The DRF David Miller Internship Programme 2026

Where: London and Frankfurt (to attend Frankfurt Book Fair)

Date: Applications close on 22 May at 5pm

This entry-level opportunity provides a practical introduction to the idea of rights and agenting, developed in partnership with leading agencies and publishing houses.

The DRF David Miller Internship programme focuses on creating entry pathways for people from under-represented groups in the publishing rights sector. Now in its fifth year, the programme is partnering with New Writing North to find two candidates from the North of England for the 2026 programme.

The annual award has an educational brief and supports two paid internships in London over a six-week period in September-October 2026 including a visit to the Frankfurt Book Fair, the key yearly rights event.

The programme offers an entry-level introduction to rights and agenting in publishing companies and literary agencies, aiming to give candidates a full understanding of the roles of rights professionals within the wider industry. This goal is achieved through first-hand experience and intensive training, providing participants with a significant stepping stone in their search for future employment.

Topics covered include:

The concepts underpinning intellectual property and copyright
How publishing licenses work
How authors and agents work together
The role of the publisher both domestically and in international markets
The ways in which translation rights are sold
The role of literary scouts
How publishers exploit the rights they have acquired
Insight into some translation publishing markets in a variety of countries

To apply you must:

Be based in the North of England. Please only apply for the opportunity if you are a permanent resident of the North of England.
Be willing to relocate to London for the six-week internship period
Be over 18 years of age

The internships typically involve placements at 8-10 leading London agencies and publishing houses. Companies providing placements and training in 2026 include PEW Literary, Greyhound Literary, Penguin Random House, Faber, Profile Books, David Higham, ILA, Lutyens & Rubinstein and Eccles Fisher.

The internships are overseen and managed by the Trustees of the Deborah Rogers Foundation, together with senior executives from the collaborating publishing houses and agencies. The successful candidates will also participate in a New Writing North programme of support that sits alongside the internship.

Payment for the internship is made at the current rate of the London living wage, and travel to Frankfurt Book Fair is covered by the Foundation. Accommodation in London for the six-week period is provided if needed.

Applications

To apply for the opportunity you will be asked to upload:

A CV and cover letter of no more than 3 sides of A4 as one document. Applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted. Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application so please proof-read carefully.

We respect the time and energy that applicants invest in applying for opportunities and our expectation is that AI will not be used in the preparation of applications. We will ask you to confirm this when submitting your application.

If you require any adjustments to the application process, please contact us directly so we can discuss how best to support you in your application.

We encourage people from all sections of our community to apply. We particularly welcome Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ applicants and those from lower socio-economic and working-class backgrounds, because these groups are currently under-represented in the publishing industry.

Please do not contact The Deborah Rogers Foundation directly about the opportunity. Email any queries to New Writing North at this address: [email protected]

“The experience I gained at the Deborah Rogers Foundation was invaluable in my job search, particularly the exposure to rights, getting hands-on experience as well as the mentorship and experience within office settings with industry professionals. It gave me unique insight which came up repeatedly in interviews and helped me speak confidently about the industry.” –Danielle Olanipekun, David Miller Internship Programme 2025.

“This internship has done more for me than you can imagine. On my own, without your endless support and generosity, I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to break into the publishing industry. You’ve opened a door that I thought might be locked, and for that, I will never thank you enough … I have never felt more comfortable or safe in a working environment before. I have felt welcome, respected and seen. It’s gone by so fast, and I’m sad that it’s over, but also so excited to see where I go next.” – Wiggy Bob Snow, David Miller Internship Programme 2023

Want to find out more?

For those who would like to find out more, we have an optional opportunity to attend an informal Zoom session where you will be able to meet Sam Edenborough (Rights Director and Literary Agent at Greyhound Literary and Deborah Rogers Foundation Trustee) and Shreya Ganguli (DMIP 2025) to ask any questions you may have.

The session will take place on Thursday 30 April at 6pm.

“The North is full of talented people but many struggle to make connections to access jobs in the publishing industry. Working with the Deborah Rogers Foundation and their esteemed network of industry supporters will allow us to open out new and exciting opportunities for people in the North. The reputation of the internships are of the highest calibre and the outcomes for those that benefit from the opportunities are second to none. I’m excited for whoever gets to undertake this opportunity and look forward to developing future work together with the foundation.” – Claire Malcolm, MBE, Chief Executive, New Writing North

FAQs

Our Frequently Asked Questions are here to guide you while you make your application. If you have a question, please check here first. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us.

Where do I have to live to apply for the opportunity?

Applicants must be based in the North of England.

We appreciate that people may be temporarily living away from their usual residence. Please only apply for the opportunity if you are a permanent resident of the North of England.

The North of England is defined as the areas covered by Arts Council England in Yorkshire, North East and North West.

How old do I need to be to apply?

You must be over 18 years of age to apply.

Will the internship be paid?

Payment for the internship is made at the current rate of the London living wage and the trainee will be paid in two stages. Based on the current rate of the LLW (as of Sept 2026) the trainee will be paid £14.80 per hour for seven hours per day for six weeks, amounting to £3,108.00.

Expenses of £100 per week will be included for travel and other essentials, totalling £600.

The total payable to the Trainee will therefore be £3,708.00 to be disbursed as follows:

Initial Payment: £2,000.00 payable upon the commencement of the programme.
Final Balance: £1,708.00 payable after the completion of the fourth week.

Travel to Frankfurt Book Fair and overnight accommodation is covered by the Foundation. Accommodation in London for the six-week period is provided if needed.