HarperCollins launches the Socioeconomic Traineeship with Upreach

HarperCollins has launched a new traineeship programme for 2024, the Socioeconomic Traineeship, in conjunction with social mobility charity upReach.  

This initiative marks an evolution of HarperCollins’s existing traineeship scheme, further confirming its “commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity as well as bridging the socioeconomic gap in the publishing industry", the company said.  

Launching in January 2024, the traineeship is specifically designed to bring in talent from less advantaged backgrounds. HarperCollins has run its previous traineeships for the past eight years.

The publisher said: “Graduates from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to join top firms or enter high-skilled jobs six months after graduating, even though more than ever are attending university. Successful candidates will join HarperCollins for one year and gain insight across the business in areas such as editorial, marketing, PR, sales etc.”  

John Athanasiou, director of people at HarperCollins, said of these new programmes: “We are proud to extend our training initiatives with this scheme and delighted to be working with upReach. We believe this programme will not only help increase diversity in our organisation but also broaden the horizons of our industry and help ensure that no talent goes undiscovered.” 

Nick Bent, upReach c.e.o., said: “We are delighted to be working with HarperCollins on this crucial initiative which will enable us to provide exclusive 12-month graduate traineeships to the students we support. Our first partnership with a publishing firm, this new collaboration will provide excellent opportunities for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds across the UK to develop the skills, networks and experiences needed to secure top publishing roles when they graduate.” 

Applications for the Socioeconomic Traineeship will open in August via upReach.