Deborah Rogers Foundation partners with Creative Access for David Miller internship scheme

The Deborah Rogers Foundation (DRF) is partnering with Creative Access to offer two internships in an effort to create publishing industry entry pathways for people in underrepresented groups. 

Its DRF David Miller Bursary, which the foundation currently awards to a developing rights professional already working in the business, is to be redirected to support two paid internships over a six-week period. The bursary will be retitled The DRF David Miller Internship Programme, named in memory of RCW agent David Miller, who died in 2016.

The programme will offer an entry-level introduction to rights and agenting in publishing companies and literary agencies, with the aim of providing a “significant stepping stone” for successful candidates in their search for future employment. Their educational schedule will include involvement with the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, and they will receive mentoring and guidance throughout their placements.

Creative Access, a social enterprise specialising in diversity, equity and inclusion, will lead the search for candidates, and will facilitate the initial longlisting, from which a shortlist will be agreed. An interview panel of rights professionals associated with the foundation will select the two successful interns, with interviews planned for early July. The internships will begin in mid-September and run for six weeks. Applications should be made to Creative Access, and will open in June.

Josie Dobrin, c.e.o. of Creative Access, said: “At a time when financial obstacles are a key barrier to entering the industry for many young people, it is brilliant to see the DRF David Miller Internship Programme offering support with accommodation and travel costs in addition to the fully paid internship. This is a really pioneering scheme, which sets a new standard for internships and will open up the sector to even more people from communities underrepresented in publishing and literary rights and agenting and we are thrilled to be a key partner.”

Companies committed to the programme and which will provide placements include RCW, David Higham, ILA, Penguin Random House and Faber.

The successful applicants will receive payment in two stages. Based on the current rate of the London living wage, they will be paid £11.05 per hour for seven hours per day for six weeks, amounting to £2,400. Expenses of £100 per week will be included for travel and other essentials. The total payable to each intern will therefore be £3,000, of which £2,000 will be paid at the start of the programme and £1,000 after four weeks. Accommodation will also be provided, and paid for if required. 

Gill Coleridge, founder of the Deborah Rogers Foundation, named after the RCW co-founder who passed away unexpectedly in 2014, said: “One of Deborah’s defining qualities was her total commitment to supporting and nurturing those with talent, whether a new author or someone within the agent and publishing community. Selling and managing rights is at the heart of our business so we set up the original bursary scheme to help exceptional young professionals who are already working in this field develop their contacts and understanding of international publishing at a crucial point in their careers.

“It is now fitting that we refocus and develop this scheme into the David Miller Internship Programme, and I know that David would have given this new venture his wholehearted support. The board of the DRF is extremely grateful to those trustees who have undertaken the review and are now leading this forward.”