From Esher to Westminster

How Politics A Level and a gap year, helped Joe stand out to get his dream job working in Parliament as a digital communications officer.

Posted on: Posted on: 15 Jan 2026 (Updated: 16 Jan 2026)

Former Esher Sixth Form College student Joe Crabtree is a Digital Communications Officer to the MP, Jonathan Hinder. In his first month in the role, Joe produced a Council Tax video that attracted over 1.5 million views and was even referenced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves during her address to MPs. Here he talks about how his time at Esher influenced his career path.

Looking back, Joe reflects on how Esher strengthened his passion for politics and equipped him for his current role in Parliament. He hopes to inspire students by showing that Parliament offers opportunities for anyone prepared to pursue them.

School: Grey Court School
Subjects: History, Politics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics
Progression: Politics, Philosophy and Economics at The University of Manchester
Now: Digital Communications Officer

Joe Crabtree at his desk in the Houses of Parliament

‘It’s been a fantastic first month working in Parliament. I’ve loved drawing on my background in independent filmmaking to create political, social-first content.’

Why did you choose Esher?

For me, the decision was completely because of the courses. Esher offered more specialised humanities options than my school’s sixth form. I’ve always loved modern history and politics. You could even pick between three different history courses, which was huge for me. Most other colleges and sixth forms focused on traditional, older history, but I love modern history. It was perfect and I absolutely loved that course.

Joe chose to study the A Level History course Communist States in the Twentieth Century.

The other A Level History courses available at Esher are:

Searching for Rights and Freedoms in the Twentieth Century
Religion and State in Early Modern Europe.

What do you remember most about your time at Esher?

What I remember most about Esher was the incredible teachers and the courses. Even during COVID, Meir (my Politics teacher) kept lessons going online almost every day, which made a huge difference and once we returned to college, the teachers really challenged us. The Politics course, in particular, pushed me to think critically and left me far better prepared to understand Parliament and the job I’m doing today than I realised at the time.

I also remember the trip to Parliament. I’d been before, but experiencing it with Esher was special and now, working there feels surreal.

What did you do after Esher?

Joe on his Graduation day throwing his cap into the air

I took a gap year and travelled to India, Thailand, Mexico and America. Whilst I was away, I made a film which combined my two biggest interests which have always been film and politics.

After my gap year, I went on to study PPE, (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics), at the University of Manchester. The course was quite specialised, and I ended up focusing more on philosophy than politics, so it was my Politics A Level that actually prepared me better for working in Westminster. The course taught me how Parliament functions, how a bill becomes law and the roles of MPs and Lords

How did you come into your role in the Houses pf Parliament

It was my filmmaking that stood out and gave me an edge. My gap year film helped me get interviews, and my digital skills matched what my MP was looking for. The process was tough; hundreds apply for each role, but I was determined and I learnt to tailor my CV for each application, and this made a big difference.

The MP I work for took a chance on me because he wanted to prioritise video content so in the end it was the perfect match.

What does your job involve day to day?

From Monday to Thursday I’m in the office in Parliament. Monday to Wednesday is busiest because all the MPs are in. Fridays are working from home days as most MPs are back in their constituencies.

My days involve managing social media, monitoring comments, especially on Facebook, which is huge for local issues, keeping up with news, and developing video ideas. I write, direct, edit and publish short political videos. I also work with think tanks and research organisations to gather information. It’s challenging but I absolutely love it. On Sunday nights, I’m excited for the week ahead!

What has been your highlight so far?

Screen shot of the Council Tax Film made by Alumni Joe Crabtree

Definitely the council tax video I made. It now has 1.5 million views and was even mentioned by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, during her address to MPs. It helped influence the introduction of a new mansion tax in the recent budget, which is surreal to even say.

I shot that video in my second week in the role, so it’s been crazy. Hearing senior people say they’d seen it was mind-blowing. We’ve got more video campaigns coming up, including one on empty homes in London.

You can watch Joe’s video on Council Tax here Council Tax is a joke, let’s sort it out.

What advice would you give to current Esher students who might be interested in a similar career?

Focus on developing practical skills beyond your academic course, such as filmmaking, social media, or design. Always tailor your CV to each role, and for jobs in Parliament like mine use the Work for an MP website, w4mp.org. Also, I would like to say, don’t assume you need connections. Coming from a state school background, I know it can feel daunting, but there’s space for everyone and many MPs are keen to bring in people from diverse backgrounds.