HarperCollins UK to offer BAME training contracts

In the UK, HarperCollins has opened applications for two training contracts targeting black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) graduates, reports the Bookseller. The 12-month rotational training contracts on offer will begin in October 2016, and will guide the successful graduates through different aspects of the publishing business, including HarperCollins’ divisions and functions. Those selected will also be paired with a senior mentor for professional guidance and development, and given a project to present to the executive team. HarperCollins has also said the initiative will ‘create a pipeline of talent’ with unsuccessful candidates to be invited to apply for other positions, alongside ‘candidates from other recruitment channels’. ‘At HarperCollins we recognise that work needs to be done in the area of diversity—particularly that related to race—and I believe that this is the logical first step in addressing the visible imbalances not only in our own company, but in the wider publishing industry too’, said HarperCollins director of people John Athanasiou. HarperCollins chief executive Charlie Redmayne called the scheme ‘a really important undertaking’. ‘There is clearly still a way to go, but I’m confident that with initiatives such as this one, we can move closer to truly reflecting our local communities, our readership, and society at large,’ said Redmayne.

Category: International news