Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:

Applications must be submitted by

14-10-2026

Vacancy for Customer Support Service Executive

The role will be one within the Customer Support Services Team at an Executive level as part of Innovate UK, which is a growing organisation undergoing a larger change programme.

*Please note this advert will close on the 13th of October 2026 at 23.59pm.

Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.

Title: Customer Support Service Executive

Band: UKRI Band C (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Salary: £30,895 gross per annum

Reports to: Customer Support Team Manager

Location: Swindon (Min 2 days per week in the office)

Contract: Fixed Term (31/03/2027)

Innovate UK works with businesses and stakeholders across every nation and region of the UK. As part of UKRI, our hybrid working approach is built around one simple principle: time should be spent where it delivers the greatest impact.

This means working across three settings: UKRI sites, time on the ground with businesses, partners and stakeholders and time working from home. It's an approach designed to support collaboration, connection and impact.

This role is in Tier 2, with 40-60% of working time typically spent either at a UKRI site or engaging with external businesses and stakeholders across the UK. Outside of this requirement, you can work from home. Whilst this role will be formally based at one of the following UKRI sites, it is externally facing, and we expect that there will be requirement to travel around the UK or specified region for 2 days each week on average.

Read the full UKRI Hybrid Working Policy Hybrid Working at UKRI

Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.

Job Purpose:

The role will be one within the Customer Support Services Team at an Executive level as part of Innovate UK, which is a growing organisation undergoing a larger change programme. The objectives of the role may change as the change programme progresses and as the business organisation matures.

The Customer Support Services Team members develop a comprehensive array of knowledge in order to support the customer in a timely manner. The role is demanding and rewarding.

The role is central to Innovate UK’s current and future operations.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Working as part of the wider Customer Support Services Team you will be:

• First line support to our customers via the telephone and through email ‘help desk’
• A first point of call for knowledge relating to the organisation’s activities particularly competitions and networks
• Responsible for the management of a large volume of assigned competition queries (phone & email), working with the Innovation Lead and Competition Manager to understand the nature of your assigned competitions and provide comprehensive management of assigned competition queries and resolutions.

Duties include:

• Track case history and support needs for telephone and email enquiries using the relevant tools and databases quickly and accurately
• Act as the interface between the customer and internal teams where necessary
• Liaise with Innovation Leads and specialist staff to facilitate positive customer outcomes.
• Work accurately and efficiently to ensure timely completion of customer enquiries
• Shadow assigned competition activities, eg, planning meetings and briefing events to ensure sound knowledge and accountability of your assigned competitions
• Handle multiple competition queries simultaneously without compromising on quality of customer services.
• Support the Customer Support Team Managers as and when required to ensure smooth workflows & day to day management of the team
• Support with preparation of weekly, fortnightly, monthly stats/reports as and when required
• Support development of colleagues to build overall strength of department.
• Identify training needs and feed back to Customer Support Team Managers
• Provide coaching/training/mentoring to colleagues with the guidance of the Customer Support Team Manager
• Provide support to colleagues with triaging and general enquiries as and when required
• Onsite support to our operations and strategy teams and remote support to our travelling Innovation Leads.
• Keep abreast of new competitions and opportunities to ensure accurate up to date information for customers
• Contribute to continual improvement processes within the team and the organisation to facilitate excellence in customer service
• Responsible for the upkeep of CRM templates, ensuring they are accurate and up to date with current Innovate UK details, policies and processes
• Where directed take responsibility for specific tasks relating to excellent customer service
• Ad hoc administrative/project work as directed by the Customer Support Team Managers
• Support for external events and briefings
• Utilise IT skills and develop CRM tools to enhance the service.
• Support other areas of Operations with their email traffic should the need arise through taking part in cross training across the department and ensuring maintenance of knowledge gained

This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

Shortlisting criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Person Specification:

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential –

• Qualified to A-level standard or equivalent experience (S)
• Clear previous experience of working within a call centre, customer help or support environment (S&I)
• Experience of working in a fast-paced and process-oriented environment (S&I)
• Demonstrable experience of working as part of effective teams, preferably in an operational/customer support environment to deliver results (I)
• Proven hands-on ability to work within a changing and process-led environment (I)
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders, providing proactive customer/stakeholder support, managing multiple deadlines concurrently (I)

Competencies:

All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:

Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management

Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.

Travel Requirements:

Swindon-based: There may be the occasional requirement for national travel.

Immigration straplines

We do sponsor - Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org or Careers@ukri.org.

We do not sponsor - As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

Limited.

Although this role could be eligible for sponsorship unfortunately the proposed salary precludes sponsorship unless the individual currently receives sponsorship for another role/sponsor issued under a certificate of sponsorship dated prior to 4 April 2024, and who continues to meet the New Entrant criteria (see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/when-you-can-be-paid-less).

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.

Equal Opportunities:

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.

UK Research and Innovation:

Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/.

Employee Benefits:

We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Flexible Working:

We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Pre-employment Screening:

To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.

Applications must be submitted by;

14-10-2026

Welcome and about us

Welcome to the Recruitment Site for Innovate UK Business Connect employees to apply for job opportunities within Innovate UK.

If you are not a Business Connect employee you can view externally available vacancies in Innovate UK here :

Watch a video on life at Innovate UK here.

About the opportunities available:

These opportunities may be available on a secondment or employment basis. In the case of a secondment your employer will remain Innovate UK Business Connect and an agreement between yourself, Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect will be drawn up setting out the terms of the secondment. Secondments are usually limited to two years. In the case of employment you would leave the employment of Innovate UK Business Connect and take up employment with Innovate UK. Further details for each role, and to agree individual circumstances will be discussed with you during the recruitment process.

Flexible Working:

We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.

Equal Opportunities:

We strive to make decisions based on individual merit and ability. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and promote equality of opportunity in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. As holders of Disability Confident Employer status, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Final appointments will be subject to pre-employment screening. We want to ensure that we select the person that most closely evidences their suitability against the specified criteria. If you feel that the way our selection methods/assessments are structured, could benefit from being adjusted, to help you convey your suitability, please let us know so that we can discuss your requirements with you.

If you require any assistance or adjustments please contact Recruitment@ukri.org who will be happy to help.

Other information

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.

Parking:

Limited parking subject to waiting list (Polaris House, Swindon only)