The Satellite Applications Catapult works with, and helps to grow, businesses of all sizes across the UK space sector. We are seeking a talented and driven individual to join our National Capabilities and Clusters Team, as Business Innovation Manager (BIM), with the responsibility for supporting the delivery of business innovation services at the Westcott Space Cluster.

The BIM will build a solid knowledge of the space ecosystem in Buckinghamshire, develop partnerships with Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnerships, and forge new relationships and collaborations between the local organisations and the national space ecosystem.

The BIM will support business growth at the Westcott space cluster through the delivery of our Westcott accelerator and incubation programme.  They will be responsible for this programme, managing the pipeline with support from the business development team at the Catapult, reporting on progress and targets to the LEP, and directly partaking in business support sessions where appropriate.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the engagement of businesses nationally and internationally to attract businesses to the cluster.  

• Be the main point of contact for businesses receiving support in the cluster and provide them with the guidance they require to navigate the services available

• Become a key team member, embedded as part of the local Catapult team at Westcott Space Cluster, whilst also being a core part of the National Capabilities and Clusters team into which they will report

Skills & Experience:

Must have:

• A good understanding of the relationship between innovation, development and economic growth.

• Proven track record in delivering creative interventions to facilitate business growth, including incubation or acceleration programmes.  

• Extensive proven experience as a business growth manager, business development manager, relationship manager or a relevant role. 

• Proven experience of working with businesses to understand their requirements to flourish and delivering challenging advice and guidance.

• Strong track record of reporting against delivery milestones

Good to have:

• Experience of levering public funding mechanisms to support R&D and innovation

• Experience of developing partnerships with investors and customers and senior stakeholders

• Organised with an attention to detail

• Enjoy solving problems and developing solutions

• Proven track record or experience of working in partnership with LEPs

You know you have been successful when…

• You have delivered incubation interventions to support business growth in partnership with local organisations

• You have delivered acceleration interventions in partnership with our facilities management team

• The pipeline of businesses utilising the support services that you have developed are in line with objectives and targets.

• Businesses (both space and non-space) are attracted to co-locate at Westcott Space Cluster.

• Growth in the number of new space businesses is achieved through the programmes that you have deployed

• You are feeding lessons learned into the Catapult’s national innovation services programme to enhance our overall delivery as well as the Westcott space cluster business support service offerings

• You are an active participant of the Westcott space leadership forum

The purpose of your new team:

The National Capabilities and Clusters Team has a vision to create a thriving and connected space ecosystem.

We aim to grow productive space clusters and a vibrant space community, working collaboratively to build national capabilities, delivering UK strategic priorities, and growing the economy. 

We do this in three ways:

1.       Supporting local leadership teams to develop sustainable growth strategies and become part of a productive cluster network recognised internationally.

2.       Connect stakeholder communities and build bridges between industry, government, and academia, enhancing knowledge exchange and collaborative opportunities.

3.       Stimulate the growth of national capabilities through improved innovation services, infrastructure interventions, and business scale-up support programmes.

How we work:

We strive to create a high trust environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work – this helps to create the foundations of an innovation culture.
Our shared values are critical to this:

• We care - for our people, our partners, and our planet

• We connect - and engage with people and ideas

• We learn - and grow, as people and as an industry

Underpinning this is our belief in great teams, our combined efforts will always deliver outcomes beyond that of any individual providing we are honest through debate, experiment and reflect, and create shared resolutions in support of our purpose. Live these values, work to our principles, take ownership to deliver, and we are certain you will thrive with us.