James has come full circle to find things are changing for good

When I joined the House of Commons via the House’s equivalent of the Civil Service Fast Stream, I had recently graduated with a degree in Economics.

My first role was with the Economic Policy and Statistics Section in the House of Commons Library.

I previously spent a year as a sandwich student in the Civil Service, and I found that I really enjoyed working on evidence-based policy, so it sounded like the perfect job.

Immediately beforehand, I was working in a Berkshire nightclub, and Westminster felt like a massive change. It took a long time to adjust to working in such an iconic location, and seeing well-known people everywhere I went.

Now, I was a Library Specialist, covering statistics and policy on apprenticeships, skills and the labour market. It involved a mix of writing, publishing briefings, and answering bespoke information requests for MPs and their staff.

I got a lot of formal training when I started. But the most valuable learning was informally, through colleagues. We’re really lucky that the people who work here are always willing to take time to share their knowledge and help one another.

After a couple of years, I joined the Treasury Select Committee’s staff on a year-long placement. Working here reminded me how important our work can be. I really felt this when members of the public gave evidence to the Committees about their own experiences, and how the laws made or not made in Parliament affected them.

I briefly returned to the Library, before joining the Governance Office as Private Secretary to the Director General. It was an unusual role, which meant I got to work with people in every department of the House, covering everything from the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster to the Travel Office.

After two years, I was keen to return to policy, and I joined the staff of the Work and Pensions Select Committee as a Senior Committee Specialist covering pensions. It’s where evidence-based scrutiny is really important because policy decisions will affect people for such a long period of time.

Now, I’ve come full circle and (a bit like a borrowed book) returned to the Library. Only this time, I’m the Workplace and Personal Pensions Specialist. It’s good to be back and I’ve been able to bring all my experience of working elsewhere in the House with me.

It’s easy to see how much things have changed. Today, we are much more focused on the people who are reading the material we write, and making it as usable as possible.

James has come full circle to find things are changing for good. Together, we make Parliament happen.