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This recruitment is continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be located in the new Department for Business and Trade. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.

The Department for Business and International Trade (DBT) is an international economic department designed to secure UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment and championing free trade.

Part of DBT’s Export and Trade Group, Regions Directorate provides internationalisation support to businesses at a local level, driving growth and prosperity while ensuring no business is left behind. We do this through our network of International Trade Advisers who work with businesses daily; by identifying and promoting regional propositions that may otherwise not be prominent to overseas investors; and by maintaining strong relationships with local partners.

You will be part of the Northern Powerhouse (NPH) team which is tasked with growing the North of England through trade and investment. This team plays an important role Government’s Levelling Up agenda. We also work proactively to deliver and support the HMG Exports Strategy, which sets out the UK’s ambition to grow exports as a share of GDP and the framework to deliver this.

Based in one of our DBT Northern offices (Leeds, Manchester, Darlington). The role will be centred on

• a) maintaining briefing and marketing collateral on the NPH and key sectors,
• b) working with colleagues across the region on organisation of events and
• c) preparing for Ministerial, senior official and other visits to the region.

A key part of this role will be to build and maintain relationships with key local partners.

For this role, the Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.

Briefing

You will keep data, briefing and marketing collateral up to date and accessible, working with colleagues and partners. This may include sourcing, collating or writing new material and data, for example on places, sub-sectors of the economy or businesses in the NPH. The focus will be on ensuring briefing remains relevant, including that statistics are updated, and that our data on businesses is reviewed at regular intervals.

Correspondence

You will manage a group inbox and be response for triaging emails. The inbox is the first point of call for internal commissions including but not limited to diary advice for Ministers, and correspondence on behalf of Ministers and the Department. You will also deal with regular commissions including Oral Questions and Departmental Updates. The emails that come through the inbox vary quite heavily in nature, strong organisational and prioritisation skills are required to ensure all requests are dealt with in a timely manner.

Visit and Event Planning

DIT NPH receives many visits from Ministers, senior staff and from staff working in DBT offices overseas. You will be responsible for supporting on aspects of Ministerial and senior staff visits including the organisation of visit plans. Typically, visits include a meeting with a senior member of NPH team, a roundtable with selected businesses and a site visit to a company. In some cases, they will involve the visitor giving a speech. You will need to ensure that plans for high impact events e.g speakers, venues, communications etc are drawn up and followed through. The implementation itself will usually be done by others and this is not a Visit or Events Management role. As such we are looking for someone who is logical, well organised, and good at managing time.

You will ensure that visits and events:

• Have a clear, realistic and achievable objective that our team can deliver.
• Do not clash with/contradict other priority activity.
• Are planned sufficiently far in advance to allow a successful visit.
• Have the right visual backdrop, e.g. presentations, banners or in terms of venue
• Are well communicated throughout the team and stakeholders

You will assist the Briefing Lead and Briefing Manager to help plan logistics, including sourcing locations for events and travel to and between these.

Activities are likely to include:

• Maintaining an overview of upcoming events and a planning timeline for each.
• Drafting Honours nominations on a bi-annual basis.
• Ensuring feedback from events is collected and analysed to enable continuous improvement.
• Building relationships with other teams in DBT, as well as external stakeholders who may host or assist with events.
• Making decisions on, and some completion of, finance and admin tasks linked to event delivery
• Assist with booking internal meeting and events
• Provide support for the wider NPH team

There are currently no line management responsibilities.

The role will be based in either Darlington, Leeds or Manchester. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Most DIT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London salary.

DIT will cover travel costs/expenses to any office which is not your usual office location in line with departmental expenses policy. DIT will not cover commuting costs to your agreed office location.

Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.

Essential Criteria

• Good knowledge of Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
• Effective organisational and time management skills
• Strong written and communication skills

Desirable Criteria

• Prior experience of briefing and/or writing for professional purposes.
• Experience of working in, or with, business and the public sector.
• Some experience or knowledge of international trade and investment.

Event management experience is not essential, and this is not an ‘event management’ role per se, but some knowledge would be beneficial, combined with a willingness to learn.

Personal Attributes & Skills

This is a varied and dynamic role in a busy team, with plenty of opportunity for learning and broadening your skills and knowledge. We are looking for an individual who:

• Uses initiative to find solutions
• Is good at working and communicating with others, including businesses, external partners, and senior individuals.
• Is friendly, approachable, and proactive in supporting others in the team.
• Is comfortable working with numbers and data.
• Writes clearly and accurately.
• Can work well under pressure.

Support in applying for our vacancies is available by joining a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

Name :
Mark Todd
Email :
[email protected]

Recruitment team :

Email :
[email protected]