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SalaryAre you a bookseller who would like to know more about the publishing industry? If so, why not join the Pan Macmillan Publishing Mentorship Programme so you can discover the Secret Life of Books?
We are looking for booksellers who are passionate, enthusiastic and show a strong curiosity towards learning more about the publishing industry to take part in our 2024 programme.
We actively encourage applicants from the Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups, applicants from lower socio-economic groups, applicants who are disabled or neurodivergent and applicants from the LGBTQ+ community as we recognise that these groups are underrepresented in the publishing industry.
The programme:
Learn how we decide which books to publish and how editors turn a manuscript into a finished book.
Understand the processes behind cover design and book production.
Find out how an author gets on TV or into the broadsheets, and how a book ad gets into a train station.
Discover how books are sold to retailers and wholesalers, how the supply chain works, and much more!
The programme will take 1-2 hours of your time each week and will take place remotely. You will attend meetings, 1:1 catch-ups with your in-house buddy and make contacts within Pan Macmillan. At the end of the mentorship, you will have an insight into the publishing process from acquisition through to delivery to bookshops and beyond.
Programme start date: 4 June 2024
Closing date for applications: 1 April 2024
FAQs
Do I need to be a bookseller to apply?
Yes, this is an opportunity for UK & Irish booksellers to learn more about trade publishing.
Can I do it remotely?
Yes, applicants are encouraged from all over the UK & Ireland, particularly those from minority or underrepresented backgrounds. All meetings will be virtual.
There will be an opportunity to come visit our offices and meet some of our employees in person after the programme has finished. All travel expenses will be covered for this event.
What will I learn?
The aim of the programme is to open up the publishing process to booksellers. You will get an overview from a range of departments all contributing to the life cycle of a book, including:
Editorial
Art
Finance
Marketing/Publicity
Production
Sales
Pan Macmillan is one of the largest general book publishers in the UK so is ideally positioned to give you an insight into a wide range of trade publishing while enabling you to make contacts within the friendly teams.
When will it start?
The programme will start on 4 June 2024.
How long do I commit for?
The mentorship will run for 13 weeks, until Tuesday 27 August.
How many hours each week?
The course itself will run every Tuesday morning from 9-10am and sessions will be recorded. There will be an opportunity to attend other meetings virtually during the programme. We anticipate no more than 2 hours each week that you can fit around your bookselling commitments.
When will I find out if I’ve been accepted into the programme?
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual interview between 22 April and 3 May. We will confirm the final cohort by 13 May.
How will it work?
In addition to the weekly 1-hour Tuesday morning sessions, you will catch up with your buddy/mentor at a mutually convenient time each week to ask questions and discuss the programme. You will also be invited to join business meetings across the departments at Pan Macmillan.
Is this the same as an internship?
No, it is a mentorship/training programme for booksellers who are curious about how publishing works.
When can I expect to hear back regarding my application?
We will let you know if we will be taking your application forward by the beginning of May. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive, we are not able to provide individual feedback to applicants who have not been successful.
At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DE&I are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge is available here https://www.panmacmillan.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion.
Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: https://panmacmillan.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application.
