Senior Business Analyst
Intellectual Property Office
Newport
£47,766
- Digital
- Information Technology
Join Our Team at the Intellectual Property Office!
Trade Mark and Design Examiners are key roles at the IPO, that help protect creativity and innovation across the UK. If you’re detail-driven, customer-focused, and thrive in a collaborative environment, this is your opportunity to make an impact.
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Apply now and help businesses protect their most valuable assets.
Why apply for this role
Work on diverse applications from global brands to emerging businesses.
Apply analytical and legal skills to ensure fair and accurate IP protection.
Be part of a supportive team culture that values learning and development.
Deliver a customer-driven service that shapes the future of UK intellectual property.
Receive extensive training and enjoy a wide range of opportunities for self-development and career progression.
What We’re Looking For
Strong attention to detail and ability to interpret complex information.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage deadlines and prioritise effectively.
A commitment to delivering high-quality, customer-focused outcomes.
Show more
What is a Trade Mark?
A trade mark is a sign that identifies the origin of goods or services and distinguishes them from competitors. Trade marks can include:
- Words and brand names
- Logos and figurative marks
- Colours, shapes, and sounds
- Multimedia elements
Not everything qualifies as a trade mark. Common exclusions include:
- Generic phrases like “We lead the way”
- Descriptive terms such as “Soft cotton” for clothing
- Misleading words (e.g., “Organic” for non-organic goods)
- Offensive language or imagery
- Standard product shapes that follow industry norms
- Protected symbols like flags or emblems
A design is a type of intellectual property that protects the visual appearance of a product. This can include:
- Colour
- Shape
- Material
- Texture
- Lines and contours
Design registration covers both 3D products (e.g., furniture, cars, cups) and 2D creations (e.g., graphic designs, surface patterns, computer icons).
Designs dictated solely by technical function
Offensive or unlawful designs (e.g., swear words, explicit content)
Protected symbols such as national flags or emblems without permission
The Examiner Role Explained
As an Examiner, you’ll play a key role in safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring fair competition.
- Assessing whether Trade Mark and Designs applications meet UK legal requirements
- Checking they are complete and correctly filed
- Verifying goods and services are correctly classified for trade marks
- Classifying designs using the ‘Locarno’ international classification system
- Searching the trade mark database for similar marks
You’ll prepare a detailed report for the applicant, explaining the outcome of your examination and offering ways forward where possible.
You’ll consider the applicant’s response to the report and decide:
- if any proposed changes can be allowed
- If supporting arguments and evidence overcome the objection.
You’ll write a report explaining the outcome of your reassessment.
Appeals
If the applicant disagrees with the outcome of the examination report, they have the right to appeal.
First stage: A Hearing Officer will review the refusal, consider the applicant’s arguments, and decide whether they are valid.
Second stage: If the applicant is not satisfied with the Hearing Officer’s decision, they can appeal to the High Court or an Appointed Person—a judge specialising in intellectual property law.
Trade Mark Publication and Opposition
Once a trade mark application is accepted, it is published in the Trade Marks Journal, starting a 2-month opposition period.
What is Opposition?
Opposition is a legal process that allows existing trade mark owners to challenge a new application before it becomes registered. They can oppose:
- The entire application, or specific goods or services covered by the application.
If no opposition is filed (or any opposition is resolved), the trade mark proceeds to registration.
Designs Publication and Registration Process
The designs registration process is different to trade marks. Once a Design application is accepted, it will be published and registered without an opposition period.
Other parties can apply to cancel or invalidate a registered design. For example, if the design was not new or lacked material differences when compared with an earlier design at the time it was applied for.
After Registration Trade Marks and Designs
Once a trade mark or design is registered, the owner gains powerful rights:
Commercial use:
Owners can sell, market, license, or even mortgage their trade mark or design.
Enforcement:
- Owners can object to later trade marks that are identical or confusingly similar to their trade mark.
- Owners can prove legal ownership of their design and when it was created if someone tries to copy or use the design without permission.
- Registration acts as a deterrent to competitors who might otherwise infringe the owner’s rights.
- Registration simplifies enforcement because the owner’s rights are clear and documented
Duration:
Trade Mark Registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed every 10 years thereafter.
Designs Registration lasts 5 years. Must be renewed every 5 years to keep it protected – up to a maximum of 25 years.
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IPO recruitment case study: Trade Mark Examiner | Anthony Cawkwell
Anthony Cawkwell shares their positive experience working as a Trade Mark Examiner at the IPO. Highlighting flexibility, supportive management, and a strong sense of community.
Video transcript unavailable
IPO recruitment case study: Trade Mark Examiner | Anela Iqbal
Anela Iqbal shares their experience transitioning to the IPO as a Trade Mark Examiner, highlighting comprehensive training, supportive work-life balance, and career development opportunities.
Video transcript unavailable
IPO recruitment case study: Trade Mark Examiner | Laura Sogliuzzo
Laura Sogliuzzo shares their progression at the IPO, emphasizing flexible work, supportive culture, and opportunities for growth.
Video transcript unavailable
IPO recruitment case study: Trade Mark Examiner | Shane Diffey
Shane Diffey shares their experience of joining the IPO, highlighting training, strong team support, and flexible work-life balance.
Insights from some of our existing IPO Trade Mark Examiners
“The role of a trademark examiner offers a stimulating and varied workload, alongside excellent flexibility. Despite having no prior experience in intellectual property, I have been encouraged to grow my skills. The culture of collaboration within the team ensures guidance and support are always available.”
Elizabeth John
Senior Trade Mark Examiner
“Each day I am met with a new trade mark, a new set of considerations and always learning something new. There is a really inclusive culture in the department, and everyone is so friendly and supportive. There are so many opportunities to develop and progress.”
Richard Allen
Examiner Technical Lead
“Being in IPO is the perfect opportunity to be at the heart of developments to the IP landscape. Coming from a background in IP law, I find working as an examiner offers a great balance and diversity of tasks – researching different markets, decision making, addressing legal arguments, and guiding applicants to navigate the process. This is the most encouraging and collaborative environment I’ve been a part of, with regular support and avenues to upskill and progress. For someone curious like me, the opportunity to explore projects across different areas of the business is an exciting one, each week being full of novelty and surprises.”
Shaarang Anirudh
Senior Trade Mark examiner
The Trade Mark Examiner job itself is so interesting, varied, and challenging – no two cases are the same. The amount of time and training invested in the new starters is exceptional. The work life balance is the unique selling point at the IPO with a flexible hybrid working pattern.
Plus, it has great coffee shop and lovely lunch time walks around Tredegar House.
Sarah Hadden
Senior Trade Mark Examiner
“To be a successful Trade Mark Examiner, I believe you need to be adaptable, open-minded, and able to think outside the box. Trade mark work isn’t always black and white—there’s often nuance, and interpretation involved. Being comfortable with ambiguity and willing to ask questions is key.”
Anthony Cawkwell
Trade Mark Examiner
Working as part of a Team
“One thing that surprised me most about my role, was the incredible level of support on offer and collaboration with other colleagues. The training was very interactive and hands on. Once I joined my team, I was assigned an incredibly supportive and knowledgeable mentor who guided me through the most daunting few months of my career as a Trade Mark Examiner.”
Takmima Begun
Trade Mark Examiner
u003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eu003cuu003eInsights from some of our existing IPO Design examinersu003c/uu003eu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003e
What do you like about working at the IPO?
I value the opportunities for personal and professional development. There are plenty of resources available to help me grow, and I’m encouraged to set goals and work towards them, which really motivates me.
Terri Stewart-Watkins
Designs examiner
What can the IPO offer you as an organisation?
Joining the IPO after working in various roles within the private sector has been an eye-opening experience. The organisation places a genuine emphasis on learning and development, with a clear commitment to helping us grow both personally and professionally.
Evan Reed
Designs examiner
Working at the Intellectual Property Office
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Learn about what it is like to work at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).u003cbru003e
To find out more about working at the IPO visit [link]: u003ca href=u0022https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_descriptionu0026amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHcwM2JQc013Z2FLOUZ6VF82RnNfdndLSkctZ3xBQ3Jtc0tscTVPR0ItRXJyNm5Maks5OXdkeVlXdkdrNldVOE82c1FIUmZrZ3ZNdW1mZG4xc25YS2hKaHczeE81NUdISTlfWEZhcjNTS01WdzBaa19Wa3NCSlFMaGpYYTVlMmpRSjk4QW10dFExTktTeUNxMjAyWQu0026amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.civil-service-careers.gov.uk%2Fdepartments%2Fworking_for_ipo%2Fu0026amp;v=II8w0daZrKQu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ehttps://www.civil-service-careers.gov…u003c/au003e
Every trade mark and design tells a story. At the Intellectual Property Office, our examiners work with brands at every stage of that journey, from first ideas to names recognised around the world.
Work for IPO as a Trade Mark & Designs Examiner
Join us and receive comprehensive training to become a trade mark and designs examiner!
Unparalleled Training and Mentorship
If you’re keen to develop specialist knowledge in trade marks and designs, we’ll support you with a structured programme of training and development. This includes:
- Mentoring, formal legal and technical training, and supported on‑the‑job learning, helping you build confidence as you progress.
- A varied and engaging mix of seminars, workshops, practical exercises and guided learning, designed to develop both legal understanding and examination skills.
- Building on your existing knowledge and analytical skills, enabling you to examine trade marks and designs across a wide range of goods, services and industries, from established brands to emerging market entrants.
Other Development Opportunities
Beyond training for the examiner role, there are many other opportunities at the IPO to develop, both personally and professionally – such as the current Transformation project which is revolutionising our IT systems, or being on the steering group of one of our staff networks. The IPO is also very involved in the Government Science and Engineering Profession and we have examiners sitting on cross-departmental groups ranging from diversity and inclusivity to training, leadership or secondments.
Success Profiles and How to Apply
For more information on how to apply for a job in the Civil Service head to:
Trade Mark & Designs Examiner
The initial application stage covers the following 3 elements:
- Civil Service Judgement Test
- Personal Statement
- Civil Service Behaviours
IPO – Recruitment Support | Civil Service Careers
Check out the full advert on Civil Service Jobs.
To find out more on the Success Profiles recruitment framework visit:
Join the IPO as an u003cstrongu003eTrade Mark u0026amp; Designs Examineru003c/strongu003e at our head office in Newport
The Trade Mark u0026amp; Designs Examiner role will be carried out in line with IPO hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to attend the office at least one day per week, or equivalent if part-time, on-site at our Newport office. You may be required to be onsite more frequently for training.
Senior DevOps Engineer
Intellectual Property Office
Newport
£47,766
- Digital
- Information Technology
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