The Hachette Livre Graduate Scheme

What is Hachette Livre UK? Also, can you describe HLUK in ten words?

Hachette Livre is the largest UK publisher comprising a group of companies that produce titles across the widest range of genres from children’s to educational, to mass market fiction, self-development and more.

HLUK is always advancing, with markets, products and its staff.

What is this graduate scheme that we’re hearing so much about?

The scheme is different to the usual graduate trainee scheme, it’s more of a "career scheme". We’re looking for people who have a commitment and passion for publishing that have already gained some relevant experience in a specific discipline. For 2008 we are focusing on three areas: Production, Design and Sales.

The graduate will be placed in companies across the HLUK group in their chosen field. They will be given the opportunity to grow their expertise by experiencing a wide range of activities in this field; different markets, processes, and techniques; and build relationships with key people in each company.

We are also investing heavily in training and development. During the selection process, and continued right throughout the scheme, training and development needs will be regularly assessed and dealt with in the best way to support the individual. Graduates will also be assigned a mentor that will help and advise them on developing their career.

Is it like most graduate schemes, putting people on the fast track to middle management?

We are looking for those with the potential to be future managers, which is why we have developed a structured selection process and program objectives. However, the individual has the responsibility to create his or her own future, nothing is delivered as a pre-prepared destiny. Due to the size and structure of HLUK there are a wide range of opportunities that will open themselves up to someone that has the drive and energy to take hold of them.

Also, as much as possible, we want to open up these opportunities to as wide and diverse a range of people as possible. Because we publish in every genre we need people that can bring new, fresh ideas and initiative.

Why is there a need for graduate schemes? Aren’t you calling into question previous publishing recruitment, for which a degree in a Humanities subject was enough? What has changed? What were the needs that your company identified when they created this scheme?

We recognise that there are some very talented people currently working in publishing and other related sectors that have the potential to really contribute to the future development of the industry. We want to join forces with those individuals and give them the opportunity to grow with HLUK. Investment in future managers and leaders is essential for our future and our graduate scheme is the ideal way to do that.

Also, we are not running a scheme with a large intake of graduates that have an identical "production line" or work experience encounter. We are looking for those individuals that show some sparkle that can grow into a star! So it’s not just a degree that we’re looking for, it’s much more than that.

As a result, our selection process needs to be different than recruiting someone into a permanent role with determined duties and responsibilities. The graduates undertake such a wide variety of tasks, research and projects we need to be sure they have the vision and desire to take full advantage of the experiences.

Could you tell us a little about the two graduates on the scheme so far?

We recruited two graduates into the 2007 scheme, one in Production (Laura) and one in Sales (Ben).

Following an MA in English Lit at the University of St. Andrews, Laura gained 2 years experience with an Edinburgh based independent publisher as a Production & Editorial Assistant. Having made the decision that production was for her Laura took the brave decision to apply for the newly launched HLUK Graduate Career Scheme. We are so glad that she did! She has had placements in three of the group companies so far and in addition to building on her solid production background has experienced the broad range of production processes and techniques from trade to educational and colour. The successful completion of projects has contributed to department work processes. As part of her development she has visited a range of printers, typesetters and will even be going to a papermill in Italy!

Ben had knowledge of the publishing industry from another perspective, the retailer. As an Assistant Manager at Ottakar’s Ben had a good understanding of consumer behaviour, impact of marketing and what booksellers were looking for from a supplier. During his eight months so far Ben has worked with UK, Export and Special Sales teams and undertaken several research projects, the results of which will contribute to sales strategies being implemented. He is building up a valuable network of contacts and getting to lots of launch parties along the way!

Are they on Graduate Scheme wages, when compared to the rest of publishing’s new recruits, who continue to be hired on bread-line salaries? How do you feel about salaries in publishing?

HLUK felt strongly that those being recruited into the scheme were recruited at a market rate salary for their level and given the full range of company benefits available to other new joiners.

It is no secret that you can earn more in some industries than in publishing but then I think that people choose publishing for reasons other than just financial reward. They want to be a part of what we do. The culture and energy is so different from other industries, there is a certain freedom of expression and involvement in the product that is rare to find elsewhere.

Living in an increasingly "get-rich-quick" society isn’t it good to be part of something that contributes positively?

In general, do you feel the calibre of people wishing to enter publishing now is greater or less than in previous years? How about the calibre of people in general? Are we approaching Armageddon?

It is a competitive industry and, in our experience, the calibre of people joining publishing remains high. Our people need to be more multi-skilled given the commerciality of today’s world so, we are focusing on recruiting people with that potential and then supporting them with training.

However, once you have a foot in the door you are responsible for what happens next. At HLUK we provide a wide range of training and development opportunities to all our staff so there is a lot of encouragement and support to grow. Hard work and determination form the foundations of any successful career and we have been lucky to develop many of them here.

With so many people doing Publishing MAs, isn’t your Graduate Scheme suggesting that these are obsolete? What does your scheme do that these don’t – in corporate speak, how do you create Added Value for your Key Stakeholders?

Absolutely not! As the scheme isn’t aimed at graduates having just completed a degree a candidate with a Publishing MA is actually giving themselves a distinct advantage. For example, at City University the entry requirements include evidence of commitment to the industry such as via prior experience, so it fits well with our needs. They will also have gained thorough knowledge of the workings of the industry from industry professionals. With the addition of work experience placements this will help clarify their publishing area of focus and these candidates would have a lot to offer any role they may apply for.

Without being too repetitive (I hope!) our scheme has a specific career focus for each graduate, it is targeted towards providing them with a "bounce" forward in their chosen discipline. Coupled with the exposure to a range of projects that would be extremely rare to experience over a twelve-month period it is a unique opportunity.

Tell us a little about your background? How did you get into publishing?

After first moving to the UK from Ireland I spent several years working in central London as a recruitment consultant. During a period of working abroad (Switzerland, and Ireland again) I had my first experience of working in training and development, which I thoroughly enjoyed and decided to pursue. When I returned to the UK in 2004 I was extremely lucky to be interviewed by Mary Tapissier, the then HR Director for Hodder Headline Ltd.

Mary had started the in-house training programme at Hodder a couple of years previously and it was proving very successful. As she was planning for her retirement, which she took in February, she wanted someone that could take increasing responsibility for training. There was my opportunity!

I’ve always loved reading and was very excited about working in publishing. Although I am not directly involved in producing the product I do feel that I make a contribution. The company has grown and developed substantially since I’ve joined and it’s been great to be part of that, there is a lot of energy and confidence across the business.

Learning about the publishing process has been really interesting and HLUK definitely has a culture that suits me; I like that it is less formal and rigid than many of the companies I’ve had experience of. The commitment to training and development also far exceeds previous employers. It’s rewarding to be part of a company that places value on its staff, and knows how to have fun!

What is Hachette Livre like? Can you tell us any office gossip?

Our CEO, Tim Hely Hutchinson, insists that each of the HLUK publishing houses retains their own identity and thereby culture. On occasion they even find themselves bidding against each other! This means each and every company in the group has a very different feel and atmosphere, something that both Laura and Ben have experienced along the way.

One of the best things about this is that should you transfer from one publishing house to work in another, you retain all your continuity of service and attached benefits, but it is like you are working in a completely new company. Opportunities abound!

As for office gossip, there’s always something different and interesting going on but……. you’ll have to join us to find out!

If you had the chance to commission any book you liked, what would it be?

I have a long-standing love for Prince, he may be small but he’s amazing! So his autobiography would be top of my list. Of course as part of the preparations for that I would have see him live in concert (again!)…Hmmm I must ask the HR Director if this is a valid company expense!