WE ARE ON A MISSION TO TRANSFORM PEOpLe's lives

The Wise Group is a leading social enterprise proud to make a difference in people’s lives. We are proud because we help people find jobs, advise people struggling to heat their homes and support people to find their feet following time in prison. To do this, we work with everyone from large businesses to national and local government and third-sector organisations to provide essential specialist support to our customers.

Together, we’re greater than the sum of our parts.

OUR VALUES ARE OUR NORTH STAR

Our Values describe what we look like when we are at our best and keep us steering in the right direction.

  • We go the distance, so our colleagues and customers reach a positive and sustainable future
  • We are ambitious to make a real difference everyday – Socially, Culturally and Financially
  • We hurdle boundaries and innovate
  • We thrive through collaboration, kindness and learning together
  • We celebrate and respect individual difference

HEAD OF ENGAGEMENT AND INFLUENCE

Our partners at The Wise Group are seeking an experienced Head of Engagement and Influence to join the team. This is a career-defining role that may well be the highlight of your considerable experience to date. It is the opportunity to make a major impact on UK society through the deployment of your leadership and knowledge. This could be the best insight led, strategic comms job in the UK!

You will be a leader in Engagement and Influence to build on and execute our current strategy. You will also work with other Wise Group teams to identify our value, insight, tell our stories and refine and amplify our unique voice and ambition to innovate. We want our stakeholders and colleagues alike to see value of what we do, and to be inspired to take
action to join our journey.

You will develop effective strategic and business planning and manage departmental resources, including the development and motivation of team members.

This role is part of the Leadership Team which leads the day-to-day delivery and continuous improvement of the enterprise’s activities.

  • Building our reputation for being passionate and committed to inspiring deeper positive change within our enterprise and across society whilst being a socially conscious disruptor that drives innovation through research rooted in our social principles.
  • Delivering a regular programme of insights that seeks to evidence our social, cultural and financial impact based upon our Theory of Change and which can be mobilised to secure future innovations
    and growth. Providing relevant political, economic, and social horizon scanning that impacts on the Wise Group and its strategic interests.
  • Developing and implementing communication and brand strategies to ensure that the Wise Group’s key internal and external audiences understand more about our social, cultural, and financial impact. Ensure support for the Relational Mentoring framework so that a programme of activities, communications and content engages audiences and ensures our impact in society is recognised and celebrated. Measure work carried out against plans, developing new tactics based upon findings and results. Manage the Wise Group’s associated channels, including social media and website, to ensure consistent messaging and branding.
  • Creating a colleague engagement plan at the heart of the enterprise to strengthen a growth mindset across our Enterprise, build strategic alignment and imbed our values whilst ensuring new colleagues feel like they’ve always belonged.
  • Leading a talented Engagement and Influence team and working closely with other teams to position the Wise Group as the temperature check and solutions provider for civic challenges. Direct line management of 3 members of staff in a wider team of 6. Producing and monitoring key data and analytics to ensure the team contribution meets our E&I strategy. Develop and implement annual plans, meet annual targets, manage budgets, deliver against objectives and support change management. Develop clear measures of success for activities and continually monitor, evaluate and report on progress.
  • Seeking continuous improvement in all areas of responsibility and recommending changes.
  • Identifying opportunities to enhance, and risks to, the Wise Group’s reputation and to make recommendations for developing the Wise Group’s policy activity.
  • Participating on behalf of the E&I director as directed at meetings and events and take part in media activity where senior representation is required.
  • Participating actively in the Wise Group’s leadership group activities, to contribute to other relevant corporate initiatives, including the business planning and reporting processes.
  • Able to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake this post.
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent level of skills.
  • At least 5 years’ experience in senior engagement or policy role and in a senior representational role.
  • Demonstrable experience of leading a communications or engagement team in a fast-paced environment.
  • Possession of an excellent news sense, proven media relations skills, and a strong network of media contacts.
  • Politically astute, with sound judgement. Able to anticipate possible areas of concern and take action to mitigate risk across the UK and Scotland landscape.
  • Experience of leading significant change projects.
  • Excellent presentation, written and oral communications skills.
  • Ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines, across a range of funders and partners with excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to successfully negotiate and manage multiple priorities.
  • Strong decision-making skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of external and internal stakeholders, and at all levels. Good networker, able to broker partnerships and build strong relationships.
  • Demonstrable experience in campaign evaluation and analysis.
  • Ability to seek out, manage and influence opportunities for continuous improvement and change.

How we do things needs to be at the heart of what we do and how we go about doing it. Success is knowing our values and behaviours and using them to manage our decisions and actions. The behaviours most important to this role are:

  • Customer Impact – Reflects the pursuit of driving enterprise decisions from our customers’ perspective.
  • Communication – Reflects the ability to take responsibility for the tone, content, and impact of how you choose to communicate.
  • Inspiring Others – Reflects the ability to support and encourage colleagues and teams so they can give of their best.
  • Commercial Awareness – Reflects the ability to use commercial, financial, and understanding to improve the impact of the enterprise.
  • Concern for Impact – Reflects the ability to select the appropriate behaviour to influence colleagues, customers, and stakeholders to achieve a specific outcome.
  • Collaboration – Reflects the ability to pull colleagues, customers, and stakeholders together habitually to maximise the impact of the enterprise.
  • Capability Management – Reflects the ability to set self and others’ objectives that directly contribute to the overall enterprise objectives and review these regularly within ‘My Contribution.’
  • Equity and Diversity – Reflects the ability to support a diverse and inclusive workplace to achieve a competitive advantage.
  • Integrity – Reflects the ability to work ethically and to share the enterprise value of honesty.

Inspiring positive change for our customers

At the Wise Group, we have seen the difference our socially enterprising approach can make. Our values, wellbeing approach, and inclusive democracy-based decision-making stand out.

We actively and thoughtfully invest in communities across the UK, making purposeful choices in line with our values. Our purpose-focused work inspires and motivates our colleagues.

8,035

Customers positively impacted in Employment Services & Skills

37,844

Customers positively impacted by Energy Advice & Advocacy

4,814

Customers positively impacted by Community Justice

50,693

Total customers positively impacted

Our benefits and Wise
Wellbeing Programme

The Wise Group provides an inclusive and supportive working environment, excellent benefits package, and a dedicated colleague wellbeing programme, designed to help you be the best that you can be every single day.

Our flexible approach focuses on what you achieve, not presenteeism. We don’t have a fixed policy. We let colleagues work flexibly at times and locations that suit them. Our flexibility is built on trust emotional intelligence, allowing you the freedom to manage your day.

Annual Leave
33 days’ annual leave (including Public Holidays) plus one additional day for every completed year of employment up to a maximum of another five days. Plus, your birthday off.

Generous Salary Exchange Pension Scheme
The highest employer rate offered is equivalent to some final salary pension schemes. Also includes a tax relief and a saving on national insurance.

Sick Pay
Dependant on on length of service but rising to 26 weeks full pay.

Daily online sessions to encourage positive wellbeing

  • More than Fitness coaches are available to help colleagues reach their fitness goals.
  • Colleagues can improve their mental wellbeing through HeadStrong sessions three times a week.
  • Relax, unwind, and find a new focus with our weekly Yoga class.

Employee Assistance Programme

Our policy provides colleagues access to the following range of valuable telephone services:

  • Counselling
  • Legal Information
  • Bereavement Assistance
  • Medical Information

Health Care Plan

Colleagues can claim back the money spent on a wide range of medical services, including:

  • Dental check-ups, X-Rays, and hygienist fees
  • Eye tests, spectacles and contact lenses
  • Medical prescriptions
  • Complementary therapies such as wellbeing and acupuncture
  • Health screenings
  • A stay in hospital by you or your child

Doctorline
Speak to a GP 24/7 over the phone, arrange a video consultation and get prescription medicine, if required.

Life Assurance
Lump sum payable on death is 3 x annual salary.

Volunteering Days
Up to 21 paid volunteering hours (equivalent 3 days).

Cycle Scheme
The Wise Group will pay for the bike and/or accessories (in the first instance) and we organise for your monthly payments to come tax-efficiently from your salary.

Furniture Allowance
£200 furniture allowance for new colleagues.

And More!
But it doesn’t end there; we have loads more great benefits once you start at the Wise Group.

CONTACT US HERE

If you’d like to find out more about this opportunity, please get in touch with Denholm Associates today.

Scott Caithness

New Spirits Division

Our People

Our people are our most important asset, and their mental well-being and happiness are core to our success. We love our diverse workforce, actively embrace flexible working (even pre-pandemic!) and encourage a healthy work-life balance. We have been recognised as one of the most diverse SME workplaces in the UK and are holders of the Scottish Business Pledge which exists to promote a fairer Scotland. We have also just been included in the 2021 Culture Leaders Top 25 – an accolade of which we are very proud!

We are a fully inclusive and nurturing employer and, despite being in tech, the majority of our team are women, leading to accolades in the Computing Magazine Women in IT Awards and the Amazon Growing Business Awards. We currently represent 15 nationalities and speak 20 languages. Age is no barrier, and we recruit for attitude, providing and encouraging appropriate learning and training for each and every role.

We are also proud members of IP Inclusive, a network of professionals working to make the intellectual property industry more diverse.

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Communication Lead

We’re a passionate and professional team who thrive in issue-rich environment and we’re looking to add a Communication Lead to our fast-growing team. You’ll be a trusted advisor to clients across several sectors in all aspects of communication, external affairs, marketing and issues management. Coming from an agency or consultancy environment, at Account Director level or above, you’ll report directly to the Managing Director and be responsible for a small and busy multi-disciplinary team. You’ll have first-class project management skills, be solutions-driven and excellent commercial acumen too. Alongside the senior team, you’ll work to drive the strategic growth of Aspect.

Your core duties will include:

  • Working with the MD to develop and deliver growth strategies 
  • Attracting and retaining profitable clients across a range of sectors 
  • Leading the creation and execution of strategic communication programmes
  • Inspiring, leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams
  • Developing strong relationships with clients, colleagues and associates
  • Producing high quality pitches and proposals to secure new business 
  • Curating, nurturing and managing a team of talented associates.

You’ll be a skilled communicator, interested and knowledgeable about the key issues shaping the external environment. In addition, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate:

  • 7+ years of senior leadership experience within an agency or consultancy
  • Experience in Energy, Renewables, Financial Services or Life Sciences would be very desirable
  • Outstanding writing skills and the ability to engage and excite an audience
  • An impressive track record of client attraction, retention and growth 
  • The ability to thrive fast-paced environment managing multiple projects simultaneously
  • Strong influencing and leadership skills to motivate and inspire those around you
  • Excellent planning, evaluation and project management skills
  • To develop new processes, systems and ways of working to drive performance

Communication Advisors

We’re a passionate and professional team who thrive in issue-rich environment and we’re looking for Senior Communication Advisors, Communications Advisors and Communications Executives to join their fast-growing team. 

You’ll have previous agency experience at Senior Account Manager or Account Manager level and be passionate about delivering excellent results for clients. You might be a specialist in PR and media relations who produces compelling editorial content across a range of topics and sectors or you might be a public affairs expert who understands the policy landscape and helps clients build influential relationships. Whatever your specialism, you’ll be an excellent writer, full of creative ideas, with proven client management experience and the ability to provide expert advice our clients.

Your key duties will include:

  • Supporting the key account lead with day-to-day client liaison, providing strategic counsel on day-to-day account matters when required
  • Active involvement in planning and delivering global PR, marketing and digital campaigns
  • Managing content programmes, including mapping out content themes, spotting industry trends and story angles, writing copy when required which may include opinion articles, web and social
  • Building strong media relationships, creating pitches based on your story ideas and delivering content in-to suit the client’s target media and securing opportunities
  • Planning and running client’s social media programmes, and management of their channels
  • Continuously identifying opportunities to grow brand awareness and profile our client’s businesses within their target sector through events, webinars, thought leadership
  • Producing comprehensive and timely reports on client activity 
  • Supporting in the development of client proposals to help grow or win parts of the business


In addition, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate:

  • Proven background in account handling and direct client liaison – 4 years’ minimum
  • Experience in an agency setting focusing on B2B communication or PR
  • Strong communications skills, verbal and written
  • A background in delivering creative, digitally led B2B communications such as LinkedIn campaigns
  • An innate understanding of earned media, with the ability to create stories and generate coverage across traditional media, digital and social
  • Experience working on content management programmes, with an awareness of the changing way business audiences consume information and an appreciation of search, paid and wider customer marketing activity, and how it all fits together
  • A history of working with clients in a variety of sectors is welcomed but experience in the tech and energy industries is advantageous.

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DATA ENGINEER

Our Purpose

Our aim is to combat illicit online trade by identifying and removing counterfeits for sale. Counterfeits not only damage brands, their reputations, and revenues, but can cause significant harm to the end customer – whether as a fake toy or a fake medicine – and the consequences can be life threatening.

Counterfeiting is a significant economic and social issue.

The OECD reports that counterfeit and fake goods make up more than 3.3% of the world’s global trade. Those involved in the trade of counterfeits have been linked to people trafficking, prostitution, and drug dealing.

As such, reducing illicit trade is about much more than brand protection but also about human rights, safety, and social equity.

And this is what we do, every day.

Our Environment

We deliver purpose-driven work from an extremely welcoming environment near the City Centre. We actively encourage the responsible use of resources, from using public transport to reuse, recycling, and, of course, a minimal impact office environment. We have benefited from the advice of the Energy Saving Trust and Resource Efficient Scotland. Our waste contractor also provides us with a monthly report on volumes and types of material and the carbon emissions avoided through recycling.

Over 80% of our employees can walk or cycle to The Lair and, pre-pandemic, 10% were using public transport as their normal daily commuting mode. Without doubt, online meetings will replace considerable miles, going forward, saving resources, time and energy. Where possible, when possible, the train remains our preferred option. 

ANDY BRADY

HEAD OF HR

Andy Brady is a seasoned HR recruitment specialist, with over two decades of expertise in the field. With a foundation in Human Resource Management from the University of Derby, Andy swiftly transitioned into specialised HR recruitment. His diverse portfolio spans FMCG, Manufacturing & Engineering, Financial Services, the Third Sector, and Supply Chain, working at all levels from entry to executive positions.

Our Community

As well as working in close collaboration with our clients, and the online marketplaces, we are active members of groups that have been established to combat illicit trade. These include the Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group, the European Intellectual Property Office, The Scottish Business Resilience Centre, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, and the China Britain Business Council. Members of our senior management sit on the boards of ACID (Anti-Copying in Design), the Scottish Ministerial Trade Board, and the European Union Intellectual Property Office’s Observatory Panel for SMEs, amongst others.

Each team member nominates good causes or charities that are supported on both an individual and corporate basis. Wherever possible, we support the employee’s involvement whether through time or fundraising events.

ANGELA MCCANN

DIRECTOR OF GROWTH

Having worked in the recruitment industry since 2000, Angela brings a wealth of experience as a Recruitment Professional and a proven track record of delivering a high-quality search and selection service to both public and private companies in the UK and internationally. Angela believes in a partnership approach to recruitment, ensuring a detailed understanding of employer/jobseeker requirements and delivering a bespoke service underpinned by professionalism, pragmatism and strong market knowledge.

JAMES BLYTH

HEAD OF MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING

James has a decade of experience within the FMCG sector where he has partnered with a wide range of businesses placing key appointments at all levels including Director/ Board level. Driving growth across our Manufacturing & Engineering function, James specialises in Production, Operations, Engineering, Quality, HSE, Technical, NPD and Supply Chain. With his passion and expertise in these areas, James supports candidates and clients by working closely to understand their needs and wants providing exceptional service.

ANDY MACEWAN

HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY, CHANGE & TRANSFORMATION

Andy has been recruiting in Technology, Change & Transformation since 2001. Delivering tailored resource solutions as trusted advisor to clients ranging from start-ups through to global blue-chip organisations across contract, permanent, fixed term, and managed service/statement of work solutions. He has experience providing candidates for Helpdesk through to CIO and takes great pride in providing excellent customer service and ensuring each candidate journey is a positive one. An expert in his market he can provide guidance across current market trends.

SCOTT CAITHNESS

CLIENT RELATIONSHIP PARTNER

Scott started his career working for one of the leading Advertising & Comms agencies in Edinburgh where he spent 7 years before moving in to recruitment in 2011. As such, he is well-networked in the Marketing & Comms space across Scotland. With a friendly and consultative approach, Scott is genuinely passionate about providing a positive journey to both candidates and clients alike and believes communication plays a big part in this.  A “thinking-outside-the-box recruiter”, he is known for helping candidates portray the best version of themselves and helping clients find talent for those hard to fill roles.

ALANA SIM

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - CONSUMER

Alana has been working in recruitment since 2012, predominately within the FMCG & Consumer markets. Having recruited in both the UK & Asia Pacific markets, Alana has a sound knowledge of local & international recruitment. Partnering with brands to attract & hire the best sales talent in the market, Alana focuses on mid to senior level Sales appointments within the Consumer space. With a strong commercial & sales background, Alana identifies and engages the best commercially focused talent for our clients.

LIZ PARSONS

SENIOR CONSULTANT - MARKETING

Liz has over 14 years’ experience in recruitment working across primarily the high-tech, pharmaceutical and FMCG sectors. She joined Denholm on December 1st 2021 following a relocation from Ireland to focus on Marketing recruitment. Liz’s experience ranges from high volume recruitment to executive search and she prides herself in her ability to fully understand a brief and her accurate matching skills. Frequently praised as being a clear communicator with a strong customer service ethic, Liz is well suited to the culture here at Denholm, where the client and the candidates’ needs are paramount.

EUAN ARCHIBALD

SENIOR CONSULTANT - Technology, Change & Transformation

Euan has been working in the world of recruitment since 2012, working to deliver bespoke services to both clients and candidates. Prioritising ‘future-fit’ candidates for clients, he works as an extension of his client’s business ensuring great representation in the market. He consults with each client to ensure excellent candidate journeys. Euan works focuses primarily on business analysis, project management and technical support opportunities.

CALLUM BEVERIDGE

SENIOR CONSULTANT - TECHNOLOGY, CHANGE & TRANSFORMATION

Callum has been working in recruitment since 2018 where he has solely focussed on the Technology, Change and Transformation market across the UK and ROI. He works closely with his clients and candidates to build long-lasting relationships across several industries, including Technology, Financial Services, Professional Services, Healthcare, Education, Public Sector and more. He specialises in engineering roles across Software, Infrastructure, Systems, DevOps and Cloud, along with Software Testing.

DREW GILLIES

HEAD OF AGENCY

Drew arrived at Denholm as an award-winning creative, having headed content strategy teams for marketing/advertising agencies in the UK/USA before a successful career in HR, people and culture. He has years of marketing experience and building teams on both sides of the Atlantic, priding himself on going the extra mile for clients and candidates alike. Drew always works with passion as our specialist in account management, planning and strategy, digital marketing, full-spectrum creative and traffic/studio management.

ZOE LUMSDEN

Recruitment AdministratoR

Zoe joined Denholm in 2022 as Recruitment Administrator, after working in administration roles for nearly a decade. Most recently within the recruitment industry, she joins us with experience of supporting consultants, clients and candidates at all levels. Zoe has a passion for helping people and applies her positive attitude and approachable manner to support our team and deliver the best possible service to our clients and candidates at all times.

OPTIMISE

CVs and interviews will take you to Level 2. Our behavioural profile will take you to Level 3, vital to identifying future potential.

LEVEL 1

Appears to...

  • Appearance
  • Expressiveness
  • Manner
  • Presence

LEVEL 2

Can do...

  • Knowledge
  • Acquired skills
  • Training
  • Experience
  • Education
  • Credentials

LEVEL 3

Will do...

  • Capability to learn
  • Aptitude
  • Attitude
  • Self-motivation
  • Stability
  • Persistence
  • Maturity
  • Temperament
  • Behaviour patterns