Discover the Secret Life of Books

Are you a bookseller who would like to know more about the publishing industry? If so, why not join the Pan Macmillan Publishing Mentorship Programme so you can discover the Secret Life of Books!

We are looking for booksellers who are passionate, enthusiastic and curious to learn more about the publishing industry to take part in our 2026 programme.

We’re committed to ensuring the programme is representative of the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals who have been traditionally under-represented in publishing, including those that are disabled, part of global majority groups, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or from low socio-economic backgrounds.

‘We can go anywhere in the world on the pages of the book, be anybody we want, stand in other people’s shoes. Booksellers advise, promote, support and help readers to find what they’re looking for. Most of all, for us authors, they get our books into the hands of readers old and new. Stories are the bridge that links us together.’ 

Kate Mosse, Author

The programme:

• Learn how we decide which books to publish and how editors turn a manuscript into a finished book. 

• Understand the processes behind cover design and book production.

• Find out how we build authors’ and illustrators’ profiles, from TV appearances to TikTok.

• Discover how books are sold to retailers and wholesalers, how the supply chain works, and much more!

The programme will take 1–2 hours of your time each week and will take place remotely. You will attend meetings and 1:1 catch-ups with your in-house buddy and make contacts within Pan Macmillan. At the end of the mentorship, you will benefit from an insight into the publishing process, from acquisition through to the book landing in the reader’s hands.

Closing date for applications: 30 March 2026

Programme start date: 26 May 2026

FAQs

Do I need to be a bookseller to apply?
Yes, this is an opportunity for booksellers working in bookshops in the UK & Ireland to learn more about trade publishing.

Can I do it remotely?
Yes, applicants are encouraged from all over the UK and Ireland, particularly those from backgrounds traditionally under-represented in publishing. All meetings will be virtual. 

There will be an opportunity to visit our offices and meet some of our people in person after the programme has finished. All travel expenses will be covered for this event.

What will I learn?
The aim of the programme is to open up the publishing process to booksellers. You will get an overview from a range of departments all contributing to the life cycle of a book, including:

• Editorial

• Art

• Finance

• Marketing and Publicity

• Production

• Sales

Pan Macmillan is one of the largest trade book publishers in the UK so we are well positioned to offer you an insight into trade publishing while enabling you to make contacts within our friendly teams.

When will it start?
The programme will start on 26 May 2026.

How long do I commit for?
The mentorship will run for 14 weeks, until Tuesday 25 August.

How many hours each week?
The course itself will run every Tuesday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. and sessions will be recorded. There will be an opportunity to attend other meetings virtually during the programme. We anticipate no more than two hours each week, which you can fit around your bookselling commitments.

How will it work?
In addition to the weekly one-hour Tuesday morning sessions, you will catch up with your buddy/mentor at a regular time each week to ask questions and discuss the programme. You will also be invited to join business meetings across the departments at Pan Macmillan.

Is this the same as an internship?
No, it is a mentorship/training programme for booksellers who are curious about how publishing works.

When can I expect to hear back regarding my application?
We will let you know if we will be taking your application forward by the end of April. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive, we are not able to provide individual feedback to applicants who have not been successful.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual interview between 27 April and 8 May. We will confirm the final cohort by 18 May.

At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at every level of our organization. We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process; if you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at kayelle.danyluk@macmillan.com.

Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice, available here: https://panmacmillan.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application.