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Copy editor apprenticeships

Creative and media

Copy editor apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through
  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • specialist training courses with professional bodies
  • a graduate training scheme

    • University
    Many copy editors have a degree. Most subjects are accepted. A degree in publishing, media, English or a related subject may improve your chances of finding work. To work in a specialist area, employers will prefer you to have a subject-related degree.


    You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree. 

    Apprenticeship
    You can work towards this role through a Level 3 apprenticeship as a publishing assistant. Employers will set their own entry requirements.

    Work
    You could start as an editorial assistant in a publishing company and build up your experience of proofreading and text editing. This would also allow you to build a portfolio of work, to showcase your skills to potential employers. 

    Other Routes
    You could take a proofreading or editing course, like the ones offered by the The Publishing Training Centre or the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. Some publishing houses run graduate training schemes and internships. Employers will often expect you to have some experience in the publishing industry. You could get experience in the publishing industry from: job shadowing editing and proofreading student magazines and websites admin work in a publishing company.

    Professional and industry bodies
    You could join a professional organisation like The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP).

    Copy editor apprenticeships - what it takes

    Skills and knowledge

    You'll need: 

    • knowledge of English language 
    • knowledge of media production and communication 
    • the ability to read English 
    • excellent verbal communication skills 
    • to be thorough and pay attention to detail 
    • excellent written communication skills 
    • the ability to work well with others 
    • to be flexible and open to change 
    • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

    Copy editor apprenticeships - what you'll do

    Day-to-day tasks

    Your day-to-day duties might include: 

    • correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation errors 
    • checking the length of the text fits in with publisher requirements 
    • making sure the text is in the right style 
    • making sure the meaning of the text is clear 
    • checking that references are quoted correctly and pictures have the right 
    • captions checking for legal issues, like libel or breach of copyright 
    • talking to the author about queries or revisions
    Working environment
    You could work in an office or from home.

    Career path and progression - Copy editor apprenticeships

    You could become a features writer, chief sub-editor or production editor. Some sub-editors go freelance.

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    Considering an Apprenticeship?

    There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

    • Paid Training
      Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
    • Range of career opportunities
      There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
    • Earn & learn
      As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
    • Great career prospects
      Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
    • Learn on the job
      There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

    Start searching for Apprenticeships Near You

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