Innovation Consultant

Ventula Consulting; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Ventula Consulting Ltd. in London is seeking an experienced Innovation & Growth Advisor to deliver a publicly funded growth and innovation programme for ambitious start-ups, scale-ups and high-growth SMEs.

You will provide strategic advice to help secure funding, commercialise innovations and accelerate growth. The role focuses on advising founders and leadership teams, developing growth strategies, and building partnerships with universities, investors and funding bodies.

Qualifications

• Experience advising or supporting start-ups, scale-ups or high-growth SMEs.
• Strong understanding of business growth, innovation strategy, and funding.
• Knowledge of the innovation funding landscape, including R&D grants.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple client relationships and deliver against objectives.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of innovative start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs.
• Advise founders and leadership teams on growth, innovation and funding opportunities.
• Help businesses identify barriers to growth and develop practical action plans.
• Support companies in accessing R&D funding, investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
• Advise businesses on innovation management, intellectual property and opportunities for expansion.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem, including businesses, universities, investors and funding organisations.
• Deliver workshops, networking events and other activities to support business growth and collaboration.
• Maintain accurate client records and contribute to programme reporting and performance objectives.

Skills

Startup advisory

Growth strategy

Funding opportunities

Stakeholder engagement

Relationship building

Communication

Job description

We are recruiting for an experienced Innovation & Business Growth Advisor to join an established team delivering a publicly funded business growth and innovation programme.

This is an excellent opportunity to work directly with ambitious start-ups, scale-ups and high-growth SMEs, providing strategic advice and practical support to help them secure funding, commercialise innovations and accelerate their growth.

You'll act as a trusted advisor to business founders and senior leadership teams, helping them identify challenges, explore new opportunities and develop effective innovation and growth strategies.

The role would suit someone with a strong understanding of the start-up and scale-up ecosystem who enjoys building relationships, providing strategic guidance and helping innovative businesses achieve their commercial potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of innovative start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, providing tailored one-to-one business advice and support.
• Advise founders and leadership teams on business growth, innovation strategies, commercialisation and funding opportunities.
• Help businesses identify barriers to growth and develop practical, achievable action plans.
• Support companies in accessing R&D funding, investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
• Advise businesses on innovation management, intellectual property and opportunities for expansion.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem, including businesses, universities, investors and funding organisations.
• Deliver workshops, networking events and other activities to support business growth and collaboration.
• Maintain accurate client records and contribute to programme reporting and performance objectives.

About You

We're looking for a commercially minded, proactive and personable individual who has experience working with innovative businesses and understands the challenges faced by founders and growing companies.

Ideally, you'll have:

• Experience advising or supporting start-ups, scale-ups or high-growth SMEs, ideally working directly with founders and senior management teams.
• A strong understanding of business growth, innovation strategy, commercialisation and/or funding.
• Knowledge of the innovation funding landscape, including R&D grants and other sources of business finance.
• Experience supporting innovation projects, R&D collaborations or strategic business partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to challenge business leaders constructively and act as a trusted advisor.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify business challenges and recommend practical solutions.
• The ability to independently manage multiple client relationships, prioritise workloads and deliver against objectives.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.

It would also be advantageous to have:

• Experience working on publicly funded business support, innovation or economic development programmes.
• Experience supporting technology-led businesses, spinouts or research-intensive SMEs.
• Knowledge of investment readiness, intellectual property and international business development.

Location: London – Hybrid, 2 days on-site per week

Contract: Until March 2027, with potential for extension