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Business Specialist

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Are you an enthusiastic team player who is commercially minded, with a solid grounding in business operations and development?
Do you have an understanding of the growing challenges and emerging opportunities faced by businesses on a daily basis?
We’re recruiting for an enthusiastic team member who can bring the skills, experience and energy to take a lead role in providing support to ambitious, innovative businesses, maximising their potential and attracting investment to make the South of Scotland a world-class business environment.
About Us
South of Scotland Enterprise (also known as SOSE) is the dedicated Economic and Community Development agency for the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. We’re looking for a Business Specialist to provide support for businesses across Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
Established by the Scottish Government, SOSE represents a fresh approach to driving growth across a very special region in a way that benefits all.
We are the first of Scotland’s public agencies to promote a wider view of the economy and how it impacts all we do. Jobs, businesses, communities and the environment are all equally important to us. We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to fulfil their ambitions, no matter who or where they are.
What You’ll Do Day-to-Day
As a Business Specialist you will act as the key point of contact providing a range of relevant support activities to ambitious businesses to maximise their potential and help them to respond to opportunities and challenges within the global marketplace. This role will involve regular travel to business premises across the south of Scotland, where you’ll be required to bring your business support and development skills to all types of businesses.
We’ll need you to be pro-active and visible, working to identify which businesses have untapped potential and which could have a more positive economic impact in the South of Scotland.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
You’ll work with a range of partners in both the public and private sectors to support the attraction of new and secondary investment to the South of Scotland and to help create a world-class business environment.
The Skills, Experience and Personal Attributes You’ll Need to Have
We are looking for a passionate, commercially-minded individual who has experience of providing business advice options at a senior level with the ability to demonstrate credibility with others, including understanding of the issues clients face in growing and diversifying their business and dealing with challenge and change thus supporting them to innovate and future-proof their business.
It goes without saying that your relationship management, influencing, communication and interpersonal skills will be exceptional, with the ability to focus and achieve results through the development of strategic consultative relationships at a senior level.
Experience in a business specialism such as accountancy, finance or innovation, would be an advantage.
What We’ll Offer You
We offer a competitive and varied reward package, designed to cover your wellbeing, your lifestyle, your working life and your future, including generous annual leave entitlement and pension contribution. Our salary ranges are designed to be competitive and new entrants will normally start on the minimum of the pay range, except in exceptional circumstances.
At South of Scotland Enterprise, we celebrate and support differences. We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to offering equal employment opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestral heritage, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity and expression, or veteran status. If you need any adjustments to support your application, such as information in alternative formats or special requirements to access our buildings, or if you’re eligible under The Disability Confident Scheme please contact us and we’ll do all we can to support you.


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We operate a hybrid working model balancing working from home with attendance at the office/client premises to meet the needs of our clients, our teams and our employees. We do require employees to attend meetings/client visits in the region in person on a regular basis. You will be required to travel regularly across the south of Scotland region, so a driving licence is required and access to a vehicle or other means of transport, for example access to work arrangements, is essential.
This role is full time and permanent, although we will consider alternative working patterns.
We are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.
Notes on Applying
We welcome applications from all candidates and recognise that AI tools may be used to support the application process. However, applications should reflect your own experience, skills and achievements. Please ensure that your application is written in your own words and provides a genuine representation of your suitability for the role as we will discuss the content of applications in more detail during the interview process.
When completing your application it's helpful to give specific examples of where you have demonstrated the relevant skills for the role. Help us to understand your previous employment in context by giving us a little information about the industry or sector that you worked in.
And finally, thank you for taking the trouble to apply.
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