Senior Online Research & Business Support Assistant

About the Role

We are looking for a highly intelligent, motivated and resourceful person to work as a Senior Online Research & Business Support Assistant.

This is not a basic data-entry or virtual assistant role. We need someone who can think for themselves, carry out detailed research on the internet, solve problems and complete tasks from beginning to end.

The right person will be someone who can be given a problem and say:

“Leave it with me — I will find the answer.”

You will be working directly with the business owner on a wide range of business, property, construction, purchasing and general research projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out detailed internet research to find information, companies, suppliers, organisations and individuals.
• Find information that may not be immediately obvious and investigate different sources.
• Identify the correct person or department to contact within councils, government organisations, companies and other organisations.
• Find email addresses, telephone numbers, company details and relevant contacts.
• Research manufacturers and suppliers in the UK, China, India, Europe and other countries.
• Compare suppliers, prices, specifications, products and services.
• Research business opportunities, procurement opportunities and potential customers.
• Research local authorities, councils and public-sector organisations.
• Find relevant tenders, contracts and procurement opportunities.
• Carry out property and construction-related research when required.
• Organise research findings clearly and provide a concise summary of the results.
• Write professional business letters and emails.
• Draft correspondence to councils, companies, suppliers, landlords, solicitors and other organisations.
• Follow up on previous enquiries and find alternative contacts when the first route does not work.
• Keep records of research, contacts and enquiries.
• Use initiative to find solutions without needing constant supervision.

The Person We Are Looking For

You must be:

• Very intelligent and naturally curious.
• An excellent problem solver.
• A strong internet researcher.
• Able to think logically and independently.
• Extremely good at finding information.
• A strong English writer with excellent grammar.
• Able to write professional letters and emails.
• Good at understanding instructions and turning them into completed tasks.
• Persistent — if you cannot find something immediately, you keep looking.
• Comfortable dealing with companies, councils and professional organisations.
• Highly organised and able to manage several tasks at once.
• Honest, reliable and trustworthy.
• Comfortable working independently without someone constantly checking your work.

Very Important

We are not looking for someone who simply searches Google and sends back the first result.

We need somebody who can investigate a problem, look at different sources, work out what information is actually relevant and then provide a useful answer.

For example, if we say:

“I need to sell 500 beds to local authorities. Find out who I need to contact.”

You should be able to research the relevant councils, procurement departments, housing departments, framework agreements, tender portals, purchasing organisations and key contacts, and then come back with a clear plan of action.

You should be able to take a task from:

Question → Research → Investigation → Solution → Contact → Professional correspondence → Follow-up

Skills Required

Essential:

• Excellent written English.
• Excellent internet research skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Good knowledge of Google and other search tools.
• Good Microsoft Office/Google Workspace skills.
• Ability to use spreadsheets and organise information.
• Ability to write professional business correspondence.
• Ability to work independently.

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Work Location: Remote