Latest News
Women in Leadership
Name: Tracey Crouch
Role: MP for Chatham & Aylesford
Company: Member of Parliament
A bit about you: I am 47 years old and live in Aylesford, having grown up in Hythe and Folkestone. I had a very ordinary background, my parents divorced when I was younger, I went to an all-girls school and I was the first in my family to go to University.
I wanted to be a lawyer at school but fell into politics and found myself working for an MP. I worked outside of Parliament for a while including a 5 year stint in the City but then got elected in 2010 and the last 12 and half years have flown by.
What is it like working in your company? Like every job, you have good days and bad. There are incredible privileges to the role – you meet some amazing people (I met the Queen several times and have met the King, along with many celebrities and sports stars) but there are also downsides including extremely long hours and lots of work! The important thing one has to remember is that you do the job for a reason – to stand up for those with no voice and support those in crisis. This helps me to carry on.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? It was a bit of an accident! I did some work experience with my then MP Michael Howard and was inspired by the work he did for the community. He remains a mentor to me to this day.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? None actually. The best thing about Parliament is you need no formal qualification, just a view on things and countless compassion for those you represent.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? Helping people in my constituency. The absolute best thing is to receive a thank you letter because the person in crisis who had no one else to turn but their MP and has now been helped. We don’t solve everything, but we do at least try and for many it is the first time they feel like they’ve been listened to.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? I am not a huge fan of public speaking and I don’t really like doing media but as an MP I have to do a lot of both. You just learn each time you do it – I try not to beat myself up if something goes wrong or could have gone better and instead focus on how I can learn from the experience.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? We make up 51% of the population but only 35% of the MPs at the House of Commons. Those of us already here have a duty to have the voices of women heard on every issue – sport, health, education, finance, crime – there are so many things that are decided by men for women and it takes strong female-led campaigns to get things changed. Some examples include the tampon tax, HRT, broadcasting of women’s sport and many more.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? Do it! It is hard work, with long hours so you rarely see your family during the week, plus you also need to be aware of your private life becoming public. By taking on this role you will make a huge difference to the lives of many people and who knows, you could end up being the fourth female Prime Minister of this country.
