Careers at Virgin StartUp
We’re Virgin StartUp, a not-for-profit organisation that exists to help founders start up and thrive.
We know there’s a lot that goes into starting your business, so we’re here to help on all fronts - advice, access to funding, mentoring, training and sometimes just a friendly shoulder to lean on.
We provide straight talk and useful advice to make the entrepreneurial road less bumpy and access to a supportive and dynamic community to help you have some fun along the way.
Currently only one in five start-ups in the UK has a woman founder – we think that’s something that needs to change. In 2019 we became the first startup support organisation to pledge equal funding for men and women with our 50:50 pledge.
Virgin Startup supports founders and future founders as they get their startup ideas off the ground, all the way through to raising investment and scaling up. You can find out more about our support and programmes below:
Start Up Loans - https://www.virginstartup.org/start-up-loans
Virgin StartUp are one of the leading Delivery Partners of the Start Up Loans programme, a Government-backed scheme to help founders get their businesses funded. A Start Up Loan is a personal loan for founders looking to start or grow their businesses. You can borrow between £500 - £25,000 per co-founder and must be at idea stage or trading less than 3 years.
Founders who receive a Start Up Loan enter our Funded Club and get access to a range of support for 12 months, including mentoring, a free advice helpline and webinars. We’ve supported nearly 5,000 founders with Start Up Loans.
StepUp - https://www.virginstartup.org/step-up
StepUp is a free 3-day online programme, designed for London-based founders who want to take their businesses to the next level, typically trading for 6 months or more. The programme includes a series of workshops on topics like branding, marketing, fundraising and networking opportunities to develop founders' skills across branding, sales, funding and investment, to help take their businesses to the next level.
Collective Impact - https://www.virginstartup.org/virgin-startup-collective-impact
Collective Impact is an online accelerator designed for purpose-led startups looking to scale their impact by raising initial investment. The 12 founders from our July 2022 programme have raised more than £2.9 million investment.
Angel Investment Accelerator - https://www.virginstartup.org/virgin-startup-angel-investment-accelerator
Our exclusive new accelerator supercharges founders to investment readiness and allows them to practice their pitch with angel investors along the way.
Virgin StartUp run regular online events, including recent MeetUps featuring experts and leaders including Simon Sinek - https://www.virginstartup.org/news/simon-sinek-power-human-connection-should-be-heart-future-business. Check out the latest one at https://www.virginstartup.org/events.
Find out more about Virgin StartUp here https://www.virginstartup.org
Escape's take on Virgin StartUp
Helping some of the country's most interesting and innovative startups thrive and survive is an enviable task, and it's one that the Virgin Startup team undertake with great aplomb. A purposeful not-for-profit to its core, its employees spoke of the pride of seeing a Virgin Startup-funded business out in the wild, knowing that they helped get things rolling. Not at all surprising, then, that this wonderfully wholesome company has nabbed a spot on the Escape 100.
Stats we are proud of
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4800+
Number of Founders supported with start up funding
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£60m+
Total funding provided to start ups based in the UK
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50:50
We're committed to funding men and women founders equally
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£20m+
Combined fundraising total from our accelerator alumni
Behind the scenes
Team makeup
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26Employees
Benefits
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Cycle-to-Work
We are registered under the Cycle-to-Work scheme, so you can buy a bike and accessories tax-free.
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Pensions
Pensions, with a 5% employer contribution.
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Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
Well-paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave, which you're eligible for if you join more than 13 weeks before your expected date of childbirth or adoption.
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Health insurance
Private health insurance, and paid sick leave (for both your physical and mental health).
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Unlimited Leave
Unlimited holiday leave without any formal limit
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Regular salary reviews
In line with a salary framework, to ensure equal pay for equal work and that we recognise and reward when your responsibilities increase.
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Flexible working
Whether your child's ill, you're waiting for a package, or you have some deep-focussed work to do, we all work from home (or café) from time to time. We encourage everyone to work from home when you need to.
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Learning & development
We'll contribute towards books, training courses and conferences that help you learn and grow in your role here.
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Free Lunch
Wide selection of healthy meal options to choose from
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Tribe Discounts
Access to discounts with other Virgin Companies as well as selected partners
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Dental Insurance
Cover for routine check-ups and hygienist and cover towards restorative treatments
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360 Health Assessment
Regular check to make sure everything is in good working order
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Bonus Exchange
Option to exchange part or all of your bonus into your pension pot
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Life Assurance
Sum of money paid out in the event of death
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Will Writing
Get help writing your will
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Payroll Giving
Option to opt in for Give as you Earn
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Socials
Team socials. Anything from Axe Throwing, Shuffleboard, dinners, Ice Carving, Climbing and movie nights.