Publishing Professional Apprentice (Production)

Summary

In this dynamic and supportive role, you will work closely with the MCB team, providing essential support to help bring our incredible children’s and YA books to life. You’ll be a vital part of their team, learning about every stage of a book’s journey while developing crucial skills.

Wage

£24,000 a year

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Training course

Publishing professional (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 30 September 2025

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Managing books through various stages, from initial manuscript review to drafting copy and preparing information for sales, publicity and marketing teams
Supporting essential tasks such as coordinating with international publishers, managing permissions for text and images and mailing books
Updating our central bibliographic information system (Biblio), processing invoices and helping with contract and author/illustrator payment approvals
Acting as a key point of contact for authors, illustrators and colleagues, assisting with queries and fielding external enquiries
Reading and reporting on submissions, as well as exploring a wide range of children’s books beyond our current list
Gaining broad industry insight by supporting the MCB
Communications team with PR and marketing campaigns, assisting the Rights team with contract administration and book fair preparations and contributing to the Sales team’s retailer presentations and book distribution

Where you'll work

6 Briset Street
London
EC1M 5NR

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

LDN APPRENTICESHIPS LTD

Your training course

Publishing professional (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Input and maintain data to produce products or publications that meet company, sales channel and audience requirements.
Continually improve the quality of information or data in line with best practice.
Maintain data and records in line with relevant data protection guidelines.
Follow publishing guidelines relevant to their role to produce products or publications that meet budgets, are on schedule and meet company and industry standards.
Ensure appropriate changes are highlighted and agreed with stakeholders
Apply rigour and attention to detail
Escalate issues and concerns, in line with company process.
Identify stakeholders, build relationships and manage expectations
Present appropriate information clearly and concisely, whether internal or external.
Ensure that products or publications meet contractual structures agreed with authors or other content providers.
Think laterally and provide sensible solutions to problems.
Demonstrate a strong ability to work as part of a team, taking on tasks confidently and resourcefully, working cooperatively with others, and supporting the team and line manager as required.
Communicate clearly with relevant stakeholders, showing confidence, inclusiveness and flexibility, and ensuring an appropriate use of language and terminology.
Present and communicate ideas to colleagues internally and externally as needed.
Manage own workload and operate both individually and as part of a wider team and seek support when needed.
Demonstrate good time-management – prioritise effectively, with the ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines.
Demonstrate the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively during remote or hybrid working, where required by their company.
Input and maintain data to produce products or publications that meet company, sales channel and audience requirements.
Continually improve the quality of information or data in line with best practice.
Maintain data and records in line with relevant data protection guidelines.
Follow publishing guidelines relevant to their role to produce products or publications that meet budgets, are on schedule and meet company and industry standards.
Ensure appropriate changes are highlighted and agreed with stakeholders
Apply rigour and attention to detail
Escalate issues and concerns, in line with company process.
Identify stakeholders, build relationships and manage expectations
Present appropriate information clearly and concisely, whether internal or external.
Ensure that products or publications meet contractual structures agreed with authors or other content providers.
Think laterally and provide sensible solutions to problems.
Demonstrate a strong ability to work as part of a team, taking on tasks confidently and resourcefully, working cooperatively with others, and supporting the team and line manager as required.
Communicate clearly with relevant stakeholders, showing confidence, inclusiveness and flexibility, and ensuring an appropriate use of language and terminology.
Present and communicate ideas to colleagues internally and externally as needed.
Manage own workload and operate both individually and as part of a wider team and seek support when needed.
Demonstrate good time-management – prioritise effectively, with the ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines.
Demonstrate the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively during remote or hybrid working, where required by their company.

Your training plan

To meet the requirements of the Level 4 Publishing Professional apprenticeship programme, you will need to spend 6 hours a week of your time undertaking off-the-job learning, which will include:

Formal training, including online learning and internal learning events
1-2-1s with your coach and line manager
Observing and shadowing colleagues
Writing up learning reflections for your portfolio

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 9 - 4 or A* - C)
Maths (grade 9 - 4 or A* - C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Administrative skills
Team working

About this company

Pan Macmillan publishes a broad and vibrant range of books for audiences of all ages – from dazzling bestsellers to influential prize-winners, books to inspire lifelong readers and listeners, to enduring classics for generations to come. The fourth largest UK publisher, they pride themselves on publishing successfully and sustainably and are committed to working together to positively impact culture and society at large. Each of their imprints is distinctive, containing the carefully curated collections of different kinds of books published for the widest possible readership. These imprints comprise Bluebird, Bramble, Campbell Books, Harriman House, First Ink, Kingfisher, Macmillan, Macmillan Business, Macmillan Children’s Books, Macmillan Collector’s Library, Mantle, Nightfire, One Boat, Pan, Picador and Tor. Pan Macmillan is part of Macmillan Publishers International Ltd (MPIL), a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned media company based in Stuttgart.

https://www.panmacmillan.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Private Medical Insurance Cycle-to-work scheme Regular company socials Pension

After this apprenticeship

Full time work.

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