Apprentice Publishing Support Assistant

Job description

This Apprenticeship presents an excellent chance to immerse yourself in the world of publishing, developing valuable industry skills. As an Apprentice Publishing Support Assistant at The University of Manchester, you’ll gain experience with leading publishing platforms, contribute to real projects, and learn from experts in a vibrant environment.

As an Apprentice, you will receive thorough guidance, information, and hands-on training on essential aspects central to supporting a modern publishing environment within the creative and academic heart of the University of Manchester.

Training opportunities encompass a blend of editorial, production, and digital publishing skills, with a strong foundation in communication and technology.

• Assisting with the preparation, editing, and proofreading of manuscripts for print and digital publication
• Learning the fundamentals of copyright, permissions, and intellectual property in publishing
• Supporting the design and layout of books, journals, and digital resources using industry-standard software
• Coordinating with authors, editors, and production teams to meet publication deadlines
• Managing metadata and keeping digital content well-organised and accessible
• Helping to produce marketing materials and learning the basics of book promotion and distribution
• Using content management systems and digital platforms to publish and update materials
• Assisting with data entry, proofreading, and maintaining accurate publication records
• Learning about the end-to-end publishing process, from commissioning to final release
• Participating in team meetings and supporting live publishing projects
• Engaging with students, researchers, staff, and external partners to support publishing needs
• Taking on additional training and development to remain informed about industry trends and best practices
• Working safely and ethically within a publishing environment
• Developing project management skills for publishing projects

Training schedule
You will spend your time working alongside seasoned publishing professionals, soaking up their expertise and putting new knowledge into practice in real-world scenarios. Picture yourself at the heart of digital publishing innovation, where each day presents fresh challenges and opportunities to shine.

The apprenticeship is an engaging blend of theory and hands-on experience, delivered in partnership with LDN Training. You'll master essential skills in content management, digital editing, and production workflows, learning how to publish and update materials across multiple platforms. Your journey will include producing digital and print-ready content, honing your proofreading and copyediting abilities, and maintaining meticulous publication records.

Throughout the programme, you’ll also explore project management within publishing, strengthen your communication skills with diverse stakeholders, and keep pace with the latest industry trends. By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have built an impressive portfolio that demonstrates your expertise and readiness to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving publishing environment.

More training information
The programme is carefully designed to immerse you in all aspects of publishing, ensuring you gain both expertise and a strategic understanding of the sector.

During the apprenticeship, you will spend four days a week working alongside experienced publishing professionals, learning directly from their insights and expertise, and the remaining day studying for your level 4 Publishing Professional Apprenticeship, delivered remotely one day per week in sections of training such as editorial processes, design, marketing, publicity, and more.

We’d love it if you had…

GCSE in:
English Language (grade Grade 4 or equivalent)
Maths (grade Grade 4 or equivalent)

Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Information Technology (grade Pass or equivalent)

T Level in:
Business Administration (grade Pass or equivalent)

BTEC in:
Business Administration (grade Pass or equivalent)

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
• Administrative skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Interest in publishing
• Experience with Microsoft 365

Employer details

One of the world’s leading universities built on research and teaching practices, coupled with one of the most respected apprenticeship programmes in the UK. Our programme builds its success’s year-on-year and continues to develop, matching the needs of the university and our community. We are proud of our strong reputation, supporting each of our apprentices with individualised training, specialised projects, and targeted development to build a future career at the cutting edge of technology.