Editorial assistant : Training

Training takes place mainly on the job. Short courses are available, which in smaller organisations may have to be taken in the employee’s own time. Larger publishers may have structured training programmes for new entrants or may commission customised training.

The Publishing Training Centre  offers courses throughout the year, many of which may be studied online. Topics include copy-editing, proofreading, electronic and digital publishing, IT, rights and contracts, marketing, production and other basic publishing skills, including grammar. The London School of Publishing  runs evening courses for publishing employees and intending entrants.

The Publishing Skills Group  works in place of a sector skills council for the publishing industry and sets well-recognised occupational standards. They run training courses and put on events, as do Publishing Scotland  and The Irish Book Publishers' Association (CLE) . The Periodicals Training Council (PTC)  website provides training and advice for careers in the magazine and periodical industry.