Policy Executive

Job overview

Ellwood Atfield are delighted to partner with BRC. This is an exciting opportunity to join the UK’s leading trade body for the retail sector.

The BRC’s Business & Regulation Policy Executive is a varied and busy role which will provide support across six of the BRC’s member communities – Finance, HR, Tech, Legal, Operations and Property – working with the community managers. The role will have a particular focus on supporting the Property and HR functions.

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In this role, you will:

• Support and contribute to policy development and Government engagement, analysing legislation and regulation to assess retail priorities.
• Develop correspondence and submissions in response to government consultations.
• Work closely with members to gather insight and evidence as well as sharing wider industry insight and evidence with them.
• Develop effective networks of external contacts across the BRC membership, in relevant Whitehall departments and other organisations.
• Provide briefings on key developments in community meetings and other external engagement.
• Ensure effective monitoring, analysis and communication of relevant legislative and policy developments.
• Lead specific projects as required in support of team activity.
• Support the organisation and delivery of online and face-to-face events and meetings.
• Monitor and help to manage relevant community hubs on the BRC website, ensuring information presented is accurate and up to date.
• Take a motivated and proactive approach to the Business and Regulation team’s areas of responsibility and wider BRC activity, playing a full role in delivering organisation priorities.

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To be successful in this role, you'll have:

• An established track record and proven ability of working in a policy, government affairs, or related role.
• Excellent knowledge of the workings of the UK government.
• Interest in and awareness of current business issues and related policy areas.
• Confident communicator with experience of developing and maintaining relationships with people in positions of authority.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience of working closely with a team.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Educated to degree-level or equivalent.

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THE BRC

The BRC is the trade association for UK retail. The industry is diverse, dynamic and includes retail brands, brand manufacturers who sell direct to consumers, and covers many innovative business models, from in-store and digital to rental, repair and re-use.

Retail is the ‘everywhere economy’, a vital part of the socio-economic fabric of the UK. It’s 5% of GDP, their largest private sector employer with 3 million direct jobs and2.7 million more in the supply chain and through its scale and reach, helps support delivery of government policy.

Over 200 major retailers and brands are members of the BRC, with thousands of smaller retailers represented by their trade association members. Together, these businesses operate across all channels and categories and deliver over £450 billion of sales per year.

Their mission is to make a positive difference to retail and its customers and the community, today and in the future. They do this by influencing change and delivering value to their members. they care about investment and innovation, a thriving workforce and reducing the industry’s environmental impact.

As the voice of the industry, they use their expertise to influence government policy, develop exceptional retail leaders and provide insight and market intelligence through their communities and networks. Their work helps retailers trade competitively, ethically, legally, safely and sustainably.

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Why work for BRC?

They offer a wide range of benefits including:

• Competitive salary and discretionary bonus.
• An excellent range of employee benefits, including a private pension scheme, a medical cash plan, private medical and dental insurance, cycle to work scheme & an exercise allowance.
• Investment in your professional development as well as a range of health & wellbeing programmes.
• Flexible ways of working.

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The BRC operates core hours from 10am-4 pm, they operate a hybrid working model that reflects their commitment to flexibility, collaboration and wellbeing. Their team is primarily based at their lovely Covent Garden office, which serves as a hub for connection, creativity and shared purpose. While you’ll have the flexibility to work from home, this is subject to agreement with your line manager to ensure it supports both individual and team needs. They also ask all colleagues to be present in the office for team meetings, events and key collaborative moments. Their approach is grounded in trust and mutual respect, and they believe that hybrid working should empower you to do your best work—wherever that maybe.