Daniel Chappel
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Community Trade Union
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Immediately after graduating in 2023 with a BSc in Politics & International Relations, I went to work organising campaigns for the Labour Party in the run up to the 2024 General Election. Following the election, I worked part-time in parliamentary offices while completing a MSc in Global Economics. Once I completed this, I was hired as a Political Officer for a major trade union with strong links to the Labour Government, doing political engagement, strategic communications and advocacy on behalf of the union’s members.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I chose a career in politics as I have always loved its mixture of serious analytical work that aims to solve the world’s biggest problems combined with a fast-paced and competitive environment where every day is different. The work gives you incredible opportunities to connect with senior leaders in politics, industry and civil society as well as meet international VIPs too. I love how the profession values a sharp mind over specialist skills or a bulk of experience; the constant intellectual debate with colleagues is a great way to continue using the critical thinking skills I developed at Exeter.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
Labour Society, German Society and Debate Society
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
Most of all I enjoyed taking a diverse range of courses that opened my eyes to very different parts of the social sciences. The highlight was the study of parliamentary affairs and I have fond memories of taking part in a role playing exercise where students pretended to be MPs attempting to pass legislation.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
I enjoyed the close knit community at Exeter. The networks between different groups and societies on campus made socialising easy and I formed strong friendships that have lasted since I graduated.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
I chose to study at Exeter as it had a strong reputation for good teaching in the social sciences, I admired the greenery of the campus and living in a small city with easy access to nature.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
The skills and experiences that have helped me most in my career is the confidence that Exeter gave me to present ideas, debate others and formulate arguments. My extracurricular activities only enhanced these skills with the addition of exposing me to key external people in politics who gave me key advice and support to get into the profession.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Use your free time to engage in politics in a voluntary role. The opportunities to get stuck in are endless and it is really easy for talented and hard working people to be noticed by the right people.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to enter deeper into a policy role at the heart of government over the coming years before branching out into the private sector to explore global opportunities in areas like international trade, cross-border regulation and investment.
