Henrietta Edwards
Current Employer/Organisation Name
House of Lords
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
I have been working as a research assistant in the House of Lords for two cross-bench peers. I am only one year out of university so have been doing that since!
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
After studying history at university and being interested in political history, it was a great opportunity to get involved in current day politics, and understand how government and parliament works in the UK. I most enjoy seeing the results of my work when it is used in speeches in the House of Lords or other places (like published articles).
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
University of Exeter Volleyball Club – played for the Womens 1st team, and sat on committee in 3rd year. I was also part of ‘Exeter Christian Union’ (ECU), and ran the Exeter ‘Christians in Sport’ (CIS) group in 3rd year. Aside from that I played intramural netball.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
What I enjoyed most about the programme was the ability to choose modules from a wide selection. I was able to narrow down what I was interested in and learn more about it, to a much deeper level. The highlight was my dissertation where I was able to choose anything I wanted, and do really in depth research into the topic.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
I loved studying at Exeter. I really enjoyed that there were so many different things that one could get involved in. The student culture at Exeter is great as people are willing to get stuck in and make it the best time it can be. I really enjoyed the emphasis on sport too as that was something I was keen on getting involved in.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
During the time I was applying it was COVID, and I was living abroad so I was unable to go visit the universities I was applying to. So, I chose where to apply based on three factors; academic (UK uni/subject ratings), sports teams, and Churches. I wanted somewhere that was a campus university, and Exeter had the bonus of being in the South – so better weather, and a beach!
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
The top skills that have been useful so far to me are; research skills (honed through a research heavy degree), communication skills (both verbal and written), and organisation/time-management skills (developed by taking on lots of commitments at university). Most useful experience was essay writing, and experience that I gained at school doing Model UN, but did not continue at university.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Be able to show a unique interest in politics. I did this through studying political history, but being able to showcase the necessary skills through political means really helps them understand your interest.
What are your plans for the future?
I am staying on in the House of Lords until December, then I am moving accross into the financial sector in the City, with the aim to get the neccesary qualifications to move into the Treasury in the Civil Service.
