You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
The first cohort of Publishing Assistant apprentices have this week started their year-long programme of work and training.
All under the age of 25 and from diverse backgrounds, the apprentices will now be working for some of the biggest publishers in the country, the Publishers Association (PA) said.
The trade body is supporting the scheme, the first of its kind, and it is being delivered by LDN Apprenticeships. Companies involved in the Publishing Assistant Apprenticeship Standard include Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Cambridge University Press, Pearson, Springer Nature, Bloomsbury and DK.
The first cohort of Publishing Assistants on their induction day, with staff from LDN Apprenticeships and the Publishers Association
The programme, dubbed as "groundbreaking" by the PA, is designed to identify young people with great potential and shape them to become skilled Publishing Assistants through a year of industry-led work and training. Announced earlier this year, the Standard is the first of its kind to cater specifically to the publishing industry.
The curriculum's course content has been authored by leading industry figures, bringing every aspect of the publishing process to life for the new recruits. From editorial and production to rights management, the apprentices will learn essential industry knowledge at the same time as developing the skills and behaviours needed to thrive and progress in the industry.
Stephen Lotinga, c.e.o. of the PA, said: “It has been a real pleasure to meet the new apprentices today as they begin what we hope will be long and rewarding careers in publishing. We and our members have been very proud to support this initiative and we hope it will grow further in the coming years and become an important part of widening access to careers in publishing.”