Alison took part in the Nottingham Summer School in 2003. She shares with us her career journey in Parliament and how she got here.

Tell us a bit about your background and where you come from 

“I’m originally from Lowestoft, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. I grew up there and attended the local state schools. I applied for the Sutton Trust after my grandmother saw a two-page spread in The Sun asking for applications.”

What was the highlight of your Sutton Trust programme?

“I took part in the Nottingham Summer School in 2003. The highlight for me was meeting people from so many different parts of the UK and different backgrounds.”

What skills did you gain from taking part in the programme?

“I didn’t know anyone who had gone to university, so I gained valuable experience of what it felt like to stay at a university for a week. I also met people with different views and who had lived different lives to me, which was incredibly important.

It gave me really valuable experiences and the confidence that studying languages at university was what I wanted.”

Tell us about your current role

“I’ve been working as a Clerk in the House of Commons for 15 years now. I started in 2009 and have had a variety of posts. I love working at the heart of politics, helping Members of Parliament to scrutinise UK Government policy and legislation.

Although I’ve been at the House since 2009, I’ve done several different roles, from advising MPs on amending legislation, to clerking a Select Committee, to organisational change.”

What does a typical day look like for you in your role?

“Everything is based around the weekly meeting of the Select Committee I clerk, so it could be preparing papers, discussing future plans with the team, or meetings with other team leaders on corporate updates. No two days are the same.”

What’s the best thing about your current role?

“I’m incredibly lucky to manage such a wonderful team and work with such committed, inspirational, interesting and ambitious colleagues!”

What was your first step in your career and how did you secure it?

“I applied through the Civil Service Faststream for a job in the Foreign Office, then decided that, although I loved languages, I didn’t want a career travelling abroad. I then visited Parliament, loved it, and put that as my number one choice on my application. After a terrible interview (I mentioned Britney Spears), I somehow got the job!”

Did you face any barriers in accessing your career – and how did you overcome these?

“I didn’t face any barriers in accessing my career; but I definitely felt aware of my background when I joined. Lots of colleagues had been to private school and then Oxbridge, and used Latin phrases or words I didn’t know.

The organisation has changed immensely since I started in 2009- it is now incredibly welcoming and inclusive.”

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