Job Purpose

The Student and Graduate Enterprise Advisor will be responsible for delivery of enterprise support and activities to aspiring student and graduate ventures at the University of Glasgow. The primary purpose of this role is working with clients on a one-to-one basis (discussing business propositions, reviewing business plans, supporting the development of competition applications and pitch decks, signposting to appropriate ecosystem partners and working collaboratively with University colleagues to access expert support and mentorship from our alumni network), supporting their development as they progress through the company formation process and beyond.

The post holder will also develop and manage a range of programmes including regular start-up bootcamps, an annual Start Up Factory Weekend, Summer and Growth programmes, as well as supporting design sprints and other emerging programmes across specific disciplines. The role holder will also support the development of entrepreneurship in the curriculum.

The role holder will be line managed by the Student and Graduate Enterprise Manager and work closely with the Innovation and Enterprise Programmes teams, who hold overall accountability for the operational delivery of the Directorate’s enterprise programme activities. The post does require some evening and weekend support for programme delivery.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Ecosystem Support: Provide the initial point of contact for all early stage start-up opportunities (excluding spin-out opportunities) emerging from the University of Glasgow student and alumni community, deliver advice and support to enhance enterprise activities. Review client information, conduct initial client meetings and onboard clients into the support process.

2. Portfolio Management: Manage a portfolio of early-stage start-up clients, providing bespoke business support (business case, business model canvas and business plan reviews, business competition application support, signposting) through one-to-one meetings and follow-up actions.

3. Programme Delivery: Support, deliver and evaluate UofG Enterprise programmes for staff and students, including workshops, hackathons and associated programme activity, working with the Student Enterprise Manager and Innovation and Enterprise Programmes team. Support the development and delivery of Innovation 101 programmes to drive awareness of innovation. Increase the number of participants across these programmes. Provide in curriculum support as required.

4. Provision of Advice: Provide specialist advice to potential programme applicants/participants on preparing external funding applications, business plans and business cases and helping them with the practicalities of starting a business from concept onwards.

5. Best Practice: Develop and implement an evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness and impact of interventions, including employing qualitative and quantitative analysis, capturing demographic information on engagement, project outcomes and follow-on activities.

6. Stakeholder management: to manage and maintain appropriate relationships with key stakeholders, including senior members of staff, Innovation, Enterprise and Economic Development and College Innovation Teams, and with key external stakeholders.

7. Service excellence: Develop accessible online materials to support one-to-many approaches

8. Data management: to provide management information and data analysis to inform both day to day decision making and also the long-term strategic outlook of the programme and ensuring the integrity of all relevant project data on University systems.

9. Other: Other activities as set out by the Student and Graduate Enterprise Manager.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience Knowledge/Qualifications Essential:

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 [Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4], or equivalent in a relevant discipline/business area with evidence of continued professional development in an area relevant to the role.

A2 Thorough and detailed Knowledge of project management methodologies and principles.

A3 Thorough and detailed Knowledge of the innovation and knowledge exchange landscape within HE, or knowledge of the Scottish innovation and start-up ecosystem.

A4 Detailed understanding of business idea validation tools, such as Business Model Canvas, and matters surrounding company creation.

A5 Understanding of business case development processes and completion of successful funding applications.

Skills Essential:

C1 Project management – both short-term deadline driven and longer-term involving multiple conflicting deadlines and coordination across multiple organisational units.

C2 Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate at all levels.

C3 Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing environments.

C4 High level of influencing and negotiating skills.

C5 Ability to exercise initiative and work independently but also as part of a team.

C6 Ability to network effectively.

Desirable:

D1 Ability to assess risks and financial implications.

Experience Essential:

E1 Experience of working with Spinout, start-up or small companies, providing advice/management or development activities.

E2 Experience of working successfully in a complex organisational structure and bringing together and coordinating external partners.

E3 Experience in the successful development and delivery of presentations and workshops (e.g. public speaking, enterprise workshops).

E4 Experience of commercialisation of academic research, particularly in one of the following areas: technology, engineering, physical/chemical sciences, green technologies.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and open ended. The post does require some evening and weekend support for programme delivery.

Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Closing date: 8 February 2026

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.