The Centre for Policy Studies is Britain’s leading centre-right think tank. Our mission is to develop a new generation of conservative thinking, built around promoting enterprise, ownership and prosperity.
We are currently recruiting for a Director, a Deputy Editor for CapX and Research Interns.
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Centre for Policy Studies Director
Following the announcement that CPS Director Robert Colvile will be stepping down in the coming months, we are currently recruiting for a new Director. A full role brief is available here and interested candidates can apply by email to directorapplications@cps.org.uk.
Applications will close at noon on Friday 22 May.
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CapX Deputy Editor
CapX is recruiting for a Deputy Editor.
You will be part of the CapX team, overseeing the website’s day-to-day output and helping to build new audiences. Your primary responsibility will be to edit and commission exclusive articles, as well as finding the best pieces from across the web and working on CapX’s popular daily newsletter. We are a small team, so there is considerable scope for the right candidate to make the job their own, writing their own op-eds, experimenting with new formats and contributing to overall strategy.
Based at the Centre for Policy Studies in Westminster, CapX’s mission is to publish and promote the best thinking and writing on policy, economics, technology and ideas. This is an exciting time to join, as we launch an updated website and refresh our popular daily email.
The site’s animating ideal is to make the case for “popular capitalism” – to identify and promote the kind of free-market policies that can deliver prosperity, freedom and choice for everyone in Britain. So while applicants do not need to be politically active, they should have a passion for communicating free-market ideas and some knowledge of the centre-right policy community.
This will initially be a six-month contract only, with the potential for a permanent role.
Skills and experience:
NECESSARY
- Experience of editing copy to a high standard
- Strong writing skills
- Experience with promoting pieces and building audience via social media
- A passion for communicating free-market ideas
- A voracious appetite for news and politics, both domestic and international
- A good understanding of economics and policy issues
- Compelling ideas for how CapX can grow its audience
- Great ideas about potential writers, topics and angles
DESIRABLE
- Skill with graphics and design, and/or at least a basic understanding of Photoshop/Canva
- An interest in using AI tools to improve productivity
- Experience of commissioning and a strong contact book
- A track record of publishing opeds/analysis
- Experience with online content production, especially WordPress
- Experience of public speaking and broadcast
The six-month contract will start in mid-June. Salary will be commensurate with experience. The position is full-time and based primarily in our Westminster offices, though can be flexible.
Send a brief cover letter explaining why you’re interested in working for CapX, along with a copy of your CV, a sample of your writing work and three ideas for potential CapX pieces to marc@capx.co by 15th May, with “CapX deputy editor” in the subject line. Please include your salary expectations and notice period, if relevant. Candidates will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, we regret we may not be able to respond to unsuccessful applications and may select someone before the deadline.
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Research Intern
The Centre for Policy Studies is looking to hire up to two Research Interns to support ongoing projects and contribute to the work of the research team over the summer of 2026. Each internship will be primarily office-based rather than remote, and will last for a period of around 8 weeks. Research Interns will be paid the London Living Wage.
Applicants should be capable researchers and writers, able to analyse ideas and evidence, think in numbers, construct compelling arguments, and communicate arguments clearly and effectively. This role would be well suited to a university student or recent graduate with a strong interest in public policy, economics, politics, journalism or business from a centre-right, free market perspective.
The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include:
Supporting members of the CPS research team with policy research and data analysis across a range of projects
Assisting with the drafting of policy briefings, articles and research papers on a variety of topics including core CPS issues such as tax and spend, business, housing, welfare and energy
Helping with the day-to-day running of the CPS as an organisation, including administrative tasks and assisting at events
We also encourage interns to develop knowledge in their own areas of interest and interns often contribute to the CapX website.
Essential:
- Some experience of carrying out extended research, whether through academic work or extracurricular activity
- Good organisational skills and the ability to manage work effectively
- An interest in public policy and current affairs
- An affinity for CPS values and principles
Desirable:
- A demonstrable interest in one or more core CPS policy areas
- Basic experience using Excel or working with other data analysis software
- Experience writing for a student publication, blog or other outlet
- Experience using LLMs for research
Closing Date: 15th May 2026
Please send applications to applications@cps.org.uk. Applications should include a CV (no more than two pages in length) and a one-page cover letter explaining why you are interested in the internship.
In your cover letter you should also specify your availability and provide a short paragraph naming the three pieces of writing (books, reports or articles/blogs) that you think every policymaker should read.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we may interview before the deadline. We regret that due to the very high volume of applications we receive, we will not be able to respond to every application.
