Annette Gautrey | Senior Policy Advisor, Intellectual Property Office

Annette Gautrey is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights. She shares her experience changing careers, what her job involves and advice for others on a similar journey.

As a child, I imagined a future as either a pilot or a vet. While those ambitions didn’t quite take flight, largely due to an honest assessment of my mathematical abilities, they did lead me towards a curiosity-driven and diverse academic path. I chose to study Media and Communication Sciences at the University of Amsterdam. The course allowed me to explore many disciplines and ways of thinking. It also enabled me to take law as an optional subject. I quickly realised I had found something that truly resonated with me and that would later shape my professional direction.

After moving to the UK, I joined the police service, where I served for almost two decades. I joined the police because I was not ready to spend my career behind a desk. I wanted a role with clear purpose, where the impact of your work would be immediate, meaningful and with variety. Growing up with family members in law enforcement also gave me insight into the profession and inspired my interest.

Earlier academic exposure and working in the police service developed my strong appreciation for how law functions in practice. This ultimately led me to a career change. I have a genuine interest in how legal frameworks shape both the real world and people’s lives. I am interested in the critical role it plays in delivering fairness, accountability and justice (and sometimes lack of it). I felt completing a law conversion course could develop a deeper, formal legal understanding and help my career transition into legal practice.

I chose to undertake the LPC with LLM at The University of Law because of their strong reputation for vocational legal training. The course’s emphasis on practical skills, applied legal knowledge and professional readiness aligned with my career objectives. Studying at the Bloomsbury campus also gave me valuable firsthand experience of the legal profession in London.

The University’s flexible teaching approach made it the best fit for me as a working professional. I studied through a blended in-person and online approach. This allowed me to balance demanding work responsibilities and family life without compromising the quality of my education.

I am proud of having the commitment and drive to combine a demanding role as a policy officer with raising four children. As well as studying to change my career by completing the GDL and LPC with LLM. Legal study requires close reading and analysis of long, complex judgments that are often challenging, especially as English is my second language.

I admire the UK courts. They show how careful legal reasoning can achieve balanced and fair outcomes. The UK judiciary has been inspiring. Common law focuses on reasoned judgement and case-by-case development. This is different from the constitutional law I was used to in the Netherlands. Judges such as Lord Justice Birss and the wider IP judiciary show how technical expertise combined with fair judgement leads to outcomes that are practical and reflect real business considerations.

I am currently a Senior Policy Advisor at the IPO. I was able to secure my current role because of the skills I gained as a Licensing Officer for a technology transfer office. In that position, I developed experience in IP licensing, portfolio management and patent prosecution. When I saw a job vacancy requiring these skills, I realised it was the right time for me to switch from operational IP management to IP policy.

As a Senior Policy Advisor, I shape and deliver policy across complex and evolving areas of intellectual property law. This work involves collating a solid evidence base, leading public consultations and working with a wide range of stakeholders. The role ensures policy proposals are informed, balanced and future focused. I develop policies that support the government’s wider missions, especially encouraging innovation as a driver of sustainable economic growth.

Managing relationships with industry stakeholders is a key part of my role. As well as coordinating closely with colleagues across the IPO and other government departments. This includes collaborating on cross-cutting priorities such as competition law, IP finance and regulatory reform. This ensures a joined-up approach to policy development and delivery.

In the next few years, I believe my role will greatly evolve because of many structural and external changes. The growing use of AI and advanced data analytics will shape how evidence is gathered and analysed. It will drive policy development while also creating new ethical, regulatory and governance challenges, particularly in data use, access and retention.

I expect to see greater emphasis on cross-government working to address challenging, system-wide issues. There will also be a careful look at the impact of policies to make sure they provide value for money. Not to forget a continued shift towards more adaptive policymaking in response to rapid technological, economic and geopolitical change. Stakeholder engagement may become more complicated and international in nature, especially in areas influenced by innovation, regulation and global markets. There will be a requirement for policy professionals to combine technical understanding with strong judgement, communication and strategic leadership. I believe new entrants in the policy world need to be increasingly technically knowledgeable, flexible and responsive.

The IPO is a hybrid organisation and has a flexible working model. This includes a 20% office attendance requirement. As well as options for part-time working, compressed hours, term-time working, job-sharing and more. This approach allows me to balance professional responsibilities with family life and other care commitments. It also helps me manage the practical challenges of distance, with the offices being considerably far from home.

I have been involved in many voluntary initiatives that have contributed to my personal and professional development. Most notably, I served as Welfare Officer for one of the largest grassroots football clubs in England. I later became Joint Chair of the club. Working within a volunteer-led organisation required a different leadership approach to professional staff. It helped me develop skills in inclusive leadership, dispute resolution, governance and decision-making in resource-constrained environments.

I also established a confidential domestic abuse advice service within the IPO with a fellow police officer. Our aim is to assist colleagues who may be experiencing abuse or those concerned about their loved ones. The role involves advising line managers and helping shape the organisation’s policies in this area. This initiative gave me the opportunity to apply my specialist expertise, raise awareness and support others. It also strengthensed my internal networks and understanding of the organisation.

If you’re a student keen to work at the IPO, it is important to have a good understanding of intellectual property rights and the principles of evidence-based policy making. These links have helpful information about civil service careers and policy profession. Analytical thinking, clear communication and adaptability are also useful skills.

The IPO has many different roles, from granting and managing IP rights to providing support and guidance for businesses and inventors. The IPO also offers many services, including tribunal services, customer support, and data and IT services. Whatever job you apply for, I would recommend contacting the vacancy holder for further information on the specific position.

The policy profession includes responding to official correspondence on behalf of ministers, writing briefings and drafting advice. You need the ability to develop evidence-based policy, interpret legislation, good communication and influencing skills. Familiarity with IP law and patent frameworks is beneficial. An understanding of international treaties and international IP forums such as WIPO is helpful. As well as skills on how to represent the UK’s interests in global discussions. This includes relationship management and working across multidisciplinary teams. An awareness of innovation and of emerging technologies and their implication for patent policy is desirable.

In my role as a Senior Policy Advisor, you need a blend of technical knowledge, particularly in IP, innovation and technology transfer. Also, strategic thinking, good communication and interpersonal skills.

The IPO recruitment process usually involves an online application via civil service jobs. There are potentially online assessments and a final interview with practical tasks and behavioural questions. Generally, the process is competency-based and an assessment of analytical skills. Deep technical knowledge is not always required and depends on the role. What an application process involves is usually fully explained in the vacancy advertisement.

At present, the IPO doesn't provide internships or summer vacation schemes but continues to support young people and students through other outreach activities. This includes school engagement and skills workshops. If you want to know more about these please contact: [email protected].

My top networking tips for students aiming to break into the policy industry are:

• Connect with professionals early by attending seminars, webinars and career events. These will also help you learn about current challenges. Many online sites reduce the need for travel.
• Talk to your alumni and mentors. Build relationships across sectors to broaden your perspective and opportunities, and ask for insights and guidance on career paths.
• Take advantage of volunteer and advocacy opportunities. These will build your skills, experience and contacts.
• Explore organisations’ websites and the civil service jobs site. They have internships, placements and networking events.
• Make the most of your personal contacts and get a profile on LinkedIn.

Some advice I would give my 18-year-old self is to be more focused and less restless. When I was younger, I had a genuine interest in absolutely everything. I later found that trying to master everything can lead to having too many half-finished projects. It is fine to explore but commitment and follow-through are what turn curiosity into a career.

Most importantly, I would reassure myself that changing direction is not a failure but often how you find what truly suits you. It is a natural progression of life as priorities change over time.

Looking to change careers? We offer a variety of conversion courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.