Hachette UK opens up traineeship programme to career change applicants

Hachette UK has opened applications for its 2024 traineeship programme, which will provide entry-level positions and placements for experienced candidates looking to take a new step in their career. 

For the first time this year, the programme’s aim is to also welcome individuals who are looking for a career change or wish to return to work after a career break. The goal is that the traineeship will provide them with the training necessary to be placed in mid-level roles. 

Last year, eight of the 10 trainees landed roles at Hachette UK. Other traineeship alumni include Tierney Witty, who is now an editor at Orion, and Yassine Belkacemi, who first joined the publisher through the traineeship and is now editorial director of John Murray Press. 

The publisher is partnering for the third year with literary agency Curtis Brown and Waterstones, and will continue to work with Creative Access to recruit talent from underrepresented groups, with all applications for the traineeship being made via the Creative Access website. 

The programme is actively seeking applications from candidates from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and particularly men from both of these backgrounds, to "improve representation of these groups in Hachette UK’s workforce".

The trainees will spend the year within one of Hachette UK’s editorial, marketing and publicity, rights, contracts or sales teams. Those specialising in editorial will spend a month at Curtis Brown to learn how to represent authors and matchmake them with publishers.

Trainees will also spend a month at Waterstones to "learn the art of bookselling" and understand consumer buying behaviour. Hachette UK also delivers a bespoke learning and development programme, which provides the opportunity to learn about the journey of publishing a book—from pitch to production.

Lisa Waterman, group HR director at Hachette UK, commented: “I am so proud of the impact our traineeship programme is having on our business and industry. Designed to tackle the lack of diversity in our workforce, we are benefitting from welcoming talented staff to our business, who otherwise might have been blocked by barriers that exist to accessing a publishing career.

"We are improving representation across all levels of the business, so it feels like a positive step to open up the traineeship to those further along in their career and looking to return or change their job. I’m excited to meet our new trainees and colleagues.”

Kate Skipper, chief operating officer at Waterstones, added: “We are delighted to be supporting Hachette UK’s industry-leading trainee programme for the third year, which provides such an important new route into the industry. Getting books into readers’ hands is the very essence of what the publishing industry is about and providing trainees with a behind-the-scenes experience of how booksellers create bestsellers is a real highlight of the year for us.

"An understanding of customer behaviour and the way a good bookshop helps readers discover new books will provide an invaluable grounding for those embarking on new publishing careers. We hope we are also able to impart a sense of how fun it can be to champion books directly to readers and immensely look forward to welcoming this year’s trainee intake.”

James Whelan, former publishing trainee and sales operations executive at Hachette UK, said: “Through the traineeship, I found a workplace I can commit myself to fully, knowing there are paths for progression and acknowledgement of my hard work and commitment."

All applications can be made by following the link here, and the deadline for applications is 16th February 2024.