Date posted: 23rd Jan 2024
We caught up with Joe on the Darlington office, what it’s like working in our grants team and discussed his life outside work.
How did you get into your role as Grants and Transaction Advisory Services Senior Executive?
I joined Clive Owen LLP in January 2023. Before joining, I worked for a national charity as a grant writer. Whilst there, I started my CIMA qualification, which I have now completed after receiving results in January 2024. CIMA is a management accounting qualification, that combines both financial and commercial aspects through in-depth analysis, resulting in a more holistic approach to accounting.
In 1 sentence, sum up the grants department.
We help businesses do things that they wouldn’t normally be able to do.
What does your typical day look like?
My typical day consists of carrying out grant audits, writing grant applications and due diligence work. Grant due diligence is a background check of a potential grant application to make sure everything adds up and the outcome will be beneficial for both the recipient and the funder. I will also attend client meetings to understand more about the company and what the funding they receive will be used for.
What issues do clients face when applying for grant funding? How do you help them overcome this?
One of the biggest issues our clients face is around planning. Even a ‘small’ grant can take months and months of planning, preparation and due diligence. I think businesses often underestimate this and sometimes try to access funding without much time and planning. One of the ways in which we help them overcome this is through communication. We will inform all our clients of any potential funding they could be eligible for. We also work alongside businesses and let them know at every stage what we need from them and update them on timescales so everyone is aware of the progress.
What do you like about the grants service?
There is a regulatory edge to grants that I really enjoy; there’s an element of economics involved which keeps things interesting. I also like how we are always client-facing; we work with some fantastic innovative businesses and it’s great to see the equipment I’ve helped get a grant for being put into use.
What are some of your career goals?
After qualifying in January 2024, having the CIMA accreditation behind me is certainly a boost for my career. In terms of progression, I would like to move into a more senior role down the line and grow my personal profile through networking and business development opportunities.
What do you do when you are not at work?
I have recently welcomed my first child and so a lot of my time is spent making milk bottles and watching the most repetitive cartoon programmes on earth! I also have a very needy cat who takes up more of my time than I care to admit. In my free time, when both are sleeping, I like to cook. My signature dish, you will be wondering… beef stew!
To find out more about the grants team click here.
Or what life is like in our Darlington office, click here.
