Offer summary

Qualifications:

Must be a bookseller with a passion for the publishing industry., Strong curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about trade publishing processes., Open to applicants from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented groups., Ability to commit 1-2 hours per week for mentorship activities..

Key responsabilities:

Participate in weekly sessions to learn about the publishing process.

Engage in 1:1 catch-ups with a mentor to discuss insights and questions.

Attend virtual meetings across various departments at Pan Macmillan.

Gain an understanding of book production, marketing, and sales processes.

Job description

Discover the Secret Life of Books

Are 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 and enthusiastic and show a strong curiosity towards learning more about the publishing industry to take part in our 2025 programme.

We are committed to ensuring the programme is representative of the communities which we serve. Therefore we are actively encouraging applications from individuals who identify as Black or Asian or are a part of other global majority groups, as well as applicants who are disabled, neurodivergent or LGBTQ+, or come from low socio-economic backgrounds. We recognize that these groups are underrepresented in the publishing industry and we are dedicated to supporting greater inclusion.

‘We can go anywhere in the world on the pages of the book, be anybody we want, stand in other people’s shoes. Booksellers advise, promote, support and help readers to find what they’re looking for. Most of all, for us authors, they get our books into the hands of readers old and new. Stories are the bridge that links us together.’ Kate Mosse

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 and 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: 3 June 2025
Closing date for applications: 31 March 2025

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 and 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 3 June 2025.

How long do I commit for?
The mentorship will run for 13 weeks, until Tuesday 26 August.

How many hours each week?
The course itself will run every Tuesday morning from 9–10 am and sessions will be recorded. There will be an opportunity to attend other meetings virtually during the programme. We anticipate no more than two 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 2 May. We will confirm the final cohort by 12 May.

How will it work?
In addition to the weekly one-hour Tuesday morning sessions, you will catch up with your buddy/mentor at a regular 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 (DEI) at every level of our organization. We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process; if you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at kayelle.danyluk@macmillan.com

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:

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