Business adviser Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

Your day-to-day tasks would normally include:

• looking at clients’ business ideas and analysing their potential
• helping clients to develop business plans
• advising on sources of finance and grants
• helping existing small businesses with problems such as finding ways to reduce costs or improve marketing
• referring clients to other sources of specialist advice if necessary
• networking with the local business community and enterprise organisations
• monitoring clients’ progress
• running advice workshops and seminars.

Hours

You would usually work standard office hours, Monday to Friday, with occasional meetings or networking events in the evenings or at weekends.

You may see clients at your own office, or you may travel around your local area to see clients at their premises.

Income

Salaries are normally between £20,000 and £35,000 a year.

Freelance business advisers charge a daily rate, which could between £140 and £500 a day.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To work as business adviser you will need proven experience and a good track record in business management. Most business advisers have run their own business, or worked in management, finance or human resources.

You will need to demonstrate a wide range of skills, including marketing, finance, planning and project management. Employers will usually be more interested in your skills and experience than your formal qualifications, although it may be helpful to have a business-related degree or professional qualification.

You will also need to get professional indemnity insurance.

Training and development

You would normally get initial on-the-job training from the business support organisation that employs you.

You would also take further training throughout your career, such as short courses and workshops run by the Institute of Consulting (IC), covering skills such as business counselling, marketing and mentoring.

You could also work towards qualifications such as:

• IC Certificate or Diploma in Business
• Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 5 Certificate in Business Support
• a postgraduate course in business coaching and mentoring.

As a member of the IC with at least two years’ experience, you can choose to be assessed for the Certified Business Advisor Award (CBA), which will give you independent recognition of your professional competence and skills. See the IC website for more information.

Any training that you do should meet the national standards for business support, making you eligible to join the National Register of Business Support Professionals. See the IC website for more details about the Register.

• Institute of Consulting - National Register

Skills and knowledge

To be a business adviser, you will need to have:

• experience of managing small or medium-sized businesses
• excellent written and spoken communication skills
• clear, objective and logical thinking
• awareness of current business issues and trends
• knowledge of local and national business support and funding initiatives
• a non-judgemental and positive approach
• IT skills
• good organisational skills and the ability to manage several projects at once
• the ability to work on your own initiative.

More information

Institute of Consulting (IC)
4th Floor, 2 Savoy Court
Strand
London
WC2R 0EZ
Tel: 020 7497 0580
www.iconsulting.org.uk

National Enterprise Network
www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org

Business Link
Tel: 0845 600 9006
www.businesslink.gov.uk

Invest Northern Ireland
Tel: 028 9023 9090
www.investni.com

Business Support Wales
Tel: 08457 969798
http://fs4b.wales.gov.uk

Scottish Enterprise
Tel: 0845 607 8787
www.scottish-enterprise.com

Opportunities

You could be employed by a local business support organisation or by a national network such as Business Link. Alternatively, you could work freelance under contract to one of these organisations.

Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press and on employers' websites.