Students explore careers in publishing at Creative Taster Day

  • Speakers from the world of publishing and organisers at the event.
  • Group of students outside Clapham Library.
  • Four speakers taking part in a panel discussion.
  • Panellist speaking during a discussion.
  • Panellist speaking into a microphone.

Young people from schools across Lambeth gained a behind-the-scenes look at the world of publishing through a Creative Taster Day delivered by Lambeth ELEVATE in partnership with Lambeth Libraries.

The event brought together publishing professionals, writers and illustrators to introduce Year 9 and 10 students to the wide range of careers available within the industry, from creative and editorial roles to sales, human resources and audio production.

Throughout the day, students took part in a series of interactive workshops exploring different aspects of publishing. Sessions included illustration with freelance illustrator Carys Wright, reading and writing literature with 87 Press, and insights into audio, human resources, sales, and children’s and adult publishing with Pan Macmillan.

  • Speaker leading a workshop with students.
  • Children’s book creators speaking to students.
  • Students working on a storytelling and illustration exercise.
  • Students taking part in a creative workshop.
  • Students sharing ideas during a group activity.

Students described the workshops as engaging, informative and eye-opening. Many said they enjoyed learning about the variety of career paths available within publishing, while others were surprised by the amount of work, creativity and collaboration involved in producing something as familiar as a children’s book.

The illustration workshop proved particularly popular, with students praising the practical activities and the opportunity to learn directly from a professional illustrator. Several students said they enjoyed gaining an insight into the day-to-day life of an illustrator and found it encouraging to learn there are many routes into creative careers.

Following the workshops, students attended a panel discussion hosted by Elevator IzHe. Panellists Azad from 87 Press, freelance illustrator Carys Wright and Susan from Pan Macmillan shared their experiences of working in the sector and spoke about their own career journeys.

The discussion covered routes into publishing, the impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries, and the skills employers want today. Students said the session offered valuable career advice and helped them think more broadly about how their interests and talents could translate into professional opportunities.

  • Speaker holding a selection of children’s books.
  • Speaker standing beside examples of illustrated artwork.
  • Children’s book creators speaking with students during a workshop.
  • Panel discussion in front of an audience of students.

The Creative Taster Day supports Lambeth’s commitment to creating more routes into the creative industries for local young people. This ambition sits at the heart of Lambeth’s Creative Economy Strategy, which aims to ensure residents can access opportunities within one of the borough’s most important growth sectors.

By connecting students directly with industry professionals, the event showcased the breadth of careers available within publishing and reinforced a key message from the day: you do not have to be a writer or artist to build a successful career in an industry you are passionate about.