Policy Adviser – Access to Finance

About HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

About the Group

Enterprise and Growth Unit

The Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU) promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.  

We also work alongside other departments and government organisations to ensure that we are thinking creatively, spending wisely, and acting boldly to deliver these goals. These organisations are:

• the Department for Business and Trade,
• the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero,
• the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs,
• the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology,
• the Department for Transport,
• the Department for Culture, Media & Sport,
• the Competition and Markets Authority,
• HM Land Registry, and
• UK Export Finance

About the Team

Science, Technology & Access to Finance (STAF)

Science, innovation and digital technology transform how we live and work. This brings new opportunities to unlock economic growth, improve productivity and create high skilled jobs.

The Science, Technology & Access to Finance (STAF) team advises on how the UK can make the most of this opportunity. We supervise spending by, and lead the Treasury’s relationship with, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). We lead on the allocation and monitoring of R&D spending across government. We are responsible for HMT policy on the government’s 5 priority technologies – AI, quantum, telecoms, semiconductors and engineering biology. We set HM Treasury’s strategy for the digital technology sector, one of the Chancellor’s five growth sectors. We lead on access to finance, including managing the Treasury’s relationship with the British Business Bank and delivering key policies announced by the Chancellor last summer at Mansion House to unlock more investment into the UK’s most innovative companies. These are top priorities for the Chancellor and Prime Minister, and require close work with teams across government, particularly in DSIT, Cabinet Office and No.10.

We are a friendly team at the heart of many economics and finance issues in the Treasury. While working in a fast-paced policy environment, we support a diverse range of working patterns and value a broad range of experiences within the team.

The role sits within the Access to Finance branch which owns HMT’s relationship with the British Business Bank – the government-owned business development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses. The branch also leads the cross-government agenda to ensure UK SMEs – especially our most innovative science and technology businesses – can access the finance they need to grow.

The branch has played a central role in developing policies to improve finance availability for high-growth innovative businesses (such as Future Fund: Breakthrough, the Life Sciences Investment Programme and the recent Long-term Investment for Technology and Science competition). It also helped to craft and deliver critical support programmes for businesses during the COVID pandemic.

About the job

This is an exciting role that blends responsibility for British Business Bank spending and governance with leadership of HMT’s equity finance policy.

It will provide the successful candidate the opportunity to hone and develop their policy skills in a multifaceted, encouraging and fun environment, delivering the government’s ambitions on innovation and growth.

In this role you will:

1. Develop and support British Business Bank spending control strategy. You will own spending control of the British Business Bank, monitoring and assessing its spending on a monthly basis to ensure it continues to improve value for money and supports economic growth. You will work closely with other Treasury colleagues, the Department for Business and Trade and the British Business Bank themselves to advise seniors and Ministers on British Business Bank programmes and budgets, including at fiscal events.

2. Support work on Innovation Finance within the branch, including:

• Leading the Treasury’s analysis and subsequent policy development for equity finance interventions, including oversight of British Business Bank’s range of equity finance programmes.
• Managing the cross-government workplan on ‘Financing Innovative Companies’ for the government’s Science and Technology Framework, working with departments and industry to ensure that priority growth sectors can get the equity financing they need to grow.
• Working closely with DSIT on the delivery of a new pilot fellowship scheme to accelerate the development of mid-career venture capital investors.
• Support the delivery of the Mansion House pensions investment package, including through the implementation of the Long-Term Investment in Technology and Science (LIFTS) competition.

3. Provide advice directly to senior colleagues, Special Advisers and Ministers. You will be working closely with ministerial private offices to plan high-profile public engagements, speeches and visits. You will also respond to official correspondence and help prepare Ministers and Seniors for key meetings. 

4. Build positive relationships with partners within and outside government, including policy and finance counterparts in Department for Business and Trade and the British Business Bank, and external partners such as the British Venture Capital Association, investors, founders and academia

Candidate Drop-In Session 

We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Friday 5th January 2024 12:00 – 13:00 Click here to join the meeting

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact james.usmar@hmtreasury.gov.uk 

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form:

1. Experience of making evidence-based decisions around organisational strategy, working closely and effectively with stakeholders, and showing confidence in making difficult decisions on policy design and delivery (Making Effective Decisions).
2. The ability to work independently, planning and driving forward longer-term projects, while also delivering high quality urgent work (Delivering at Pace)
3. The ability to understand complex policy (including economic, financial or commercial issues) and provide clear, impactful advice (Communicating and Influencing)

The lead criterion is: Making Effective Decisions

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Tuesday 19th December 2023 12:00 – 12:45 Click here to join the meeting

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

• 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)

• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)

• Generous parental and adoption leave package

• Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room

• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving

• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site

• A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes

• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network).

Flexible working arrangements:   HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.

At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realize their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites – Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.   

Job contact :

• Name : James Usmar
• Email : james.usmar@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk