37 hours per week, fixed term contract until 31^st March 2025 (or until the return of the post holder subject to an appropriate notice period). The usual working days for this post are Mondays – Fridays.

Do you have a passion for the world of business and a desire to help aspiring entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground and succeed?

Are you interested in helping people to start and grow their small businesses? Do you have a proactive approach to customer service and good enquiry handling skills?

We are looking for a motivated individual to join the team of the Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) based at Bristol Central Library.

This role will sit in the BIPC team which is part of Bristol Libraries, you will help to support start-up businesses and entrepreneurs across Bristol to develop the insight, skills and confidence they need to start and grow successful businesses.

The post will support the day-to-day delivery of core Business & Intellectual Property Centre services, including the delivery of workshops, webinars and events, one-to-one clinics (both face-to-face and online), and responding to business information and intellectual property enquiries from customers.

You must possess excellent communication skills and be able to engage with a wide range of people’s information needs proactively.  Experience of customer service and delivering training will also be important and a good knowledge of information resources and enquiry skills is essential. You will have knowledge of business information resources and/or intellectual property and an interest in supporting entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.

Additional training for this role will be provided in our business eResources and databases and a range of training up to IP Masterclass level is provided through our partnership with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). The BIPC national network is an active and supportive network, sharing best practice, training and resources. We are also working closely with local business support services including WECA Growth Hub, local IP attorney services as well as Bristol City Council’s Economic Regeneration Team.

This post is based at Bristol Central Library but will involve working at different locations across the city, in particular this post will support the delivery of BIPC services at the three smaller BIPC locals at Junction 3 Library, Knowle Library and Southmead Library. The post may require occasional early morning, evening and weekend working.

The BIPC network is part of a national project led by the British Library. This post is funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund through the West of England Combined Authority.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

For more information about the BIPC network:

https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/national-network

https://www.youtube.com/user/BIPCTV

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice – mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact: Paul Kelson, Business & IP Centre Manager: paul.kelson@bristol.gov.uk

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic and disabled candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.