Associate Patent Examiner – Newport
About the job
Job summary
Associate Patent Examiner
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. IP touches everything that makes life more enjoyable, easier, safer, and more prosperous. Our work gives researchers, inventors, creators and businesses the confidence to invest their time, energy and money in doing something new.
Turn your STEM degree into a career that shapes the future
As an Associate Patent Examiner, you will combine scientific and technical analysis with legal reasoning.
We are seeking scientists, engineers and mathematicians with enthusiasm and energy for furthering their technical expertise to join our development programme. Our personalised training programme will build on your existing STEM knowledge and enable you to specialise in innovation hot-spots, such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, telecommunications and quantum computing.
For the first two months of employment, you will be required to work onsite in Newport full-time five days a week.
For the following four months of employment, you will be required to work onsite in Newport for four days each week. This will give you a great introduction to the IPO and help you build contacts and relationships to support your future career.
Once this six-month period has passed, attendance will be in line with IPO hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite in Newport.
The IPO holds a visa sponsor licence however; this role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. Candidates will therefore need to have an existing right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Job description
What we offer
Personalised training and support
You do not need previous patent experience. We will provide the scientific, technical and legal training you need through formal courses, mentoring and on-the-job training.
The initial full-time training course starts on Monday 20th September 2027 and lasts eight weeks. It will be delivered in person at the Newport Office through seminars, practical demonstrations, coursework and tutorials, giving you the opportunity to learn alongside fellow recruits and get to know your colleagues.
A clear career path
After two to five years, you will progress from Associate Patent Examiner to Patent Examiner. Following further development, a further non-competitive promotion to Senior Patent Examiner is available, offering the opportunity to become a subject-matter expert and leader within the division.
A collaborative STEM community
You will work with colleagues who share your interest in science, technology and engineering, exchanging knowledge and drawing on the expertise of a diverse team.
Tune into our webinar!
Hear from three of the IPO’s patent examiners to find out where you, our STEMgraduates, can fit in!
Intellectual Property Office Hub , Gradcracker – Careers for STEM Students
Additional informationTo find out more about the Patent Examining career check out our Patent Career SitePage here IPO Opportunities , Civil Service Careers
Person specification
You will be on track to achieve, or have already achieved, a 2:1 degree classification or above; or a post-graduate qualification, in science, engineering, maths, computing, telecommunications or a related field.
Alternatively, you may demonstrate equivalent technical proficiency through substantial industrial experience in a technical role related to one of the above listed fields. This experience may or may not be in combination with a degree or other qualifications.
Essential Criteria
- Have a genuine interest in computing/electronics/telecoms
- Enthusiasm and openness to continual learning and self development, including a proven approach taken to learning about new technology
- Value others’ views and have an open and respectful approach to collaboration
- Communicate strongly, with the ability to convey complex technical issues clearly both in writing and verbally.
How to Apply
Click the ‘Apply now’ button and complete the application form by providing the following:
500-word Personal Statement
- Use this to explain why you’re suitable for the role.
- Structure your statement around the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
- Make sure to provide clear examples to show how you meet each requirement
Technical
In the 250 word box provided, please evidence your established knowledge in science, engineering, maths, computing, telecommunications, or a related field, detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations, for example through research project, industrial or laboratory experience.
For further information on the sift and interview stages of this recruitment campaign, please head to our ‘Things you need to know’ section below.
Please visit our Civil Service Careers page – IPO – Recruitment Support , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
If you require job-specific information, please contact Kathryn Orme.E-mail: Kathryn.Orme@ipo.gov.uk
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- At interview you will be assessed on technical criteria
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 37,215, Intellectual Property Office contributes 10,781 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities
- 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
- Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities
- A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group
- Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
- The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out more by looking at Intellectual Property Office (IPO) (diversityjobsgroup.com)
- A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities
- Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office
- On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office
For more information about what’s on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert.
Please note that benefits may be subject to change.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1 – Pre sift testing The following pre sift test will need to be completed and passed before your application will be seen by the panel: Civil Service Verbal test
Applicants to note:
There are no time limits for the completion of tests.
Please ensure you complete the test with enough time to fully complete and submit your application before the closing date.
Full instructions will be given at the start of the test.
The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the application deadline: 11/01/2027 at 23:55
Stage 2 – Sift
An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist. This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:
Experience
Your 500 word Personal statement will demonstrate your Experience against the listed person specification criteria
Technical
Provide a 250-word statement that demonstrates your technical ability. Please evidence your established knowledge in science, engineering, maths, computing, telecommunications, or a related field, detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations, for example through research project, industrial or laboratory experience.
Stage 3 – Interviews
If invited to interview, Behaviours, Experience, Ability and Technical based questioning will be used
Please note candidates that proceed to the interview stage will be required to complete a Ability written assessment. Details will be provided in the invite to interview information.
Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation.
Interviews for this role will be carried out from week commencing 15th February 2026 and will run for 3 weeks in person at our Newport Office.
This recruitment campaign will keep a reserve list for 9 months. If you meet the requirements for this role but aren’t offered after passing the interview, you’ll be placed on the reserve list. If a suitable position opens up during this time, we will reach out to individuals in merit order.
The Recruitment team operational hours are 09:00 to 17:00 Monday – Friday excluding bank holidays.
Applicants to note: CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.
This post is being advertised to Internal, across Government and external candidates at the same time.
Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
We do not routinely reimburse travel expenses for candidates, however if participating in the selection process would cause you undue financial hardship or if it restricts your ability to participate, please contact the recruitment team for more information.
In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know via; recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
In the event of a high volume of applications, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) reserves the right to raise the minimum qualifying score at sift to manage volumes and ensure a proportionate and fair assessment process.
Please be aware that only one application per candidate is permitted for each recruitment campaign. Multiple applications, including those made using different accounts, may result in your application being withdrawn or rejected at any stage of the process.
For more information on the IPO’s terms and conditions, please review the attached IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions document attached at the bottom of this advert.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) ….