By Grace Edwards, Misha Manani and Lydia Marshall
The Publishing Training Centre (PTC) is a UK-based independent charitable foundation with a network of publishing and training professionals providing training and development courses for individuals working or aspiring to work in the publishing industry.
The PTC offers various learning formats, including in-person in-company sessions, virtual courses and self-paced learning options. These paid courses cover various topics, focusing upon many different aspects of the industry, from editorial to rights, digital publishing and marketing. This makes the PTC a valuable and flexible resource for anyone looking to start or develop their career in publishing, providing the necessary skills, connections and knowledge to succeed within the industry.
Opportunities and Resources
● Mailing list: One way to stay updated on available opportunities and industry news is to sign up to the mailing list to receive emails. Doing this will equip you with valuable knowledge to advance your career. The process is simple. You complete a profile, select which areas of publishing interest you and subscribe.
● PTC Guides: These provide readers with helpful information about specific areas of publishing. They are written by PTC tutors and authors, as well as industry experts. Readers can also get through the guides quickly (eight to sixteen pages). They are free to access and can be downloaded from the website. Here are two examples of the guides they offer: Copy-editing and Proofreading and Children’s Publishing.
● 2024 courses catalogue: This downloadable catalogue contains twenty-two virtual courses for this year. Expert trainers run the courses via Zoom in half-day sessions (courses can be from one to three days) and include exercises and activities to improve learning. The courses are also available for in-company training with content tailored to staff and systems.
● Comment page: Perfect for both publishing hopefuls and those already in the industry. In this section, guest writers and PTC staff share their expertise and information on advancement within publishing and events and trends. If you would like to write a piece for this page, get in touch with the PTC.
Recommended Courses
● Introduction to Editorial Skills: This course offers a fantastic starting point for learning proofreading and copywriting skills by receiving expert editing advice. This is perfect for complete editing beginners and individuals looking to develop their existing editorial skills.
● Developing Effective Management Skills in Publishing: The main focus of this course is to help you learn the most effective managerial and leadership methods you can use when taking charge at any professional level. This will provide you with a blueprint for successfully navigating many challenging situations that arise when leading teams and projects.
● Introduction to Project Management: One of the vital skills of any publishing professional is the ability to manage projects successfully, whether overseeing new launches or project developments. This PTC course teaches you how to effectively plan, execute and close projects while covering essential project-management knowledge such as budgeting, communication and scheduling.
● The Fundamentals of Public Speaking: Public speaking is one of the most common fears professionals experience within the workplace, and this course is here to help you tackle it. To help reduce this added uncertain pressure you feel when faced with presentations or conferences, this aims to make your communications clearer, more efficient and confident. You will come out of the course feeling satisfied with your speaking ability and able to cope with any unexpected public speaking requests you may receive in the future.
Top Tips
● Maximise your experience: Always have a notebook and pen to hand to write down the key information. The tasks and exercises can also consolidate your understanding. During the live sessions, feel free to ask questions. Being curious is super important for learning!
● Utilise the self-study courses: An excellent option to work through the courses in your own time and from your working environment. These include e-learning modules, which are short courses with a focused topic, and distance-learning courses, which include assignments to implement what you have learned into practice.
● Keep an eye on the news: In addition to joining the mailing list, you can also find out the latest news on their website. The PTC has a list of web pages for its courses, opportunities, events, industry news and company updates.
● Always highlight the courses: Once you have completed a course, mention it on your application. You can list them on your CV under the ‘Courses’ section. This is a great way to clearly and concisely show the training and knowledge you have acquired. Don’t forget to add them to your LinkedIn profile too!
● The Publishing Post Discount: The PTC is offering a 50% discount on its open courses to The Publishing Post readers who are students or recent graduates still looking for work. Find out more about discounts and eligibility here.
Thank you for reading this issue! Join us in the next one, where we will cover Upskilling Tips with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP).
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