Job Description

Business Harm Prevention Lead

Safer Business Network

Part-time (3 days per week) | London (pan-London remit, hybrid)

Salary:

21,000 per annum (

35,000 full-time equivalent

)

Hours:

3 days per week (0.6 FTE)

About Safer Business Network

Safer Business Network is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company working across London to help create safer towns and cities. Since 2011, we have supported business communities to prevent crime, reduce harm and improve safety through strong partnerships, effective communication and practical upskilling.

We work closely with businesses, police, councils and multiple stakeholders to create connected networks and practical solutions that make a real difference to communities. Our work is grounded in collaboration, trust and a belief that better outcomes are achieved when the right people are connected with the right information at the right time.

Role Purpose

We are seeking a

Business Harm Prevention Lead

to play a key role in a pioneering initiative focused on improving how repeat business harm and retail-related crime are understood and responded to across London.

Retailers and frontline business teams often have early visibility of repeat harm, emerging patterns and changes in behaviour within town centres and retail environments. When this insight is combined effectively with information held by policing, local authorities and specialist support services, it can support earlier, more informed and more proportionate responses.

This role exists to support that connection.

The Business Harm Prevention Lead brings structure, consistency and context from the business community into local and London-wide partnership discussions. By collating and sharing insight, identifying escalation and highlighting opportunities for early intervention, the role supports partners to make better-informed decisions that reduce harm to retail staff, communities and individuals.

The role takes a person-centred, system-aware approach, recognising that repeat retail harm is often linked to vulnerability, exploitation, substance misuse, mental ill-health, housing instability and wider unmet need. It is not an enforcement or outreach role. Instead, it acts as a connector and facilitator, adding information and feedback into existing systems to support decisions and delivery by policing, local authorities and specialist support services.

This is a practical, relationship-based role, grounded in frontline delivery and informed by Safer Business Network's intelligence-led model and long-standing partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Early Insight, Risk Awareness & Escalation

Work with businesses, security teams and town-centre partners to identify patterns of repeat harm, escalation and emerging risk at an early stage. Apply a structured and consistent approach to understanding repeat harm across places and individuals, supporting a move away from single-incident responses. Maintain awareness of indicators associated with vulnerability, exploitation, safeguarding concern, substance misuse and mental ill-health. Share insight appropriately to support escalation or referral by relevant partners, where thresholds are met.
This is a triage and insight function, not offender management.

Information Collation & Evidence-Led Briefings

Use SBN's secure intelligence systems to collate and analyse business-generated information ethically and lawfully. Build clear, proportionate pictures that help partners understand patterns of harm, escalation and opportunities for prevention or support. Produce concise briefings that inform multi-agency discussions, problem-solving and decision-making. Maintain clear information-sharing boundaries in line with GDPR and partnership agreements.

Building & Supporting Pathways into Support Services (Not Delivery)

Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with existing local support services, including substance misuse providers, mental health services, housing teams and voluntary sector organisations. Support earlier and better-informed referrals into support pathways by sharing relevant business insight with appropriate partners. Work alongside police, councils and voluntary sector partners to ensure business intelligence strengthens existing support and safeguarding arrangements. Avoid duplication of outreach, case-holding or treatment functions delivered by specialist services.

Supporting the Business Community

Support businesses to report incidents confidently and consistently. Help frontline staff understand how their information contributes to wider harm reduction and safeguarding outcomes. Share feedback on progress and outcomes where appropriate, building trust and confidence in reporting. Build confidence that engagement contributes to proportionate, joined-up responses led by the right agencies.

Partnership Working & Coordination

Act as a connector between business, policing, local authorities, health services and the voluntary sector. Contribute business-facing insight to multi-agency discussions, place-based problem-solving and partnership forums. Support partners by providing business and place-based context that may not be visible within statutory or service-led systems. Maintain clear professional boundaries, with police and statutory agencies retaining responsibility for enforcement, safeguarding, outreach delivery and formal decision-making. Contribute to pilots and innovation that support delivery of the

Tackling Retail Crime Together strategy

, particularly the

People strand

.

Person Specification

Essential

Experience working with the business community or within multi-agency partnership environments. Strong understanding of vulnerability, exploitation and the drivers behind repeat harm and offending. Experience working across multiple agencies (e.g. police, local authority, business, voluntary sector). Confident and skilled communicator, able to engage frontline staff and professionals in complex systems. Organised, reflective and able to work independently in a part-time role.

Desirable

Background in outreach, support work, harm reduction or safeguarding, providing an understanding of how individuals engage with services and how support systems operate. Experience of intelligence-led working or familiarity with offender management processes and thresholds. Familiarity with civil tools such as banning notices or Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs). Knowledge of London retail environments, Business Improvement Districts or town-centre partnerships. Experience contributing to pilots or innovative service models.

Why Join Safer Business Network?

This role offers the opportunity to:

Work at the forefront of business crime and community safety innovation within a not-for-profit organisation focused on public good. Help shape a more joined-up, human and effective response to repeat business harm. Influence future practice across London and nationally. Be part of a respected, mission-led organisation with strong relationships across business, policing, local government and community safety partners.

Application Process -

Applicants are required to

submit a copy of their CV (no more than 2 pages), and a written statement outlining how they meet the essential criteria for the role

, with an overview of the desirable criteria. The statement should provide clear evidence of relevant skills, knowledge, and experience. The written statement must not exceed 1,250 words and be no smaller than font size 11, and use a clear, readable font. Applicants should use the Essential Criteria as headings for their written statement.

Applications will be subject to a paper sift, during which written statements will be assessed against the essential criteria. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to attend an interview, where they will be required to further demonstrate their suitability for the role.

Closing date for applications is 23.00 Sunday 22nd February 2026

The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This will be arranged and funded through the Safer Business Network

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 21,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 21 - 24 per week

Benefits:

Flexitime Free or subsidised travel Work from home
Application question(s):

Do you have direct experience contributing information or analysis into multi-agency problem-solving discussions (e.g. with police, local authorities, or support services)? Have you worked in a role where recognising vulnerability (such as substance misuse, mental ill-health, exploitation or housing instability) informed referral or escalation decisions made by other agencies?
Work Location: In person