Business Pillar Lead

Business Pillar Lead

Shaping Portsmouth
Location: Portsmouth Guildhall, with hybrid working
Salary: £27,875 FTE, pro rata
Hours: 20–25 hours per week
Contract: Permanent, part-time
Start date: October 2026
Closing date: Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 5pm
Interview date: Friday 18 September 2026

Applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis, so the vacancy may close early.

The role

Shaping Portsmouth is looking for a proactive and relationship-focused Business Pillar Lead to support businesses across the city.

You will manage four key programmes:

Portsmouth Business Support Service
Greener Portsmouth Partnership
Business Digital Resilience
Workplace Wellbeing
The role is ideal for someone with experience in business engagement, partnerships, programme delivery, stakeholder management or economic development.

You do not need to be an expert in every programme area. You do need to be confident building relationships, understanding business needs and bringing the right people together.

Key responsibilities

Manage and develop Business Pillar programmes.
Build relationships with local businesses and partners.
Coordinate workshops, events, mentoring and campaigns.
Identify business needs and turn them into practical activity.
Increase programme participation, reach and impact.
Gather feedback and monitor outcomes.
Represent Shaping Portsmouth at meetings and networking events.
Support communications, case studies and partnership opportunities.
About you

You will have:

Experience building professional relationships with businesses or stakeholders.
Experience delivering projects, programmes, events or business-facing activity.
Strong communication and organisational skills.
Confidence managing multiple priorities.
A proactive and self-motivated approach.
The ability to work independently and collaboratively.
An interest in Portsmouth and its business community.
 
Experience in business support, economic development, membership organisations, non-profits or partnership-led environments would be beneficial.

We welcome applications from candidates with transferable skills, even if you do not meet every desirable requirement.

Working pattern

This is a flexible, part-time role working 20–25 hours per week across Monday to Friday.

The role includes office, home and external working. The team works together in the Portsmouth Guildhall office on Mondays.

Some early morning, evening or weekend work may be required for events.

Benefits

Flexible and hybrid working
Four weeks’ holiday, pro rata
Christmas office closure
Birthday leave
NEST pension
Training and development
Enhanced family-friendly policies
Work phone and laptop
Invitations to business and partner events
 
Equality and inclusion

Shaping Portsmouth is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

A guaranteed interview is available to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as disabled, a care leaver, someone with experience of foster care or an armed forces veteran
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed