A 12-month paid traineeship providing rotational experience across publishing teams including Editorial, Marketing, Design, Sales and Production. Trainees will learn how books are acquired, created, marketed and distributed while receiving structured training, mentoring and industry exposure. The role is based in the London Bridge office at least three days per week and includes events, insight sessions and a distribution-centre visit.
At HarperCollins UK, we want our teams to reflect the diversity of our readers and the communities we serve.
Our Traineeship Programme, now in its tenth year, is one of the ways we're working to address barriers to entering publishing and create opportunities for talented people from backgrounds that remain underrepresented in our industry.
The HarperCollins Traineeship is a 12‑month, paid training contract for two trainees who will gain hands-on experience across the business starting in February 2027. You’ll rotate through different teams, build a broad understanding of how books are acquired, created and marketed, and develop the skills and confidence you need to start your publishing career.
As well as on-the-job experience, you’ll take part in tailored training, have a dedicated buddy and mentor, and access our Author Academy Masterclasses taught by HarperCollins experts and partners from across the wider publishing industry. You’ll also have the chance to attend book launches, the London Book Fair, author talks and events in our London Bridge office – plus enjoy early book proofs, free audio/e‑books and generous discounts on HarperCollins titles.
Candidates who score highly at our in-person assessment day but are not selected for the traineeship will be added to our talent pipeline and prioritised for consideration for entry-level roles across the business. In previous years, we have gone on to recruit a number of pipeline candidates into roles at HarperCollins.
The HarperCollins Traineeship is a 12‑month, paid training contract for two trainees who will gain hands-on experience across the business starting in February 2027. You’ll rotate through different teams, build a broad understanding of how books are acquired, created and marketed, and develop the skills and confidence you need to start your publishing career.
As well as on-the-job experience, you’ll take part in tailored training, have a dedicated buddy and mentor, and access our Author Academy Masterclasses taught by HarperCollins experts and partners from across the wider publishing industry. You’ll also have the chance to attend book launches, the London Book Fair, author talks and events in our London Bridge office – plus enjoy early book proofs, free audio/e‑books and generous discounts on HarperCollins titles.
Candidates who score highly at our in-person assessment day but are not selected for the traineeship will be added to our talent pipeline and prioritised for consideration for entry-level roles across the business. In previous years, we have gone on to recruit a number of pipeline candidates into roles at HarperCollins.
When you join the 12-month programme, you’ll get to:
- Rotate through three to four different teams over the 12‑month programme (for example Editorial, Marketing or Design), gaining hands-on experience of how we acquire, create and publish our books.
- Learn how decisions are made at HarperCollins by meeting every member of our Executive Committee (our board of directors) and hearing directly about their area of the business.
- Visit our distribution centre in Glasgow, which sends out around 3 million books a week, to see how our books are stored, processed and shipped to customers.
- Take part in insight sessions that introduce you to every area of our business – from how Editors acquire books, to how we design covers, market our titles and work with authors and retailers.
- Work closely with your assigned buddy and mentor, using their guidance and feedback to support your development and help you get the most from each placement.
- Attend book launches, the London Book Fair, author talks and events in our London Bridge office, representing HarperCollins professionally and building your industry network.
If you are selected, you will be based in our London Bridge office at least three days a week, starting in February 2027. You will be paid a training bursary of £29,500 per annum and access lots of great perks and benefits.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Interest in books, reading and the publishing industry, with curiosity about how books are acquired, created, marketed and sold.
- Enthusiasm to learn across a range of teams (for example Editorial, Marketing, Design, Sales or Production) and confidence to ask questions and seek feedback.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage your time, keep track of tasks and meet agreed deadlines.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Comfortable using Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and willing to learn new digital tools and systems.
- Growth mindset, using training, mentoring and on-the-job experience to build your skills and confidence.
Additional Information
Application Process
- You’ll complete an online application and answer two questions so we can learn more about you. Applications will be reviewed anonymously by the People team and HarperCollins managers.
- Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to complete a one-way video interview to explore your motivation for applying for the traineeship and help us get to know you better.
- Successful candidates will then attend an assessment day at our London Bridge office on Thursday 7th January 2027. The day will include a welcome from our CEO and Director of People, individual interviews, presentations and a group task.
We will reimburse travel costs for candidates travelling from outside Greater London/the South East.
Eligibility Criteria
To see if this programme is for you, please check our eligibility criteria below:
Eligibility Criteria
To see if this programme is for you, please check our eligibility criteria below:
- You must be over 18
- You do not need a degree
- You do not need publishing experience
- You must have the right to work in the UK
- You must be from one of the following ethnic groups:
- Asian or Asian British: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Any other Asian background
- Black, Black British, Caribbean or African: Caribbean, African, Any other Black, Black British, or Caribbean background
- Mixed or multiple ethnic groups: White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian, Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic background
- Other ethnic group: Arab, Any other ethnic group
- White: Roma Gypsy or Irish Traveller
We recognise that ethnicity is personal and that not everyone identifies neatly with the categories listed. Ethnicity is a matter of self-identification, and we are unable to determine or confirm an individual's ethnicity on their behalf. If you identify with one of the eligible groups listed above and meet the other eligibility requirements, we encourage you to apply.
If you are not eligible for this programme, please look at our entry-level roles or internships advertised on our careers page and LinkedIn. If you are interested in learning more about publishing, we will be hosting virtual insight days in 2027.
Please note, for this position we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.
Financial support
Please note, for this position we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.
Financial support
- The Spare Room Project aims to help by matching interns and job seekers from outside London, with people in the book industry who live in the capital and who can offer them a place to stay. The Project also helps people who have job interviews in London.
- The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking internships or entry level positions.
- We offer travel loans to all new entry-level starters.
Reasonable adjustments
We want our recruitment process to be accessible and inclusive. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage, including the application or assessment day, please contact [email protected]. We'll work with you to understand what support you need.
Find out more about asking for adjustments at an interview here.
We want our recruitment process to be accessible and inclusive. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage, including the application or assessment day, please contact [email protected]. We'll work with you to understand what support you need.
Find out more about asking for adjustments at an interview here.
About
HarperCollins UK is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 15 countries. With over two hundred years of history and more than 120 unique imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year, in 16 languages, and has a print and digital catalogue of more than 200,000 titles. Its authors include Our bestsellers include Bernard Cornwell, Adele Parks, Max Hastings, Rebecca F. Kuang, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It is the publisher of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy, George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series., and legendary titles by legacy authors J.R.R. Tolkien, Agatha Christie and C.S. Lewis. It is home to Paddington and Winnie-the-Pooh, and beloved books by Judith Kerr, Rob Biddulph and Michael Morpurgo, and brands such as Mr Men & Little Miss, Thomas & Friends and Minecraft. The Collins education division is a pioneer in reference publishing and develops market-leading dictionaries, atlases and bibles as well as state-of-the-art online learning platforms which supplement its award-winning books for primary and secondary school students.
HarperCollins UK London, England Office
London, United Kingdom
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