Acquisitions Administrative Apprentice

AUSTIN & MACAULEY PUBLISHERS LTD

ELY (CB6 2HY)

Closes in 26 days (Monday 23 November 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 27 October 2026

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Summary

Want to be part of an independent publishing house that enjoys working with a universal author base, a wide variety of genres. Our mission “bring the world closer,one book at a time” and make the world of publishing more accessible to the world by giving new writers a chance and becoming “the beginning of every story”

• Wage:

  £19,760 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Staff discount on books; Free car parking; 20 days holiday allowance plus the 8 bank holidays

• Training course: Business administrator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.00 pm with 30 mins unpaid lunch break.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Sunday 29 November 2026

• 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

• Nurture and build relationships with authors, stakeholders for fruitful collaboration on publications via emails and phone calls
• Receiving and acknowledging incoming submissions received through post, email or our online submissions portal
• Review manuscript samples and request full manuscripts in line with our publishing guidelines. Checking that we have received all useful information in order to proceed with a review from the Editorial Team
• Chasing up authors for outstanding enquiries, samples, requests for manuscripts and additional information by phone and email
• Provide a high-level of support to all potential authors during the entire submissions process
• Answering incoming calls and assisting authors in their queries through phone or email
• Importing, uploading and maintaining author details and submissions onto database
• Maintaining weekly performance trackers and ensuring that the set targets are met efficiently
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a team
• Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to prioritise challenging workloads

Where you'll work

UNITS 1 & 1B SEDGEWAY
BUSINESS PARK
COMMON RD
ELY
CB6 2HY

Training

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

Training provider

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
• Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
• Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
• Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
• Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
• Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
• Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.

Training schedule

Dedicated Mentorship: The apprentice will be paired with a team mentor outside their direct line management to support long-term career tracking, commercial awareness, and goal setting.
Internal onboarding covering company-specific software, CRM systems, and operational processes.
Induction with all departments to see how publishing works from submission of a manuscript to final product resulting in publication of the book.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4 or C)
• Maths (grade 4 or C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

This particular position would suit somebody with a passion for reading, books and the world of literacy. The position would suit somebody who is works well within a team and shines through as a team player.  

About this employer

We have just celebrated our 20th Birthday.  We are a small Independent Publishing house that supports unrecognised and up and coming authors.  As an open submissions house, no two days are the same as you come across so many different genres from Fiction to non fiction, our books include children's books, cookery books, poetry books, memoirs, sci-fi and academic books.
We partner with distributors all around the world making all our books accessible to readers.
We publish Paperbacks, Hardbacks, E-books and Audiobooks.  

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

After the apprenticeship has finished, this will give the apprentice an opportunity to further a  career in publishing or other media outlets.  

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000061209.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Monday 23 November 2026 at 11:59pm)