Policy and Public Affairs: Changing and Always Learning

By Tenley Fuentes, Intern

Over the past couple of months I have been a policy and public affairs intern at Principle Consulting. 

From the start of my internship, I grappled with the developing political context that our clients exist in; wrapping my head around what new policy announcements meant for our clients. My day to day work changed but often involved supporting stakeholder mapping, outreach to MPs and preparing briefings or monitoring reports for a range of clients including healthcare, immigration and education.

Working across this range quickly demonstrated to me the consistency in genuine support Principle has for its clients and a collective desire to make impactful and meaningful change.

Exploring policy and public affairs work outside of my comfort zone, which centres on immigration, may have initially seemed daunting, but with support from the team I began to develop my confidence in changing contexts, learning how to adapt and the importance of being reactive.

My internship involved a range of tasks, all of which have expanded and deepened my knowledge of how influencing policy works. From drafting written and oral parliamentary questions for clients, to supporting outreach to MPs and receiving positive responses, there has never been a lack of opportunities for me to engage in. Learning about the practicalities of Parliament, the nuances of local government and understanding how devolved nations work, has provided me with a broader insight and perspective on the many levels that it is possible to influence politics more widely. Crucially, it has also acted as a reminder that although charities and not-for-profits, which Principle works with exclusively, may have limited resources, there are still levers and methods that can be used to make an impact.

A standout moment during my internship was attending Principle’s 20th birthday party. There, I was surrounded by a range of people, friends, colleagues, clients and MPs, each of whom could share a plethora of stories about how Principle has supported them. It was very evident that the ethos of Principle, and its goals of empowering charities and not-for-profits to create a lasting impact in politics is felt by its clients and the individuals we all work with. 

I was fortunate enough to have a number of coffee chats with Principle clients, colleagues, and even previous interns! Every coffee chat was insightful and taught me about the spectrum of work that is encompassed within policy and public affairs. A piece of advice that has stuck with me since, is that it is important to be confident in your own knowledge and not rely on political contexts to be perfect in order to try and make change.

Policy and public affairs is a fascinating and changing field that can sometimes feel hidden from view for people who want to have a career in politics but may not know how to start. Principle’s internship scheme is the perfect place to start. The people at Principle create an environment that is encouraging and supportive making it a wonderful place to grow and learn. 

Thank you to everyone at Principle for this amazing opportunity, without a doubt I have gained an invaluable insight into the world of policy and public affairs!