Salary: Up to £40,000 plus competitive benefits package:

• 26 days holidays per year plus bank holidays with the option to buy 3 days with your Annual Flex Pot*
• Annual Flex Pot* to spend on benefits including additional pension, additional holidays, additional critical illness cover, additional life cover, cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership
• Health cash plan* (Access to claim back numerous benefits, including towards dental treatment, optical, chiropody, physiotherapy, counselling, health and wellbeing)
• Critical illness and income protection insurance*
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Access to an employee assistance programme and mental health first aiders
• Group Personal Pension (GPP)

*Applicable on completion of probationary period and subject to terms

Who are we?

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is the leading voice of 5.5 million small businesses and the self-employed across the UK. Since 1974, we've supported people to start, run and grow their own business. With market-leading benefits, local support, financial expertise, networking events and more, we provide our members with all the tools they need to succeed in business. We’re also the UK’s leading business campaigner, focused on delivering change on issues that matter most. With teams across the UK, we work with governments and decision-makers to make real change happen.

What will you do?

This is an interesting and varied role. As a key member of the FSB Scotland team, the successful candidate will:

• Have experience of writing press releases, articles and other content for newspapers, social media, internal publications etc.
• Have good experience of handling media enquiries.
• Possess a key knowledge of and have a good relationship with the Scottish media.
• Understand the use of effective use of social media platforms.
• Ability to produce accurate work to tight deadlines under pressure.
• Ability to write concise, high-impact copy, clearly communicating key messages to target audiences in writing.
• Possess strong verbal communication skills.
• Experience of organising and prioritising a demanding workload.

Desirable skills

• Have experience in managing website content.
• Experience of multimedia content production.
• Experience of working with volunteers or in a membership organisation.
• Knowledge of business issues as they impact on the self-employed and small business owners.
• Knowledge of political processes in Scotland, particularly the Scottish Parliament, and the wider political landscape.
• Knowledge of the UK Government and Parliament.

FSB is dedicated to helping small businesses survive through these difficult times, and we value our staff enough to provide highly competitive rates of pay, benefits, and internationally recognised qualifications. We believe your work life balance is important and we provide you with all the tools, skills and support to help our members every day, and help you develop your skills through teamwork and relationship building. We believe diversity is the key to success, and we encourage people from all walks of life and backgrounds to come and join us. Our inclusive environment allows all our employees to bring their whole selves to work.

FSB was established nearly 50 years ago to help small businesses and the self-employed achieve their ambitions. FSB is a not-for-profit organisation that’s run by members, for members.

Members get an exclusive package of great value business services including advice, financial products and support. These cover a wide range of benefits such as tax, legal and HR, local network groups and business banking.

We’re also the UK’s leading business campaigner, focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed. With teams across the UK, we work with governments, elected members and decision-makers to make real change happen.

We are currently seeking a Policy and External Affairs Assistant to join us on a 6 Month Fixed Term Contract basis. The main purpose of the role is to develop and support the delivery of FSB’s policy, external affairs, and campaigning work to maintain our public reputation as the authoritative voice of small business in Scotland.

What will you do?

This is an interesting and varied role. Within this role, your main responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating campaign activity across the FSB team in Scotland, including supporting colleagues in our field staff team to deliver campaigns in their areas.
• Developing and producing campaign material, including social media content and developing and managing online campaign material and presence.
• Drafting press releases and supporting in the response to media enquiries.
• Support policy and external affairs work by undertaking research, developing surveys, collating relevant statistics, feeding into consultation responses, drafting briefings based on existing policy work to inform parliamentary debates, and providing briefings to colleagues, as directed.
• Support continuous improvement in FSB’s Scottish social media presence and managing relevant Scottish sections of the FSB website, in coordination with FSB’s marketing team.
• Establishing and maintaining good working relationships with relevant external bodies and stakeholders, ensuring that FSB is regarded as a credible source of advice and information.

Who are we looking for?

• Experience in a role which required the incumbent to take responsibility and ownership for their decisions.
• Experience of developing and managing multi-media including social media
• Experience of content writing
• Experience of campaigning and influencing
• Knowledge of politics and/or economics
• Knowledge of Scottish public policy landscape
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Skilled in managing websites, blogs and other online and social media
• Ability to work to tight and often demanding deadlines relating to complex tasks

In addition to a fulfilling career with FSB, you’ll also benefit from:

• 26 days holidays plus bank holidays with the option to buy 3 days with your Annual Flex Pot*
• Annual Flex Pot* to spend on benefits including additional pension, additional holidays, additional critical illness cover, additional life cover, cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership
• Group Personal Pension (GPP) Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Health cash plan*
• Critical illness and income protection insurance*
• Access to an employee assistance programme and mental health first aiders

*Applicable on completion of probationary period and subject to terms