Beginning a career in Public Affairs
Before joining the team at Citigate Dewe Rogerson I was new to the public affairs industry, so while excited by the prospect of starting work was not quite sure what to expect. Any concerns I had were soon dissipated: within my first weeks with the team I’d gained a huge amount of policy insight, whether that related to developments in areas from energy or finance, and from pensions to infrastructure.
Dependent on what is going on in parliament/the media and within our clients’ businesses, no two weeks are the same. Public affairs is a vital sector in its own right, representing those who can be affected both positively and negatively by the Government’s actions, by uncontrollable events or by the media. The organisations that we work with need advice and specific knowledge to help tackle issues of importance to them, whether that’s making their views known on emerging legislation or simply understanding who is involved in sector-related parliamentary committees.
To this end, the most valuable skills one can learn when working in public policy are researching, monitoring and analysis – and it always helps if you can find ways to get your hands on new policy initiatives before everyone else! It is also important to build an in-depth understanding not just of Government and the legislative process, but of the relevant issues affecting the companies that one represents.
A definite highlight of my first few weeks in the role was attending party conferences for the first time. The atmosphere and lively socialising were pluses, as well as, of course, gaining awareness of future policy and attending various think tank events.
In terms of challenges, maintaining political neutrality within the team can prove difficult, although all shades of the political spectrum are represented, which leads to plenty of entertaining debates about the rights and wrongs of emerging policy.
The world of public affairs is certainly about being proactive, about being focused on the detail of policymaking and about keeping your finger on the pulse of unfolding stories in the media. If you enjoy networking, socialising and meeting people from different walks of life, then public affairs is definitely the industry to be in. It will give you a wide range of understanding from various angles and sectors, with experience that can prepare you for further roles in Government, politics and other areas of PR.