Apprentice Business Support Officer (Legal Services)

About The Role

Working hours: 35 hours per week (office based for 4 days a week, 1 day a week college / study day)
Contract type: Permanent

Working style:  Onsite - E mployees carry out their job primarily from a p hy sical workplace, such as an office
Closing date: 11.59pm, 24 August 2026
Interview method: in person

Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK , as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This role is subject to:

• Legal Right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. The Legal Right to Work documentation needs to cover the period of the apprenticeship programme .

  Been a resident in the UK, Ireland, the British Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for the last three years .

• 1 reference - where possible, we require 3 years' history

• Proof of Manchester Residency – Roles at Grade 1 to 3, traineeships, or apprenticeships will initially only be advertised to Manchester residents and internal candidates. An applicant is classed as a resident of Manchester if they live within the boundaries of the City of Manchester; i.e. Any Council Tax liability for their home would be with Manchester City Council. To check if you fall under the Manchester City Council boundary please visit -

This role is an apprenticeship role , and the successful applicant will be required to undertake a course of study leading to the Level 3 CILex Business Administration qualification. 

This apprenticeship will take approximately 18 months to complete. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will progress to the substantive grade and salary for the role in line with the career grade structure. 

Please note: As part of this apprenticeship, you may be required to undertake English and/or Maths learning where this is relevant to the apprenticeship standard, the role requirements, or your existing qualifications. Applicants should be willing to complete any required learning and assessment as part of the apprenticeship programme.

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for an Apprentice Business Support Officer to work in our busy Legal Services Business Support Team supporting our team of Lawyers and Legal Officers who work for Manchester City Council's Legal Services and also provide a Legal Service to Salford and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

This is an exciting and interesting role where the successful candidate will contribute to providing high-quality legal services to all Council departments, delivering innovative legal support to meet the Council’s objectives, strategic planning and policy development.

You will be trained in a wide range of administrative skills, including use of our case management system, with a desire to learn and develop further. The role requires good ICT skills, including use of Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.  You will be developed to become a key member of a team in the provision of high-quality business support, contributing effectively to the development of business support initiatives and effectively produce and collate accurate information to support the performance of a high-quality service.

As part of the Apprenticeship, you must undertake and successfully complete the Level 3 CILEx Business Administration certification over a period of 18 months.

Some of the tasks you will learn and undertake:

• Preparation of draft letters to external agencies
• Preparation of court bundles using our online system
• Inputting and extracting data on our case management system
• Photocopying/scanning/printing
• Managing general enquiries by phone and/or email
• File opening - ensuring new files are LEXCEL compliant
• Filing of documents/correspondence
• Sealing of documents
• Photocopying
• Scanning
• Binding
• Receipting cheques

About the Candidate

We would love to hear from you if you meet the Manchester Residency requirement and have experience of: 

• Communication Skills: Demonstrates an understanding of the views of others and communicates in a realistic and practical manner using appropriate language and medium, listens attentively to views and issues of others.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills to undertake calculations and produce letters and other documentation.
• Planning and Organising: Provides work on time and to required standard and is capable of prioritising own workload in order to meet deadlines.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Ability to interpret rules and guidelines in order to resolve queries.
• ICT Skills: Ability to use multiple applications, systems and associated software packages.
• Administrative: Ability to use and maintain effective administration systems in a rapidly changing environment.
• Analytical: Ability to gather and analyse information, opportunities and problems.
• Accurate keyboard skills
• Competent use of Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel

We welcome applicants who have previously attended further or higher education and are looking to develop new skills in a different area. 

Please note that applicants who already hold a qualification at Level 3or above in Business Administration  or a closely related subject, may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding. Eligibility will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in line with apprenticeship funding rules and guidance from the training provider.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks during our annual leave purchase period.
• A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process. 
• A Good Employment Charter member - W e are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits. 

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council 

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments : Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats : Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page . This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme 

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirement s for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below :

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us 

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly .

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected] .

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship. 

Pre-Employment Checks 

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for, see the top of the advert for details.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve. 

Other relevant information 

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role. 

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

Use of  Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually  accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been  identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be  withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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