Penguin Random House opens applications for The Scheme 2023

On Wednesday 7th June, Penguin Random House UK will open its applications for The Scheme 2023, its positive action traineeship to find talent from under-represented groups in publishing.

Nine paid six-month traineeships are offered across editorial, publicity and sales, and trainees are paid the London living wage. The Scheme is open to applicants who are Black, Asian and from minority ethnic groups and/or lower socio-economic backgrounds. 

This year’s programme will offer five placements in editorial, two in sales and two in publicity. Through the structured six-month placement and a mentoring partnership, the trainees will experience the fundamentals of working in their host department and the intricacies of getting books into the hands of readers. They will also gain a strong understanding of the publishing industry.

The Scheme has been running since 2018, and was reviewed during a one-year break in 2022, when changes were made to the programme. During this time, the recruitment processes were refined and simplified, to make the process easier for applicants.

A wider variety of advertising partners, that don’t focus specifically on the publishing industry, have also been used to promote The Scheme, the aim being to widen the reach of the programme and encourage more applicants from backgrounds under-represented in publishing. Application stages match the publisher’s Summer Internship Programme stages to ensure standardisation across programmes.

No professional experience or educational qualifications are necessary when applying to The Scheme, and candidates are not asked to provide CVs or cover letters. Instead, they have to answer three short questions designed to assess their potential to develop the qualities required by each of their host departments, including initiative, curiosity, attention to detail and organisation.

In 2021, 18 trainees participated in The Scheme programme, and nine have secured full-time roles at PRH since then. Others have gone on to secure roles at other organisations, including publishing houses, charities, and the wider creative industries.

Applications for this year’s programme are open from midday on Wednesday 7th June to Wednesday 28th June at 5 p.m. 

Claire Thomas, director of organisational development, said: “We’re delighted to run The Scheme again, and to welcome new talent who’ll go on to make their mark in publishing. We gain so much from the fresh perspectives and voices we discover via The Scheme, and in return offer an experience that builds knowledge, skills and networks that kickstarts careers.”

Asia Choudhry, editorial assistant and former Scheme trainee, said of her experience: "I previously thought of publishing as something relatively hard to get into, and dependent on who you know. I thought The Scheme was a great opportunity to get a foot in the door."