Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £36,363 - £39,862
Location: Shute End, Wokingham
Contract: Contract
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: No
Closing Date: 19/06/2026 at 23:55
Reference: 711285
About the role
We have a fantastic opportunity available for a Business Engagement Officer to join our proactive Economic Development team at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full time, 2‑year fixed term contract.
This is an exciting role in which you will work at the heart of the local economy—engaging directly with businesses, partners, and stakeholders to strengthen our business base, support growth, and shape the future of Wokingham as a great place to do business.
You will build strong relationships with local employers, understand their needs, and connect them to relevant support, investment opportunities, and council services. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic individual to help shape the future of the borough through innovation and collaboration!
Key responsibilities
* Serve as primary point of contact for businesses in the borough, handling enquiries promptly, providing advice, and resolving issues.
* Support the economic development team and wider council in building and maintaining close working relationships with local employers, identifying needs, challenges, and growth opportunities, and assisting with the delivery of a coordinated business offer and a programme of engagement events.
* Proactively partner with external stakeholders in the business support space, such as the Berkshire Growth Hub, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and other local business networks to contribute toward the growth and sustainability of local businesses.
* Collect and analyse business intelligence to inform policy, strategy, and funding bids.
* Promote investment opportunities and support inward investment activity.
* Update business engagement details in the current CRM system and assist in the transition to an upgraded iteration.
* Monitor and report on the outcomes and impact of engagement activity.
Candidate requirements
* Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject.
* Experience in business development or managing a BID.
* Understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs and local economies.
* Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, with demonstrable stakeholder engagement experience.
* Demonstrated experience in target setting, monitoring, and evaluation.
* Excellent organisational and workload‑management skills.
* Ability to work collaboratively with senior officers, elected members, managers, staff, colleagues, and partners.
* Knowledge of local government structures, processes, and issues.
* Self‑starter, highly organised and driven with a strong ability to negotiate and achieve results.
* Commitment to excellent customer‑care standards in all service delivery.
Benefits
* A generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days (increasing to 35 days after 5 years of continuous local government service), plus bank holidays (pro‑rated for part‑time).
* An excellent local government pension scheme.
* An employee assistance programme, including a 24/7 wellbeing helpline.
* Access to a range of local and lifestyle discounts.
* Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office).
* Salary sacrifice car and cycle‑to‑work schemes.
* Additional benefits available upon request.
All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and other relevant employment checks.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.
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