Researcher or Senior Researcher

We are looking to hire a new Researcher or Senior Researcher, depending on experience. The successful candidate will be a core member of the team – primarily producing policy reports and other written outputs, but also contributing on other fronts, such as supporting our events programme and developing the footprint of The Entrepreneurs Network in the policy ecosystem. 

The ideal candidate will be highly self-motivated with a strong interest in public policy. They will not simply wait to be assigned tasks, but proactively identify new opportunities to drive the policy agenda. We expect applicants to be recent graduates, or to be working in a similar role, or to have demonstrated the core competencies we’re after in another role.  

Strong applicants will have shown an active interest in policies and issues that impact entrepreneurs. Most importantly, their values will be in strong alignment with those of The Entrepreneurs Network.

About the job

  • Location: London

  • Salary: £xx,000-£xx,000 depending on experience

  • Duration: Permanent

  • Application closing date: Sunday, 28 September  

About The Entrepreneurs Network

The Entrepreneurs Network is a think tank which champions Britain’s most ambitious entrepreneurs. We believe that innovative startups are an essential ingredient for increasing living standards by making people richer and tackling other pressing issues. We are an independent, non-partisan organisation, and support entrepreneurs by:

  • Producing cutting-edge research into the best policies to support entrepreneurship;

  • Campaigning for policy changes that will help entrepreneurship flourish;

  • Hosting regular events to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and policymakers;

  • Updating entrepreneurs on how policy changes will impact their businesses;

  • Making the case in the media for entrepreneurs’ contributions to society.

We are also the Secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Entrepreneurship, which was set up to encourage, support and promote entrepreneurship and to ensure that Parliament is kept up to date on what is needed to create and sustain the most favourable conditions for entrepreneurship.

We are a small team that punches well above its weight in the think tank scene. Through their written output, events work, and other networking, the successful candidate will have opportunities to quickly rise up, establish a public profile and engage directly with the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and policymakers.

Role

  • Assist the Founder and Research Director in shaping and carrying out The Entrepreneurs Network’s policy and research agenda;

  • Author briefing papers, op eds, newsletters, and blog posts on key policy areas;

  • Represent The Entrepreneurs Network at events – including delivering speeches and briefings to policymakers;

  • Proactively attend events of similar organisations to build a network of policymakers, journalists, entrepreneurs and sponsors;

  • Support and lead in organising events, creating descriptions, researching and inviting speakers, attendees, and sponsors.

Skills

Necessary:

  • Ability to write persuasively to a high standard, across a range of formats (e.g. formal reports, op eds, shorter blogs, briefing notes for policymakers, etc.);

  • Ability to quickly research, analyse, and understand new concepts, issues, or policy areas;

  • Familiarity with the British political system, including how policy is made and the roles different actors and organisations play;    

  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to work quickly and meet deadlines;

  • Strong interest in the areas important to The Entrepreneurs Network, plus an alignment with our values.

Desirable:

  • Past experience of carrying out research and writing policy reports;

  • Familiarity with the work The Entrepreneurs Network does;

  • Relevant connections who could be useful to The Entrepreneurs Network (e.g. policymakers, journalists, potential sponsors, etc.).

Application process

To apply, please email your CV and a cover letter to info@tenentrepreneurs.org before or on Sunday, 28 September. Please attach your CV and cover letter as a combined PDF, titled in the following format <Firstname  Surname – (Senior) Researcher application>. (Include or omit Senior as appropriate.)  

In your cover letter, please: 

  • Reference three thinkers, commentators, or organisations who you believe are generally right about the policy areas they focus on; 

  • List three policy areas that you think are particularly important to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Britain, and which you would be interested in researching in more depth;

  • Indicate which policy areas you think you have the most expertise in;

  • Mention any other skills that you could bring to the team that are not stated in the job description above;

  • Include a link to your LinkedIn;

  • State how soon you would be able to join the team after receiving an offer, and whether there are any timing constraints that would be helpful for us to know about.  

Applicants with strong CVs and cover letters will be invited to complete a short written task, before being invited for a virtual interview with our Founder and Research Director.

Due to the number of applications we expect to receive, only candidates selected to advance to the written test will be contacted. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as we may appoint a successful candidate before the closing date.