A Political Advisor or Aide is someone who supports politicians by providing advice, conducting research, preparing briefings, and managing communications. They play a key role in shaping policy, crafting speeches, and liaising with other government officials, the media, and members of the public. The job can be fast-paced and high-pressure, particularly during elections or major political events. Advisors need strong analytical skills, excellent written and verbal communication, and a good understanding of current affairs and political processes. Many political advisors work at Westminster, for MPs, government ministers, or political parties, but similar roles exist at local councils and devolved governments.
Political advisors in the UK typically earn between £30,000 and £60,000 per year, with senior advisors potentially earning more depending on their experience and the politician they work for.
There are around 1,500 to 2,000 political aide and advisor positions across central government, parliament, and local government in the UK.
Political advisors often work long and irregular hours, especially when parliament is in session or during election campaigns.
Supports an MP or member of the House of Lords by conducting research, preparing briefings, and drafting speeches on policy issues.
Works with an MP to help local constituents by handling enquiries, resolving problems, and liaising with organisations and government bodies.
Assists in developing party policies by researching issues, drafting policy documents, and supporting the party's policy team.
Focus on subjects like Politics, History, English, or Economics at school.
Achieving good grades in relevant GCSEs and A Levels is essential. Subjects such as Politics, History, English, or Economics will provide a solid foundation for understanding political systems and communication. You may also consider taking part in debating clubs or student councils for extra experience.
Pursue a degree in Politics, International Relations, Law, or a related field.
Most Political Advisors hold a degree. Popular courses include Politics, International Relations, Law, or Public Policy. Some universities offer sandwich courses with work placements in government or political offices, which are highly valuable for gaining practical experience.
Participate in student unions, political societies, or volunteer for local campaigns.
Taking active roles in student politics or volunteering for local councillors and MPs can help you understand the workings of political offices. You may join a political party, assist with campaigning, or help organise events. This experience is useful for developing communication and organisational skills.
Seek internships with MPs, local councillors, government departments, or think tanks.
Many MPs and political offices offer internships or work experience programmes. These placements allow you to assist with research, draft speeches, or manage correspondence. Gaining hands-on experience is a key step towards securing a permanent position in the field.
Look for jobs such as Research Assistant, Caseworker, or Junior Aide in political offices.
Entry-level positions in MP offices, political parties, or government agencies are often advertised on official websites and job boards. These roles involve supporting senior staff, conducting research, preparing briefings, and helping with administrative tasks.
Build relationships with politicians, civil servants, and other professionals in the political sector.
Networking is vital in politics. Attend conferences, join professional associations, and stay in touch with contacts made during internships or voluntary work. Building a reputation for reliability and discretion can open the door to more senior advisory roles in the future.
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 policy issues, public opinion, and media coverage to inform political strategies. Similarly, a Media researcher studies media content and audience analysis to support media projects, making this career closely aligned in terms of research capabilities and media analysis skills.
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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