Applications are open from 10th November – 20th December 2024
Applications to join the Scotland team open in spring 2025 following the branch’s annual conference.
Once applications close we endeavour to select our committees as soon as possible, however this process can take a number of weeks. You will receive an email to let you know the outcome of your application.
Typically, committees run from January/February after the SYP Annual General Meeting and sufficient handovers have taken place. The exact date is to be confirmed.
Those within the first ten years of their publishing career or those wishing to enter the industry are eligible to serve on the committees. There is no age limit and you don’t need to be studying publishing or have any publishing experience to apply. All we ask is that you have a passion for the industry, as well as an understanding of the values and work of our organisation and what goes into keeping it alive.
Please note that while these positions are voluntary, it does require a commitment for the year in order to keep the society running successfully. Each position will involve participating in committee meetings, as well as contributing to committee and cross-branch activities and events.
No. Volunteer positions are open to SYP members and non-members alike. However, an understanding of the values and work of our organisation is important.
You can only volunteer if you are based within the UK and Ireland. Although those living internationally can become members of the SYP, it isn’t possible to sit on a committee due to timezone differences.
To be on the UK Committee, you can be based anywhere across the UK and Ireland.
To be on the regional committees (Ireland, London, North, Oxford, Scotland, South West), you need to be based within these areas. This is to ensure you have an interest and understanding of publishing in these regions.
If you live in a different region to your workplace or have two addresses because you are a student, we recommend you apply to the regional committee that is based in the area you spend the majority of your time.
You can apply for a position on the UK Committee. As the society continues to grow, we hope to have more areas covered by regional committees and new roles available across the UK and Ireland.
Regional branches primarily support and organise events for people based in their local area. For example, each branch will devise in-person career events, panels with local publishers, run their own mentorship schemes, and much more. The UK Committee, on the other hand, oversees matters that affect the SYP as a whole. This includes working with partners, developing the website and InPrint magazine, and devising a coherent organisation-wide strategy, as well as offering mentorship opportunities to those based in areas not covered by the regional branches.
While the regional branches function independently, they still work closely with the UK Committee on strategies, and their resources are available to the wider community. Many of the UK roles oversee and encourage the collaborative network between regional counterparts. For instance, the UK Events Leads will oversee the events calendar for the entire SYP organisation and encourage discussion between the events officers in other branches.
Each year applicants can apply for up to two positions on the committees. These positions could both be with the regional committee where they are based, or one with a regional committee and one with the UK team, or they could both be with the UK team. If applying for multiple roles, complete two separate forms and indicate in each one what other position you have applied to and your preference. Your preferences will not affect your applications unless you are being considered for both roles.
Applications across all SYP branches are judged blindly, with any identifying information removed by our Inclusivity Officers before being read by the chair(s). Like many organisations, the SYP is working hard to be an inclusive and diverse entity. We understand that the world we live in is a diverse place and the publishing industry needs to reflect that. We welcome applications from those of any background, and particularly encourage candidates from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, neurodivergent and lower socio-economic backgrounds/experiences.
From 2024, we are trialling a system whereby if two applicants are of equal merit based on set criteria, we prioritise the applicant from a background underrepresented in the SYP community and the publishing industry at large.
Applications are measured against three key critiera: knowledge of the SYP, passion for SYP aims, and competency for the role. If two candidates are of equal merit based on these criteria, and one candidate is from an under-represented background and has referenced this on their application, then the SYP will select that candidate. This is done to ensure the SYP continues to elevate and promote under-represented publishing professionals and hopefuls, who often have more barriers to the publishing industry.
This varies depending on the role. Most committee members work full-time jobs away from the SYP. These roles are not full-time commitments, and usually require a couple of hours’ worth of work a week. Please see individual role descriptions for more specific time commitments.
We do ask for a commitment for the year you would be on the committee in order to keep the society running successfully. Each position will involve participating in committee meetings and contributing to possible events or online ventures on top of your role.
Chair positions are open to those who have served at least one year on a committee. To be a regional chair you must be based in that area, while the UK chair can be based anywhere within the UK and Ireland.
People can spend up to three cumulative years on SYP committees (for example, you can volunteer for a year, take a break the next year, then volunteer for two more years). Committee members can move between branches, depending on where they are based.
Please return to the main Volunteer with the SYP page to see the full list of branch committees. Positions can be found on the individual branch pages. Scotland is not currently open to applications – applications for the Scotland branch will open spring 2025.
To apply, please select one of the relevant committee application pages on the main Volunteer with the SYP page and complete the application form available there. If you would like to apply for two roles (either on the same committee or different ones), please complete two forms. If applying for separate roles with different committees, please ensure you fill out an application form on the corresponding branch pages.