Do you know anyone aged 14 to 18 who is interested in the work of Parliament?

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The House of Commons and Joint Departments have launched a new free, on-demand Virtual Work Experience Programme, which opened on 27 July 2026 and runs until 31 October 2026.

Young people who miss this application window will have another opportunity to apply when the next programme opens later in 2026 and again in 2027. The Parliament work experience webpage will be kept up to date with the latest information.

Delivered through Waypoint, a virtual platform run by our partners Sixty Learn, the programme gives young people across the UK the opportunity to:

  • Explore Parliament as a workplace
  • Gain insight into the wide range of careers that support our democracy
  • Experience what it is like to contribute to meaningful tasks within a team

By offering a virtual programme, Parliament can remove barriers such as location, enabling participation from a wider and more diverse range of young people.

Registration is managed through Waypoint, the online platform used to deliver the virtual work experience programme and operated by Sixty Learn.

To learn more about the programme and register, click the link below:

Register here to get started! 

NEW Workshops with Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment

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Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment from the University of Dundee will be delivering a series of workshops for Members’ staff this autumn.

These interactive sessions are designed to encourage peer learning through discussion and breakout groups. The workshops will provide participants with the opportunity to share experiences, explore key topics and issues, and learn from colleagues across Parliament. All sessions will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Further details about each workshop can be found on the ACT sign-up pages.

2 September, 2 – 3.30 pm
The pathway to success: understanding the capabilities developed as a Members’ staffer
For all Members’ staff.

14 October, 2 – 3.30 pm
Practical approaches to managing workloads in Members’ offices
Recommended for those with management responsibilities.

4 November, , 2 – 3.30 pm
Giving impactful feedback in Members’ offices
Recommended for those with management responsibilities.

Jennifer has also developed a Political Staffer Resource Centre: see https://www.dundee.ac.uk/political-staffer-resource-centre. This online resource shares guidance on a wide range of topics related to managing political staff including managing workloads, giving impactful feedback, wellbeing strategies for Members’ offices, maintaining morale and motivation and recruiting and orientating new staff. 

Caseworker Discussion Forum: Housing Ombudsman

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Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: book via ACT

We’ll be joined by staff from the Housing Ombudsman and Library subject specialists
Online booking closes 90 minutes before the forum meeting. To request a place after online booking has closed please email LibraryTraining@parliament.uk

WWG Talk – Cultivating Psychological Safety

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Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Date: Tuesday 11 August 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: Please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk from your parliamentary email address


Work Well Being

In this 60-minute introductory talk we explore what we mean by the term psychological safety and why it matters. We share a neurobiological model to understand and master our own internal sense of safety and explain the benefits collectively on how we work together, understand each other, and align. The talk explains how this contributes to creating an equitable and fair working environment.

It provides individuals with tools to help them gain and maintain a sense of agency and self-awareness in situations that can be challenging to navigate.

Relevant for all staff, participants will leave the session with a greater understanding of the concept of psychological safety and the actions they can take to create a safe working environment for themselves and those around them.

Outcomes

  • Explore what a psychologically safe working environment is like and why it matters
  • Learn tools to master your own internal sense of safety regardless of the external environment
  • Find out about the neurobiology of safety and how to apply that in your day to day working life
  • Learn an easily applicable model to navigate challenging situations with a greater sense of ease.
  • Find out about safe boundaries for yourself and what is expected of you at work

Dr. B. is a medical doctor, author and thought leader in the fields of mental health, workplace wellbeing and the science that brings these together. She is an Associate at Work Well Being, helping organisations strengthen wellbeing, leadership and team performance through practical, evidence based training. Since 2014, Work Well Being has supported hundreds of organisations across the UK.

Welcome to Parliament (Members’ Staff Induction)

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Welcome to Parliament.

The new joiner induction sessions are available to book via the ACT portal. If you have a new joiner in your office, please share with them.

This session will welcome you to being part of the Parliamentary community and cover essential information from key House services that will help you to settle in and get off to a good start in your new role.

If you have not yet obtained your parliamentary network access and would like to book, please contact MMSST@parliament.uk


Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Date: Thursday 3 September 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1341


Help to shape the External Services Open Day 2026

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The External Services Open Day will be returning this year on Thursday 22 October 2026. This event is designed to give Members and Members’ staff the opportunity to engage directly with a range of external bodies that support you in your casework. This is a unique opportunity to connect with representatives from a range of Government Departments and External Organisations.

We are asking for your suggestions on which Government Departments and external organisations you would like to be represented at the event this year. Please complete this short form to share your suggestions: External Services Fair 2026 – Fill in form

Behind the Scenes with the Official Report

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Join Hansard reporters for a 90-minute session in which we explain how we accurately report Members’ speeches and the proceedings of Parliament. We talk about who are our readers are, the challenges of parliamentary reporting and which are the most popular debates, and we finish up with a tour of our offices and where we sit in the Chamber to best see all the action.

We are holding sessions on the mornings and afternoons of Tuesday 21 and Tuesday 28 July, at 11 am and 1.30 pm. You don’t need to have any prior knowledge of Hansard to come along, and we welcome staff from all parts of the House.

For further information or to book your place on a session, please email hansardoutreach@parliament.uk

Library talk – Local government reorganisation: Vantage point summer 2026

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: 9 July 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=9728

This talk will analyse the decisions made on local government reorganisation in March 2026, and the implications of any developments since. It will then reiterate the timetable for the implementation of the policy. It will also trace the implications for Government decisions on the remainder of two-tier areas in England.

Bank of England: Setting interest rates and the Monetary Policy Committee

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Training session with the Bank of England

Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Date: Tuesday 7 July 2026
Location: Parliament
Further information and booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=2339

Inflation, Setting Interest Rates & the MPC

Join Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member Megan Greene, for a Lunch & Learn followed by Q&A on how the Bank of England sets interest rates to meet the 2% inflation target.

NEW DATE – London and South East Roadshow 

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The London and South East roadshow has been rescheduled for Thursday 10 September 2026.

You are invited to attend the upcoming roadshow event for London and South East offices. The event will be delivered by the Members and Members’ staff Services Team (MMSST) in the House of Commons. We really hope that you will be able to attend.

If you have already signed up, you will not need to re-register for the new date; MMSST will shortly send you a new calendar invitation.

To register to attend please email mmsst@parliament.uk