Job Description

Company Overview

GO! Southampton is the city's Business Improvement District (also known as a BID). We represent over 630 city centre businesses. Our mission is to continuously improve the city centre by delivering relevant services, providing a voice for business, influencing strategy and being a catalyst for positive change.

GO! Southampton is a small team, which do a lot of work in the city. This means we are a supportive friendly team, while being challenged in our work. Our office space is a well designed space, with facilities including free coffee machines and fruit. We hope you find it a pleasure joining GO! Southampton during this fixed term contract, and we look forward to getting to know the successful candidate.

Role Overview

The Business Engagement Officer role is central to GO! Southampton's relationship with its business members. This maternity cover position focuses on managing stakeholder engagement, ensuring members are actively involved in BID initiatives. The role acts as the primary point of contact for BID levy payers and partners, driving collaboration, gathering feedback, promoting services, and demonstrating the value of the BID to its members.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee business engagement for the BID, working with account managers, partners and service providers to guarantee all BID members have the opportunity to learn more about BID services and engage. Develop strong professional relationships across a range of business sectors. Engage with businesses regularly to understand their priorities. Communicate and present the role of GO! Southampton, including services, Business Plan objectives and BID achievements. Promote BID services, initiatives and campaigns to members to ensure effective take-up. Manage and deliver stakeholder communications including newsletters, surveys, and member updates. Gather business intelligence and feedback to inform project development and represent member views. Collaborate with the wider GO! Southampton team on campaigns, events, marketing and communication efforts. Maintain accurate records of engagement activity, contact information and business feedback via the organisation's CRM system. Support the onboarding of new businesses into the BID area and ensure they are aware of available services. Attend events including but not limited to, events promoting BID services, city welcoming days, networking events and city tours. You may be required to lead the hosting of these events on behalf of GO! Southampton. Undertake any other task commensurate with this role.

Person Specification

Essential:

Experience in roles which demonstrate strong customer service and/or business engagement skills. Must demonstrate people skills and ability to adapt to situations. Confident communication skills. Confident IT user.

Desirable, but not essential:

An understanding of Business Improvement Districts. Experience of using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems.

Working Arrangements and Pay

Term of contract: Fixed term from Monday 17th November 2025 (Some flexibility on start date, if required by notice period) until Friday 27th November 2026. Probationary period of three months.

Hours of work: 40 hours per week. 9:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday. Some evening, early morning and weekend work required, though this is minimal with notice.

Salary: 27,000

Reporting to: Gemma Pratt, Director of Placemaking and Deputy Executive Director

Location of work: GO! Southampton Office, Network Eagle Lab, Portland Terrace

Southampton, SO14 7SJ.

Holiday: 25 days holiday per annum, in addition to public holidays.

Pension: Contributory pension after probationary period of 3 months.

Applications

Please send your CV and a covering letter (covering letter to be no longer than 400 words) to info@gosouthampton.co.uk by Sunday 19th October 2025. Applications via Indeed may be missed.

Interviews may take place before the closing date for the right candidate, therefore the role is subject to close before the deadline.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 27,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events Company pension
Application question(s):

Are you able to get to the office in Southampton city centre Monday - Friday?
Work Location: In person