A genuine interest in supporting businesses and the ability to use your own experiences across a range of specialisms is more important than a specific degree subject.

As a self-employed business adviser, you'll provide information, support, coaching, advice and guidance to businesspeople. This could range from individuals looking to start their own business through to supporting established businesses to grow, scale up, change or diversify their business model, business sale, franchising, expansion, planning for retirement or running a business under Management. At Advice4 Business North East we can assist in most areas of business.

You'll provide specialist services depending on your expertise. Many business advisers specialise in supporting start-up businesses to move their business from concept to reality. This involves providing specialist finance and funding advice, consulting on organisational change and offering advice on innovation in technology, right through to supporting a business to develop international trade agreements. You will have a passion and desire to run your own successful Consultancy business setting a course using the Advice4Business North East Company toolkit, support, training and development tools to your best advantage.

Key areas include:

• providing information on finance, funding and grants
• offering mentoring and coaching to help a business through changes
• providing support on the business planning process
• giving advice on business improvement techniques
• introducing businesses to networks and associates
• supplying specialist support to specific business sectors
• offering specialist support to develop international trade agreements
• informing and influencing government policy on business support
• designing and delivering training seminars to provide business support to a wide audience.

Responsibilities

As a business adviser, you'll need to:

• possess an in-depth knowledge of the business support landscape and the ability to advise businesses on the range of options available
• undertake diagnostic needs assessments with businesses, including analysing the needs of the business and working with the client to put a business action plan in place
• develop your own professional network of associates who can provide a broad range of business and enterprise support services to your clients
• build positive relationships with clients, partners, associates and networks
• have excellent mentoring and coaching skills
• attend meetings with networks and associates to ensure you keep up to date with global, national, regional and local business support initiatives to ensure your clients benefit
• undertake research on behalf of a business
• communicate with clients, networks and associates
• provide start-up businesses with advice and guidance to assist them to successfully set up and commence trading (and go on to maintain their own sustainable business)
• provide established businesses clear direction to plan and execute to achieve their goals, short term and long term alike
• provide tutoring on, for example, suitable business plans and cash flow plans
• organise and deliver business networking events and business education seminars and workshops.

Earnings Potential

• As a self-employed Business Advisor this will range depending on experience and requirements from your own business, from 24k part time to uncapped earnings potential.
• Hours and potential earnings/expectations are dependant on a number of key factors which will be discussed at length during due diligence.
• Realistic cashflow projections will be discussed and agreed to support your business during due diligence

Working hours

Working hours are typically 37 to 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. You'll be required to attend breakfast and evening networking events and seminars. This is a flexible role to suit the candidate’s requirements for their lifestyle.

Part-time work is common, hours are to suit the lifestyle you want encompassed with the earnings potential you need.

What to expect

• It's essential that you can travel and have use of a car as you'll spend much of your time out visiting clients.
• Smart dress is required to maintain a professional business relationship with clients.
• Flexible working patterns and working from home is possible.
• Self-employed Business Advisors operating from our North East practise in Morpeth
• Work on client projects. Offer fresh thinking. Explore your interests. It's yours to build

Qualifications

Although no formal qualifications are required, a business-related degree / MBA would be an advantage.

Many business advisers are graduates from a variety of disciplines, who started out in a professional and financial service such as HR, recruitment, marketing, accountancy, finance and banking. Many business advisers have worked in industry and have run their own businesses. Other business advisers develop their skills within local government, corporate working life at senior level, working in economic development advisory roles.

Skills

You'll need to show:

• business acumen
• a good understanding of business functions such as sales and marketing, finance, operations, leadership and management
• strong verbal communication skills for articulating ideas to clients, it’s a people role first and foremost
•  be successful in this role.
• excellent written communication skills for producing plans, reports, evaluations and funding applications
• strong numeracy skills and a good command of English, with the ability to adapt these to a range of clients
• the ability to listen and interpret clients' needs and requests
• good analytical skills to conduct needs assessments, analyse data and produce clearly defined reports and action plans
• close attention to detail and accuracy
• organisational skills with the ability to collect and disseminate information
• the ability to work independently and flexibly
• a capacity to prioritise your work and to work across multiple projects
• a high level of interpersonal skills, including teamwork and the ability to build effective relationships with clients and deliver excellent customer service
• creative skills to enable you to solve problems and contribute new and innovative ideas
• the ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
• networking and consultancy skills
• knowledge of the existing and emerging business support landscape
• excellent IT skills and knowledge of social media platforms.

Work experience

Local government, local enterprise partnerships, charities and social enterprises, such as the Prince's Trust, North East Funding Agencies, are good places to look for work experience. While studying, find out what enterprise initiatives are available through your university and students' union.

Gain experience of starting your own business, or spend time shadowing a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) to develop an understanding of business operations and the challenges they face.

When you have gained experience, built a professional reputation and developed a network of contacts, you may choose to work on a freelance basis.

Professional development

You'll need to develop and maintain the broad base of skills, knowledge and understanding expected of a successful business and enterprise adviser. This means keeping up to date with government and international funding opportunities and continuing to develop your coaching and mentoring skills.

Once you have gained experience, a professional reputation and developed a network of contacts, you could consider the opportunity to work within an existing Business Consultancy practise who offers support and development opportunities whilst you grow your network and business.

Please contact us direct if you’re interested to find out more about this exciting business/career opportunity. Call Alistair Moore, Business Development Manager, Advice4Business North East on 01634 540232.