HarperCollins Traineeship 2026

Join HarperCollins Publishers as a trainee in our 12‑month training contract, gaining exposure across editorial, marketing, design and other key areas of publishing. Identify with our commitment to diversity and work alongside talented individuals from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups.

Program Overview

Stretching back over 200 years, HarperCollins is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world. We publish authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Alice Oseman, Jay Shetty and David Walliams, and best‑selling series including Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Divergent, The Chronicles of Narnia, and more. The Traineeship Programme began in 2016 and offers dedicated training and learning across a range of publishing modules.

What you’ll do

• Work with three different teams over the year, which could include Editorial, Marketing or Design.
• Meet everyone in our Executive Committee (our board of directors).
• Visit our distribution centre in Glasgow, which sends out 3 million books a week, and the printers we work with.
• Learn about every area of our business through insight sessions – how editors acquire a book, how we design covers, how we promote books, and more.
• Have a buddy and mentor from day one to support you throughout the programme.
• Participate in exclusive access to our Author Academy Masterclasses taught by HarperCollins experts and partners from the wider publishing industry.
• Attend book launch parties, the London Book Fair, author talks, and events in our London Bridge office.
• Enjoy free book proofs, access to 8 free audio/e‑books every week, and a 70 % discount on all HarperCollins titles.

Application Process

Complete an online application answering three questions – this will be reviewed anonymously by HarperCollins managers. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online introduction to HarperCollins, followed by a short interview on 4 December. Successful candidates attend an assessment day at our London Bridge office on 16 December, with travel reimbursements for those outside Greater London/the South East. The two successful candidates will join the Traineeship on 2 February 2026.

Location & Compensation

Based in our London Bridge office at least three days a week, starting February 2026. You will receive a training bursary of £29,000 per annum and access to a range of benefits.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be over 18.
• You do not need a degree.
• You do not need publishing experience.
• You must have the right to work in the UK.
• You must be from one of the following ethnic groups:

• Asian or Asian British: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Any other Asian background
• Black, Black British, Caribbean or African: Caribbean, African, Any other Black, Black British, or Caribbean background
• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups: White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian, Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic background
• Other ethnic group: Arab, Any other ethnic group
• White: Roma Gypsy or Irish Traveller

Financial Support & Travel

The Spare Room Project helps match interns and job seekers from outside London with industry incumbents for accommodation. The Book Trade Charity offers financial support for interview and internship costs. We offer travel loans to all new entry‑level starters and reimburse travel expenses for those travelling to our assessment day outside London.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring a fair application process for all candidates. If you need any adjustments to support your success in the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@harpercollins.co.uk. All assessment responses should reflect your own thoughts and experiences. Use of AI tools or external assistance to generate responses is discouraged unless explicitly permitted.