We’re coming up to the announcement of the 2026 Parliament’s People Awards, which recognise the inspirational teams and individuals who have impressed and shown dedication and commitment to supporting a thriving parliamentary democracy.
Anybody working for the House of Commons, House of Lords, the Parliamentary Digital Service, or in a constituency office can nominate a colleague who they believe has gone above and beyond in their work to enable UK democracy, and this year’s shortlist of nominations has now been published.
Here at w4mp we are really pleased to see that our own Karen Lawrinson, the mainstay of this site, maintainer of the hotlist, and all-round wonderful colleague has been shortlisted for the Parliamentary In-House Individual of the Year award, not just for the amazing work she does here but for her many other contributions she makes. As the nomination says, “Karen’s work directly improves the resilience, effectiveness, and cohesion of parliamentary teams, enabling staff across the UK to perform their roles with confidence and efficiency.”
Whether you are interested in working for an MP – or need advice on parliamentary procedures, the W4MP website is an excellent resource.
As anyone starting a new position here knows, trying to navigate the estate and its way of working can be a bit overwhelming.
That is why W4MP serves as such an indispensable font of advice – from helping you to find your feet as a new member of staff, to understanding the business of the Chamber.
As MPs, and therefore the Commons, could not function effectively without your hard work, it is important that you get the support you need.
W4MP will help you get orientated, introduce you to the best practices of your fellow researchers, case workers and office managers.
It will also provide a guide to the resources available from the House of Commons Library, the Parliamentary Intranet, and the Members’ Services Team.
There is information on representation, trade unions, and social activities – and a place to post small ads for the attention of fellow staff.
The site is run by an independent organisation on behalf of the House and welcomes contributions from experienced staff who want to share their expertise.
It is there for all staff, however long your service and wherever you work. I thoroughly recommend it to you.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons
October 2020
This is an automatically generated list of all w4mp Guides for the last five years. Please note that the information and guidance in them may be out of date – they are left as an archive. We have made every effort to keep the old sites accessible, because that makes the Web stronger.
The original w4mp site ran from 2000 to February 2004. You can see it here.
The second site ran from February 2004 to October 2012. You can see it here.
Current guides can be found in the w4mp Library:
Older Guides
Alt Guides
This note is provided by Working for an MP (w4mp).
Most of the material in Guides is subject to Crown copyright protection. Unless otherwise indicated material may be reproduced free of charge in any format or media without specific permission. This is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and not being used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. For more details see our Copyright page
Guides
When you begin working for an MP, you will receive a Members’ Staff Induction Pack, including a letter from the Clerk of the House of Commons that provides links to relevant resources on the Parliamentary Intranet and elsewhere.
Here, you will find a collection of guides to good practice that will offer you advice in carrying out the main activities expected of you in your job. They are constantly being revised and updated, so if you do print a guide out, please remember to check back from time to time.
Casework
Your Office
Research
Parliament
Others
