Apprentice Receptionist in Shepton Mallet

Established in 2014, we are one of the fastest growing high street law firms in the South West with offices in Bridgwater, Bristol, Frome, Keynsham and Shepton Mallet. We have now opened virtual offices in key locations in Wales and the South & South West of England, including Bath, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Cheltenham, & Exeter. Our expansion is a reflection of our strong performance, our continuing focus on strategic planning and our commitment to providing an excellent service to all clients and investing in our people.

We can only do what we do, to the standard we strive for, by attracting, developing and retaining talented staff – people who are knowledgeable, capable and who share our values. We want our staff to feel engaged and valued. Following the progression and development of our teams, we have an opportunity for an Apprentice Receptionist to join our team at our Head Office in Shepton Mallet. If you are bright, driven and committed to take ownership of your career with a real can-do attitude and team spirit, then an apprenticeship at Lyons Bowe is the perfect choice for you.

Job Purpose

To provide a professional and welcoming front-of-house service as the face of Lyons Bowe, while undertaking a recognised Business Administration apprenticeship. The Apprentice Receptionist will support the smooth running of the office by carrying out reception and administrative duties under supervision, developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for a successful career within the legal profession.

Key Responsibilities

• Reception Duties
  • Great and welcome visitors in a warm and professional manner;
  • Notify colleagues promptly of visitor arrivals;
  • Take clear and accurate messages when required, in line with the firm’s policies and procedures;
  • Maintain the reception area to a high standard of cleanliness and presentation;
  • Ensure visitors comply with office security procedures.
• Administrative Support
  • Assist with scanning, photocopying and printing documents;
  • Sort and distribute incoming post in line with the firm’s policies and procedures;
  • Prepare outgoing post and arrange courier collections;
  • Assist with filing and maintaining electronic and paper records;
  • Order and monitor office and kitchen suppliers as required;
  • Support colleagues with general administrative tasks, such as dealing with witnessing of documents, storage of Deeds and Wills and arranging ID1 appointments.
• Office Support
  • Prepare meeting rooms for internal and external meetings;
  • Provide refreshments for visitors where required;
  • Assist with office housekeeping and presentation;
  • Report maintenance or health and safety concerns promptly;
  • Support the wider Business Support team during busy periods.
• Apprenticeship Responsibilities
  • Attend all apprenticeship training sessions and workshops;
  • Complete coursework and assessments within agreed timescales;
  • Apply learning from the apprenticeship in the workplace;
  • Participate positively in regular progress reviews with both the employer and training provider;
  • Demonstrate a willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• General Responsibilities
  • Maintain confidentiality at all times;
  • Present a professional appearance in accordance with the firm’s dress code;
  • Communicate professionally with colleagues, visitors and external contacts;
  • Comply with all firm policies and procedures;
  • Adhere to Health and Safety and Data Protection requirements;
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties appropriate to the role and level of responsibility.

Person Specification

• Essential
  • Minimum GCSE Grade 4/5 (or equivalent);
  • Good verbal and written communication skills;
  • Friendly, approachable and professional manner;
  • Reliable with excellent time management;
  • Good organisational skills;
  • Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office;
  • Willingness to learn and accept feedback;
  • Positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Desirable
  • Previous experience in customer service, hospitality, retail or an office environment;
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel;
  • Interest in developing a career within legal or business support services.

Skills and Behaviours

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Professionalism
• Excellent customer service
• Teamwork
• Attention to detail
• Reliability
• Integrity
• Confidentiality
• Adaptability
• Initiative
• Willingness to learn

Training Plan

Upon joining Lyons Bowe, you will be enrolled on an apprentice programme studying a Level 3 Business Administration with Legal Pathway. This takes approximately 15 months to complete and during this time you will be allocated 1 day per week to complete your studies at work.

Development/Progression Plan

The apprenticeship takes up to 18 months to complete with the majority of people completing after 12 months. The first month of employment will be based around learning the job role on Reception, understanding how we work and what is involved in working in a law firm. After you have completed 1 month, you will have a meeting with the L&D Manager and Office Manager to discuss the month and see how you have felt and what your thoughts are around your progression in the firm. If you are excited about the role and are achieving the relevant standards on the skills analysis, we will sign you up to the apprenticeship and you will start your qualification. Once you have signed up for the apprenticeships, you will start working towards your qualification whilst also learning the job role and getting to know the other departments in the business. You will have 20% off the job time each week. This will consist of 2 x half days. During your first 6 months, these half days will be spent doing your apprenticeship work. Once you have completed 6 months and passed your probation, you will spend 1 x half day doing apprentice work and 1 x half day working with another team/manager. Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you may be given the opportunity to move to another team. Any opportunities or requests will be discussed with the postholder, Line Manager and Learning & Development Manager as required. Whatever you decide to do, Lyons Bowe will support and guide you along the way.