A career in public affairs is likely to mean working in a public affairs consultancy or in-house public affairs team. Typically, work includes political monitoring to foresee public policy which may affect a business, charity or other organisation. As well as acting responsively to legislation or policy, public affairs professionals will regularly network and engage with policy makers to maintain valuable relationships.
Public affairs consultancies offer services including; monitoring political and policy matters which may create opportunities or problems for their clients, PR services, events management and political risk analysis.
Roles in public affairs
As an entrant to the sector you can expect to be involved in research, monitoring and responding to requests, report writing and quickly being involved in the client facing aspect of the work. Most public affairs consultancies will recruit graduates each year and will offer good career progression within the business.
Another career path includes being placed with the in-house public affairs team through a company’s wider graduate recruitment scheme. Think tanks, charities, MPs and campaign groups will often take on graduates in research and policy roles which provide an excellent first step up the public affairs career ladder.
The following links provide descriptions of the job roles within public affairs and include job searching tips, salary, entry requirements, training, working conditions and job hunting information.
Public affairs representative bodies
The following websites are good for news, job descriptions, members' directories and vacancies.
Public affairs organisations
- Adam Smith Institute
The Adam Smith Institute is Britain’s leading innovator of free-market economic and social policies
- Burson-Marsteller
Global public relations and communications firm providing clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a complete range of public relations, public affairs, advertising and other communications
- CBI
UK business lobbying organisation
- Citigate Dewe Rogerson
International communications consultancy specialising in a wide range of industries including healthcare.
- European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA)
Expertise in public affairs practice in the European Union. It works closely with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Presidency and national governments of the Union to develop understanding of the evolving process of governing Europ
- European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA)
Expertise in public affairs practice in the European Union. It works closely with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Presidency and national governments of the Union to develop understanding of the evolving process of governing Europ
- Fishburn Hedges
PR consultancy, dealing in public affairs.
- Fleishman-Hillard UK
Business communication consultants specialising in consumer, corporate, digital, healthcare, public affairs and technology industries
- Grayling
The second largest independent global Public Relations, Public Affairs, Investor Relations and Events consultancy in the world
A global communications network that delivers data-driven strategies for Public Relations, Government Affairs, Investor Relations and Event Management
- Ketchum Pleon
Leading European PR and communications consultancy.
- Ketchum Pleon
Leading European PR and communications consultancy.
- Lexington Communications
Offer graduates short internships
The UK’s leading independent public affairs and communications agency.
- LOGOS Public Affairs
Brussels based public affairs consultancy.
- MHP Communications
London based PR and communications consultancy specialising in CSR, corporate relations, Brand PR and public affairs.
- OPML - Oxford Policy Management
OPM enables strategic decision-makers to identify and implement sustainable solutions for reducing social and economic disadvantage by providing a combination of analysis and practical experience.
- PubAffairs - Public Affairs Consultancies
Consulting organisations involved in government relations, policy & communications
- Public Relations Consultants Association
Represents many PR consultants in the UK, contains members directory
- SourceWatch - Think tanks
Definition and history of think tanks - includes excellent list of American, UK, European and Australian think tanks and public affairs organisations
- Transparency International
Global network including more than 90 locally established national chapters and chapters-in-formation. These bodies fight bring together relevant players from government, civil society, business and the media to promote transparency in elections, in publi
Works together with governments, businesses and citizens to stop the abuse of power, bribery and secret deals
- Weber Shadwick : Public Affairs
The UK's leading multi-specialist PR agency
- Weber Shandwick
Full service public relations agency
Research, information and publications
- European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA)
Expertise in public affairs practice in the European Union. It works closely with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Presidency and national governments of the Union to develop understanding of the evolving process of governing Europ
- PR Week
Public Affairs news, jobs, and events
- Prospects - Press officer
Job description, entry routes, related jobs and useful resources
- Prospects - Public affairs consultant
Job description, entry routes, related jobs and useful resources
- Public Affairs Networking
Public affairs jobs and news
Public affairs jobs, news and resources
- Public Affairs News
Public affairs news and jobs from the UK and EU
- SourceWatch - Think tanks
Definition and history of think tanks - includes excellent list of American, UK, European and Australian think tanks and public affairs organisations
- Target Jobs - Public Affairs Consultant (lobbyist)
Jobs and recruitment agencies
- Brand Republic
Advertising, Design, Digital, Direct Marketing, Media, New Media and PR Jobs
- EuroBrussels.com
Jobs in Brussels, EU institutions and International Organisations
Launched in 2001, EuroBrussels.com has established itself as a leading jobsite in Brussels in the business of European affairs and international relations. It has more than 900,000 page views and 80,000 unique visitors per month, and 50,000 subscribers to
- jobsgopublic
Search a wide range of vacancies in the public and not for profit sectors
- Major Players
A leading marketing and creative industries recruitment agency specialising in PR, Marketing and Advertising, which has been operating for over 15 years.
- PR Week
Public Affairs news, jobs, and events
- PR Week
Public Affairs news, jobs, and events
- Public Affairs Links
Aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the public affairs industry - in the US, UK and Europe
- Public Affairs Networking
Public affairs jobs and news
Public affairs jobs, news and resources
- Public Affairs News
Public affairs news and jobs from the UK and EU
- Public Relations Consultants Association
Represents many PR consultants in the UK, contains members directory
Links to external sites
Some of the links on this page are imported from our Diigo social bookmarking account. You can view all our links directly on our Diigo site. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on our website and to update it regularly, LSE cannot be held responsible for the content on external websites.