When I first started working in higher education (HE), I had no idea it would lead me to a career in communications.
As an undergraduate at the University of Sheffield I worked part-time in the access and widening participation department. I supported with on-campus experience days for disadvantaged students, delivered speeches to prospective students about the benefits of entering HE and represented the university at recruitment fairs across the country. While this was originally a job to fund university, I quickly learned how much I loved the world of HE.
When I graduated in 2019, I decided to officially enter the HE sector as a fresh-faced graduate and secured a job working in student recruitment at a university in London. There, I was able to see first-hand the impact of policy development in the sector on universities and their activity. For me, it was clear which side of the table I needed to be on and that was being involved in developing good, strategic and impactful policy.
I moved to Universities UK (UUK) shortly after, having managed to pass a virtual interview while on holiday. I began working in the UUK’s Policy Group to develop national campaigns and lobby Government for positive and long-term intervention in the sector. I was given the opportunities to work on student mental health and drug use, social mobility, cost of living and knowledge exchange.
When developing policy, I gained an understanding of the importance of having strong policy asks when lobbying, using a credible evidence-base to influence stakeholders, and recognising the influence of the external landscape on implementation.
But my time in HE didn’t end there, I decided to move to a sector agency (and yes, there is a difference) where I led on HE policy and public affairs. For the first time, I was directly engaging with Ministers, the Shadow Cabinet, Chairs of Select Committees and Co-Chairs of All-Party Parliamentary Groups and it was by far the most fascinating experience I’d had yet in HE. I can remember the first time I walked into Portcullis House for a meeting with Bridget Phillipson MP. I was in awe of the parliamentary staff who got to experience working in and around politics every day, and I just knew I needed to be part of it. And that’s when I found PLMR.
Before joining the business, I was slightly hesitant about the level of exposure I’d have to HE – PLMR has a strong, dedicated Education Practice which specialises in all areas of education, but the role itself wasn’t specifically about HE. But PLMR has been an absolute champion of my experience, expertise and interests and has supported me to continue to build on this further and really develop in this space. I now lead a number of HE workstreams, connect with high profile stakeholders from across the sector, and ensure the business and clients are kept informed about current and future policy development. This comes alongside wider exposure to other sectors such as early years, further education and skills, really building my expertise up across phases of education, and how they link together and impact on each other.
People don’t necessarily know which direction their career will take. When I think back to working part-time in a university, I never thought I’d be working in a communications agency in Westminster.
My advice: trust the process. You might be gaining some incredibly important skills or experience now in a particular sector which can take you somewhere you didn’t know was option for you.
Top interview tip – don’t be shy about having a specialism. At the right agency, like PLMR, they will support you to enhance your existing experience and develop skills in other areas to become the best consultant you can be.
