A political advisor or aide works closely with politicians, such as Members of Parliament (MPs), ministers, or local councillors, to provide research, strategic advice, and support on policy and communications. Their responsibilities may include preparing briefings, drafting speeches, managing correspondence, and helping to develop policy positions. Political advisors need to be highly organised, have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a strong understanding of current affairs. The role can be fast-paced and demanding, requiring discretion and the ability to handle sensitive information. Most political advisors work in London, particularly around Westminster, but there are also opportunities in regional and local government offices throughout the UK.
The average salary for a political advisor or aide in the UK ranges from £25,000 to £50,000 per year, depending on experience and the level of responsibility.
There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 individuals working as political advisors or aides across the UK, including those supporting MPs, ministers, and local government officials.
Political advisors often work long and irregular hours, especially when Parliament is in session or during election campaigns.
Conducts research and provides detailed reports to support MPs or Lords in their legislative work, including preparing briefings and analysing policy proposals.
Works directly with the public to handle concerns and issues raised by local constituents, helping to resolve problems on behalf of an elected representative.
Supports policy teams within government departments or political parties by gathering information, drafting documents, and assisting in the development of new policies.
Focus on subjects such as politics, history, English, or economics at GCSE and A Level.
Strong academic performance in relevant subjects demonstrates your interest and ability, which will help in university applications. Subjects like politics and history provide a good background in understanding how governments and political systems work.
Apply for degrees such as Politics, International Relations, Law, or Economics at university.
A degree in a related field will help you gain the knowledge and analytical skills needed for a political advisor role. Many universities also offer placements, internships, and societies which can help you build connections.
Join student unions, debate clubs, or volunteer for local political campaigns.
Taking part in political activities helps you understand real-world issues and processes. Volunteering or campaigning for a political party or local councillor will help you build networks and practical skills.
Apply for internships with MPs, government departments, think tanks, or political parties.
Internships provide hands-on experience and help you develop key skills such as research, communication, and policy analysis. They also give you valuable contacts within the political field, which can help when seeking full-time roles.
Attend political events, conferences, and maintain a record of your achievements.
Networking is vital in politics. Meeting people from different political backgrounds and keeping a portfolio of your work will help you stand out to potential employers.
Seek positions such as Parliamentary Assistant, Researcher, or Constituency Caseworker.
Starting in an entry-level political role allows you to gain further experience and demonstrate your abilities. With time, you can progress towards becoming a political advisor or aide to senior politicians.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Political Advisor/Aide. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
A Political Advisor/Aide often conducts research on political issues, policies, and public opinions, which closely resembles the role of a Media researcher who investigates and analyses media content and public perception. Both positions require strong research skills, an understanding of political and media landscapes, and the ability to summarise complex information effectively.
You can get into this job through:
You can do a degree at university before applying for researcher jobs. Most subjects are acceptable, although some programme makers may look for expertise in a particular subject, depending on the show.
Subjects include:
You'll usually need:
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this role.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
You could apply to do a Broadcast Production Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
You would learn a wide range of skills on this apprenticeship. On completion, you could concentrate on the research side of programme production.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
You could start as an administrator, runner or production assistant with a TV company and take on research duties, with the support of your employer.
Making contacts in the industry is a good way to find opportunities and work placements to develop your research skills. You could:
You can apply directly to employers if you've got relevant skills and knowledge needed for this job. Work experience, contacts and good research skills are highly valued.
You could also move into programme research if you've worked in journalism, or had a research job in a non-media field, such as social or political fact-finding and analysis.
You could take a training course through a professional body, like BECTU, the broadcast union, or ScreenSkills. These are open to new starters as well as existing staff looking to progress.
You'll need to get practical experience of media production, and develop a network of contacts in the industry.
Being able to solve a problem creatively can be very useful. It'll also be helpful if you have knowledge of current affairs and the media.
Some understanding of how artificial intelligence content creation tools work may be helpful in certain roles. While specialist subject knowledge may be needed for specific programmes and documentaries.
You can find out more about becoming a media researcher from ScreenSkills and organisations like:
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
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