Have you got plans for the summer? 

Make your mark by spending 8 weeks from July 1st – August 30th working at one of the largest publishers in the world. 

You’ll work on a paid independent project made especially for the internship programme - making decisions for yourself and contributing to our mission. 

With us, you’ll find stability and support. Whatever project you’re placed on, you'll gain universally applicable skills that will equip you for wherever you go next. We’ll teach you about publishing and Penguin, just start here.  

Read about the 2024 projects on our careers site. 

Eligibility criteria 

Our books create belonging, embrace difference, and champion different perspectives. To achieve our mission to make books for everyone because a book can change anyone, we are seeking out new voices. 

If you identify as coming from a lower socio-economic background, this internship is for you.

You’ll either have been eligible for free school meals, or at age 14 your highest-earning parent/guardian was not self-employed or in senior management, and was employed in one of the following categories: 

• Technical and craft occupations such as: motor mechanic, fitter, inspector, plumber, printer, tool maker, electrician, gardener, train driver 

• Semi-routine manual and service occupations such as: postal worker, machine operative, security guard, caretaker, farm worker, catering assistant, receptionist, sales assistant 

• Routine manual and service occupations such as: HGV driver, van driver, cleaner, porter, packer, sewing machinist, messenger, labourer, waiter/waitress, bar staff 

• Unemployed but seeking work 

We recognise these are broad categories that generalise from the many hundreds of jobs out there, and they may not exactly fit your family situation. Please use your judgement when self-identifying.  

It’s not a requirement to have completed any formal work experience in or outside of the publishing industry or have a degree qualification.  

Our application process 

• We’re using the inclusive hiring platform Applied to ask three questions about the universal skills we call ‘qualities’. You’ll answer three questions on the platform.   

• If you’re successful you’ll submit a HireVue video to let us know your project preferences and for us to match you to a project.

• If you’re one of the shortlisted candidates, you’ll attend a Learning & Selection Day with one interview on 22nd May and one group task on the 23rd May with your matched project team. You’ll be assessed on the rest of the qualities, get to know some of your potential colleagues, and come away with some helpful resources for the future. 

• The successful candidates will start the onboarding process, ready for the 1st of July! 

We will provide reasonable adjustments to those with a disability at all stages of the recruitment process and encourage any requests that will make the process more comfortable for you   

Application deadline: 5pm on Monday April 29th, 2024 

Salary: London Living Wage and competitive benefits package (financial support for those travelling from afar available upon request) 

Location: Hybrid working between home and our London offices (roughly 2 days per week, to be discussed with the hiring manager)