By Grace Edwards, Misha Manani and Lydia Marshall
The Society of Young Publishers (SYP) is a volunteer-run group that aims to support publishing hopefuls and junior professionals as they try to enter and progress in the industry. Established in 1949, the SYP has branches throughout the UK and Ireland run by eight dedicated volunteer committees. A membership with the SYP costs £30 annually (£24 for students or unwaged individuals) or £18 for a digital membership, but you can pay to attend events individually when you get the chance. Joining this community is a great way to make new friends, meet new contacts, learn and build your skill set.
Opportunities
Mentorship scheme: This runs for six months and includes virtual one-to-one meetings with mentors who offer personalised career guidance. They also hold social events to connect with other mentees and mentors. There are three strands: Into, Ahead and Launch, but these vary depending on the branch.
Volunteering: This is available to aspiring publishing hopefuls and individuals who have had a publishing career within the ten-year timeframe. Volunteers can develop their knowledge and skills and network with others in the industry. Passion is more important than experience and there's no age limit. Applicants from the UK and Ireland are accepted and you need to be based in those areas to volunteer with the regional branches. Committee members can serve for three years.
The Spare Room and Zoom Projects: These initiatives help to make the publishing industry more accessible to publishing hopefuls. Professionals in the sector offer temporary accommodation with The Spare Room Project. Likewise, The Spare Zoom Project matches professionals and aspiring publishing individuals for thirty-minute career discussions via Zoom.
Alumni network: If you have been involved in the SYP as a committee member or a mentor then you are awarded the privilege of joining the alumni network. This will give you access to resources, current news and events.
Resources
Blog: The SYP publishes a variety of articles that cover information such as industry news and trends, career advice, event recaps, personal stories, experiences and various interviews. This is a valuable resource that provides both practical guidance and a sense of community amongst people in the early stages of their career.
Podcast: The SYP’s Inside Publishing podcast features debates about current trending topics within the sector, educational episodes, discussions with experts and behind-the-scenes insights. The wide range of episodes is perfect if you are looking to learn more about publishing and the wider market.
Events: The society hosts both in-person and online events, such as panels, workshops, or networking events, throughout the year. These events aim to help individuals explore current industry trends and develop skills and contacts to progress their publishing careers. They also host more social-focused events, such as exhibition trips, book crawls, book clubs and quizzes, that invite you to meet and befriend other publishing hopefuls and employees.
Top Tips
Check the Jobs Board: This is where the SYP advertises a range of entry-level and mid-level roles across publishing and trade-adjacent industries. The jobs include different departments and locations where possible. They only advertise jobs which state the salary because transparency is important. This board is exclusive to SYP members, so you would need to pay for the membership to gain access.
Watch the YouTube videos: There are recordings from many events on the SYP channel hosted by the various branches. They provide career support and knowledge and help to demystify the industry often by featuring those who work in publishing. We recommend ‘SYP Ireland and SYP North: The Story of Audio’ and ‘New Pathways: Apprenticeships and Training in Publishing.’
Sign up for the newsletter: Find out the latest updates from the regional branches. These include jobs, events, opportunities, blog articles and the podcast. They arrive in your inbox each month. If you scroll to the bottom of their homepage, you will find the hyperlinks to sign up for the newsletters related to the branches.
Follow them on X and Instagram: This is also a good way to keep up with the SYP. They are very active and engaged on social media - the different regional committees have different socials in addition to the wider UK committee. Their social handles can be found under the ‘Branches’ drop-down tab on the website.
Thank you for reading this issue. Join us in the next one where we cover Upskilling Tips with Inspired Selection.
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