ABOUT

So what do you actually do?

I tackle political challenges for businesses and charities by providing advice and helping them get their messages to the heart of government.

To do this, I’ve had to learn about how Parliament works and keep a close eye on political events.

What has your career path been?

I’ve always been quite entrepreneurial.

When I was a teenager, I started my own business and learnt lots of valuable skills, like how to build a website and do marketing. I grew up in a fairly deprived community and I got more interested in social issues and politics as I got older. I came to London to study Politics at university and I managed to get a job for a local council in my first year of studying with some of the skills I’d gained running my own business.

After that, I got a job in Parliament and worked there for a short term for an MP — writing speeches and helping with research.

By the time I’d finished my degree, I had the studying bug and I applied for a masters in Social Anthropology. At the same time, I got a job as a political consultant — which I did for a year before moving to work for a big charity, and then eventually to my current job.

What is the best part of your job?

Getting to meet lots of different politicians and regularly visiting Parliament!

I’ve met some genuinely inspiring people, and walking through Parliament never really gets old. It’s an amazing building and I always feel a great sense of pride when I’m there.

Why do you do your job?

I really enjoy the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment, and politics is constantly changing. As a consultant, I work for lots of different clients so I work on very different topics throughout the day. This has included things like helping a big supermarket chain prepare for Brexit, and helping a children’s charity campaign on mental health during the pandemic.

I also love communicating — both verbally and through writing. And behind everything is a desire to make a positive social impact.

I’ve always tried to work for organisations who aren’t just about the money.

One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?

Learn to prioritise.

You’ll be working on lots of different things at once — and depending on the day, half of those things might be urgent.

Get into the habit of constantly asking yourself what really needs to happen now and what can wait. It took me a very long time to realise how important this is!

Check out Emeka’s socials below!

DAY IN THE LIFE

No two days in politics are ever the same — which is what I love about it.

Some days are really exciting. I’ll get on the tube and head into Westminster to meet an MP or one of their advisors. Sometimes I’ll have lunch meeting in Parliament to gather information about an upcoming piece of legislation or policy.

Other days are spent at home or in the office glued to a laptop.

Just as important as actually going out and meeting MPs and Government Ministers is the business of coming up with a strategy, drafting letters, writing briefings ahead of meetings and doing research. Plus it’s always vital to keep on top of what’s being said in the news and in Parliament — which means lots of time skim reading articles and email alerts.

I usually start work at 9am and finish around 6pm. Each day generally starts with a quick look at the news headlines that day over breakfast. Once I turn on my laptop, I share any important political news with my clients — with a clear breakdown of any potential implications for them. I have a different team of people in my office to work with for each of my clients, and we catch-up every week to talk about our plans and objectives.

I work very closely with my teams. If a client has asked us to write a briefing, we’ll generally work as a group to produce it — with one person writing a first draft and another person making edits.

Some of my most interesting days have been spent planning and hosting events. I’ve organised roundtable talks in Parliament with different MPs and members of the House of Lords, virtual webinars with hundreds of attendees, and lots of similar events. I also travel occasionally for work — going to political conferences and events each year.