Business Development Apprentice

Salary £23,000

Location Belfast (Office Based)

This is a Temporary, Full Time vacancy that will close in 8 hours at 23:59 BST.

The Vacancy

The Business Development team at Fieldfisher plays a critical role in driving the company's growth and strategic initiatives. The team is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, nurturing client relationships, and supporting the firm's market positioning. They conduct in-depth market research to understand industry trends and client needs, develop tailored proposals, and collaborate with various departments to deliver innovative solutions. By fostering strong networks and leveraging business intelligence, the Business Development team ensures Fieldfisher remains competitive and continues to expand its client base and service offerings.

This Apprenticeship Would Suit Somebody Who..

This apprenticeship would suit somebody who is highly motivated, enthusiastic, and keen to develop their skills in a dynamic business environment. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a natural curiosity to understand industry trends and client needs. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as the role involves building and maintaining client relationships. A proactive, adaptable individual who can thrive in a fast-paced setting and contribute innovative ideas would be a great fit for the Business Development team at Fieldfisher. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and personal development, showing flexibility and a collaborative spirit to support various strategic initiatives of the firm.

As a Business Development Apprentice, you will….

As a Business Development Apprentice, You Will

• Support the Business Development team in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities.
• Assist in conducting market research and analysis to understand industry trends and client needs.
• Help develop tailored proposals, placemats and presentations for potential clients.
• Collaborate with various departments to deliver innovative solutions for clients.
• Assist in updating the client relationship management (CRM) system.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports and marketing materials for all areas of BD including Events and Bids.
• Support the Events team in planning and executing firm-wide events.
• Help create event invitations using Vuture working with BD & Partners.
• Support CRM, BDMs, and partners to create and manage mailing lists for events.
• Collate and evaluate post-event feedback for the events team.
• Continuously develop your skills and knowledge through training and on-the-job learning.
  
  

Candidates Should Have

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) including English, IT and Maths grades 9-6 (A-C).
• The ability to follow instructions and work as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Curiosity and flexibility.
• An eagerness to learn.
• Drive and determination for a career in professional services.
• Problem solving skills.
• A 'can do' attitude.
  
  

What can we offer you?

Role

As part of The ACE Programme, the work you do will depend on the role you choose. However, regardless of which team you work in, as an ACE Apprentice, you will receive:

• Career Development: The opportunity to work on exciting projects and real-life work whilst developing your skills, knowledge and behaviours.
• Supportive Environment: Fieldfisher is an environment that will support, challenge, and prepare you for a successful career.
• Impactful Culture: Join a collaborative and inclusive culture where all contributions are significant.
• Structured Programme: You'll complete a thorough induction with the 2025 cohort of ACE Apprentices and will receive bespoke training and development with our IT and People Development teams.
• Inspiring Mentorship: Work with leaders and a buddy who will guide, nurture, and inspire your achievements.
• Community Engagement: Participate in clubs and networks, firm-funded activities and events with charity partners.
• Earn While You Learn: You'll complete a nationally recognised qualification with the firm's chosen provider, complementing the practical work experience you'll gain whilst with Fieldfisher.
  
  

Recruitment process (Dates subject to change)

• Online application form and CV submission – February 2025.
• 30-minute video interview via Microsoft Teams – March 2025.
• Assessment centre in our offices (Date to be confirmed)
  
  

We operate a strength-based recruitment process which will allow you to be authentic and demonstrate your skillset. Our recruitment process is rigorous, yet fair and we recruit on a rolling basis, so we encourage an early application if possible.

We won't assess your A-level/BTEC grades, but we would expect candidates to have completed their GCSEs in English, IT and Maths. Mitigating circumstances will be taken into consideration and if you don't have the minimum grade requirements, we still encourage you to apply.

Our dedicated recruitment team are on hand to help throughout the entire process. If you have any specific questions or would like any support, before this please contact us at recruitmenthr@fieldfisher.com.

Inclusiveness & Diversity

At Fieldfisher, led by the social model of disability, we are working towards removing accessibility barriers and maximising disability and neurodiversity inclusion in our recruitment processes.

Should you have any accessibility requirements, please contact ellie.williamson@fieldfisher.com, who will work with you to implement suitable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All conversations are treated in the strictest of confidence and we would appreciate your feedback to ensure we can provide an accessible and enjoyable recruitment process.

The Company

Fieldfisher is Times Top 20 Law Firm, a highly commended firm in the European Financial Times Innovative Lawyers rankings and is repeatedly nominated for awards in areas including dispute resolution, M&A and IP. Many of our lawyers are recognised by legal directories as leading professionals in their areas of specialism and we are top two-ranked in a number of our key practice areas.

Our network spans over 1,800 people across 26 international offices in 12 countries.

We operate across our offices in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Beijing, Belfast (2), Berlin, Birmingham, Bologna, Brussels, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Guangzhou, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Turin, Venice, Vienna and Silicon Valley.

Fieldfisher aims to ensure equality of opportunity and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff. All applications will only be considered on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role.

Testimonials

"The Graduate Legal Professional Scheme at Fieldfisher is an amazing way for any graduate to dip their toes into the practical legal world and launch their career. The rotation of seats means you gain a vast array of experience and the Civil Litigation training with the University of Law helps to bridge the gap between finishing your studies and entering the world of work. The work is hands on, and you really are made to feel like part of the departmental team. Throughout the program, you are thoroughly supported by both the Belfast team and an individual supervisor depending on your seat. The larger intake of graduates also means you have a readymade group of peers who are in the same position as you, and that additional support network is invaluable. This scheme is a must-apply for any budding legal mind!"

Fieldfisher instantly stood out to me when researching apprenticeships, I had investigated their values and what they do as well as reviews that had been given from former employees, all of which were very positive. The recruitment process and assessment centre were planned well and overall, it was a smooth, organised process.

Since joining my role as an HR Apprentice within Fieldfisher I have developed many new skills and qualities. These vary from increase in confidence, team working skills, time management and communication. The ACE scheme is a great way to learn about your desired interest as well as putting newly gained knowledge into practice. I have been extremely welcomed by anyone I have come across within my role and have developed a great working relationship with my team. I have had the opportunity to sit in on meetings and complete relevant tasks that give me a wider knowledge of my role and Fieldfisher as a whole. Within my HR Apprenticeship I get to rotate seats every 6 months all of which allow me to see HR from a different perspective.

Fieldfisher offer various schemes and activities to be involved in, which is a great way of getting to know new people and fellow apprentices. These include things like the Hive, charity events, social events, and team activities for specific occasions.

"I joined Fieldfisher 6 months ago through the ACE Apprentice program, and I can already say working here has granted me many opportunities to learn, develop and grow in a professional working environment. Everyone I have worked at the firm has been welcoming and friendly, but most of all they are very knowledgeable in their fields whilst being open to share their vast experience.

During my day-to-day at Fieldfisher, as an apprentice in the IT department, I am given the opportunity to work, collaborate and communicate with many different teams on various projects that help the firm in its operation. What I have also noticed during my time at Fieldfisher is that the firm is very open and keen to develop your skills and abilities, I was offered the chance for a secondment to another team in IT which allowed me to improve in not just my technical ability but my communication, teamwork, and my capability to handle various projects at one time.

Overall, I have massively enjoyed my time at the Firm so far and I am looking forward to continuing my career and personal development here."

Since starting as a Legal Support Services Apprentice with Fieldfisher in September 2023, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the opportunities I have been presented with. I have already picked up so many new skills from my first 6 months at the firm. Skills such as communication, organisation, adaptability, and initiative. As I am a Legal Support Services Apprentice, I have the privilege of being in both the Practice Administration Team and DPU (document production unit). This has been extremely beneficial for me as an apprentice, as I have been able to gain knowledge and understanding of two different departments of the business which has both challenged and benefitted me massively to adapting to full time work.

After a gap year I came across the apprenticeship advertised on a job site, and it instantly caught my eye as an 'earn while you learn' apprenticeship scheme appealed to me a lot. I attended an assessment centre which was such a great opportunity to gain experience in a professional environment. The studying side of the apprenticeship fits in perfectly to my schedule and is ran excellently. I am given allocated study hours for when I have any assignment deadlines or exams coming up.

There is an extremely positive working atmosphere at the firm, everyone is extremely pleasant, and I am never afraid to approach anyone for support. I am constantly learning new skills every day which helps me progress and a fast rate.

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