Department for Transport - Assistant Private Secretary

The role of an Assistant Private Secretary is varied, challenging and above all else, really enjoyable.

Anna Park started the role as Assistant Private Secretary to Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport  6 months ago. In this time Anna has worked at the heart of the department and gained invaluable experience of how ministers, Parliament and a large government department work.

Anna works in a dedicated small team supporting the minster on visits, analysing ministerial submissions and lots more. The hours can be long, but are balanced with shorter working days during Parliamentary recess.

In this video, Anna shares what an average day is like for an Assistant Private Secretary:

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“No 2 days are ever the same; you never know what you’re going to be coming into in Private Office which is quite exciting”

Working as an Assistant Private Secretary is an amazing opportunity to gain insight into the work of both Whitehall and Westminster, working across government departments and supporting the minister’s work in Parliament.

Here, Anna talks about her most memorable moments in the role, including meeting Royalty for dinner:

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“The rewards are brilliant, the minister was really happy, I was really proud of the work that I’d done, and I was really proud of my team”

And finally, here’s what Anna said if you’re thinking of applying:

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“If you’re somebody who really likes a challenge, who is adaptable and flexible, I think those are really important qualities”

If you’ve got an interest in politics and you’re keen to get stuck in, we’d like to hear from you. Apply to be an Assistant Private Secretary here today!