Over 1,000 Greater Manchester residents supported with free legal advice

• The Employment Legal Advice service offers free employment-related legal support to Greater Manchester residents.
• The service is a joint initiative between the Growth Company, Citizens Advice, and a network of local legal partners.
• Since launching in 2020, the service has now supported over 1,000 people. 

A service delivered by the Growth Company has supported over 1,000 people with free employment-related legal advice.

The Employment Legal Advice service (ELAS), delivered in partnership with Citizens Advice and a dedicated network of legal partners, is designed to make sure that everyone has access to employment legal advice, no matter their financial situation.

Launched in 2020, the service supports Greater Manchester residents facing a wide range of employment issues — with employment tribunals, dismissal, discrimination, settlement agreements, and pay issues accounting for around 60% of appointments last year.

Many people who get in touch with the service are often in insecure, low-paid roles, and a high percentage of those supported are disabled.

ELAS has continued to grow year-on-year, thanks to the dedication of the legal advisors and solicitor partners involved. Last year, its network of partner law firms grew from six to nine, and the number of pro-bono appointments offered more than doubled, rising from 20 to 44 hours per month.

Reflecting on the service’s recent milestone, the Growth Company’s Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Projects, Naomi Ilagoswa said: “We are extremely proud to see how far the Employment Legal Advice Service has come and how many people it has supported since 2020.

“The service provides a vital resource to Greater Manchester residents experiencing difficult circumstances. I’d like to thank everyone involved in delivering ELAS for their commitment to making legal support accessible to all.”

Find Out More

Visit the Employment Legal Advice website for more information. 

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 30-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Contact us today to find out more.