developed training, coaching, mentoring and motivational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong IT skills, proficient in Microsoft Office especially in excel.

Skills

• Excellent planning, organisational and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Accustomed to delivering excellent results against targets and meeting deadlines
• Self-motivated and strong team player
• Ability to prioritise and manage a high caseload of work
• Flexible, adaptable, resourceful and resilient

Salary: Remuneration is based on fixed outputs

Location: Remote

Benefits:No Benefits Included due to nature of Freelance Role

Contract: Part Time Freelance, the role is complementary alongside other consultancy/freelance work.

If you’re excited by this role and helping founders not only start up and survive, but thrive, please apply with your CV and cover letter stating why you would be a good fit for Virgin StartUp.