Charles Hall

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Office of Anna Firth MP

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

After leaving the University of Exeter, I joined Devon County Council as a Members Services, Committee, and Civic Support Officer. This was a multi-faceted role working across a variety of departments. Duties include organising committee meetings, formulating and publishing agendas, taking minutes, administering grant processes, policy research, carrying out legal & DBS checks, assisting the Royal Household in award ceremonies, data analysis and general administration. Alongside this, I was an Axminster Town Councillor and Vice Chair of the Planning Committee. Duties include chairing meetings, advising fellow Members on processes, voting on policy, and hosting public meetings. In March 2022, this all ended after I was offered a job in London. I now live near Canary Wharf and have loved every moment so far.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I chose this career because I love politics. Despite of all its problems, working in the office of a Member of Parliament really does give you the ability to change lives for the better.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I was part of the Debating Society and the West Country Society.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I enjoyed meeting new people and constantly spending time with others of the same mindset. My biggest highlight was graduation, seeing all that hard work come together in such an amazing way.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

Halls! All jokes aside, it really throws you in the deep end and forces you to learn new skills – whilst have some fun along the way.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I chose Exeter because it had an amazing offer of topics in the Politics and IR Department, as well as a campus which gave you the best of the country and the best of the city.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Communication and writing skills have been vital, especially when it comes to dealing with sensitive matters of constituents or issuing quotes to the press.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Seek an internship at both local and national level so you can understand how important politics across the board.

What are your plans for the future?

I am not planning on leaving the Houses of Parliament for a while, but the dream is to go into PR.