My friends often describe me as an “everything girl”. One minute I’m making a film or drawing, the next I’m teaching gymnastics at a summer camp, performing aerial acrobatics, learning to ride a motorcycle, or throwing myself out of a plane – safely, I should add. I have always been drawn to anything that combines creativity, challenge and curiosity, which is probably why I have ended up enjoying a career in intellectual property (IP) far more than I ever expected.

Patent examining was not something I had seriously considered when I was thinking about my future career. My dad has spent most of his career working in IP, so for a long time I assumed it was a sensible but slightly “dad-ish” office job. After completing my English and Film degree, however, I realised I was still interested in science and technology, and wanted a career that would allow me to use both my creative and technical sides. My dad encouraged me to look again at IP, and around that time the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) was offering a new degree apprenticeship route into patent examining, so I applied.

I am now studying Electrical Engineering part-time alongside working at the IPO and training to become a patent examiner. The apprenticeship has given me the chance to learn on the job while building the technical knowledge needed for the role. I am still working towards qualification, but I have already gained experience across different areas of the IPO, including patents, trade marks, copyright and the Private Applicant Unit. That variety has been one of the best parts of the apprenticeship, because it has helped me understand IP as a much wider system, not just one job title.

What I enjoy most about working in IP is being close to new ideas. You get to see innovation at an early stage, learn about technologies you might never otherwise encounter, and think carefully about how inventions work. It suits people who are curious, analytical and open to learning but also people who like variety and do not want every day to feel the same.

I am thoroughly enjoying the apprenticeship and I am excited to see where my career in IP takes me. It is not the career I expected to choose, but that is exactly why I think more people should know about it.

Patent Examiner / UK Intellectual Property Office

Last Updated: June 16, 2026