Lord Bichard was Founder Director of the Institute for Government in 2008 and held the post until 2010 when he became a Senior Fellow of the Institute. He was previously Chief Executive of Brent and Gloucestershire Local Authorities and in 1990 became Chief Executive of the Government's Benefits Agency. In 1995, he was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Employment Department and, subsequently, the Department for Education and Employment.

Michael received a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1999. In May 2001, he left the Civil Service. He was appointed Rector of The London Institute, the largest Art and Design Institute in Europe in September 2001, which became University of the Arts, London in May 2004. In January 2004, he was appointed by the Home Office to chair the Soham/Bichard Inquiry. From 2005-2008, he was Chair of the Legal Services Commission.

He is currently a board member of Shakespeare’s Globe Trust, the River and Rowing Museum Foundation and Henley Business School Strategy Board. He is Chairman of Film Club Limited, Chairman of CreateKX, Chair and a Trustee of the CNAA Art collection Trust. He has been a Chairman of the Design Council; Governor of Henley Management College; Chair of the Board of Companions of the Chartered Management Institute; a Member of the Guild of Educators, Chairman of Rathbone Training Limited and a Governor of Langley Academy.

Michael was elevated to the House of Lords in 2010. He has honorary degrees from Leeds Metropolitan, Birmingham, Middlesex and Bradford universities and the Southampton Institute.