Business Support Officer

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.

We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.

There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent Regeneration & Culture team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

• We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
• Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
• If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
• We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
• There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
• Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post:

The Business Support Officer is a crucial support role within the Programme and Place team at Barnsley Council.  

You will provide technical business support services within a team that runs traditional and specialist markets in the Principal Towns, coordinates promotional events and commercial activity in Barnsley Town Centre and Principal Towns, and regulates borough-wide street trading.  

This role will work closely with independent traders and support them to start, grow, and establish their businesses in urban centres across the borough, contributing to the vitality and vibrancy of Barnsley Town Centre and the high streets in the Principal Towns. 

About the Post: 

• You will support place management of urban centres within the borough, providing administrative duties to several key meetings, including the Urban Centres Operational Management Group and the Urban Centres Strategy Group.    

• You will support economic growth in the borough’s urban centres by managing information about businesses to ensure the delivery of outdoor markets, events, promotions, and commercial activity e.g. contact details.  

• You will work with street traders and process applications for Street Trading Consent on an annual and occasional basis, guaranteeing that information is accurate and received on time, and appropriate fees paid, to ensure no gaps in trading.   

• You will support monitoring performance of the borough’s urban centres by collecting data and producing reports (e.g. in-person high street occupancy checks and interrogating online software that tracks footfall).    

• You will support economic growth and business development projects in the borough’s urban centres, dealing with queries over the phone and by email and responding to correspondence (e.g. Space Agency, High Street Rental Auctions).  

• You will build strong working relationships with teams in the council and with external stakeholders, to be able to contribute to resolving issues that may impact on vitality and viability of the borough’s urban centres. 

What we Offer:  

• A supportive and inclusive work culture where your contributions are valued, and your ideas are heard.  

• Opportunities for professional development and advancement, with access to training programs and mentorship initiatives.  

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including flexible working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, and weekend-working enhancements.  

Requirements:  

• Exceptional organisational abilities and attention to detail, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities effectively.  

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to build productive relationships with independent businesses.  

• A proactive work ethic and positive mindset with a passion for driving positive change within the town centre and high streets in the Principal Towns.  

Contact Chris Savage on chrissavage@barnsley.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion and apply online at www.barnsley.gov.uk/jobs