Dead Ink, an independent publisher in Liverpool and self-proclaimed \u201cpublisher of the weird, bold, and genre-defying,\u201d has been named the second recipient of the David Tebbutt Internship Fund \u2013 an initiative launched in 2025 from Creative Access and the David Tebbutt Trust to open doors for under-represented talent in publishing.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n
The internship fund honours the memory of David Tebbutt, former finance director at Faber, who passed away in 2011 and is jointly administered by Faber and the Tebbutt family.\u202f<\/p>\n
The fund will provide 100% of the cost of an intern\u2019s training bursary or salary based on the\u202fReal Living Wage\u202ffor a 6-month, full-time traineeship once a year for three years. It will also cover all costs relating to the recruitment and training of successful candidates.\u202f<\/p>\n
The initiative is aimed at small, regional publishers who might not otherwise have the resources to host a trainee. It is specifically designed to support people from backgrounds historically under-represented in publishing \u2013 this includes, but is not limited to, Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates, disabled, D\/deaf and neurodivergent people, and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.\u202f<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Man Utd fans\u2019 digital marketing webinar inadvertently spawns Liverpool fan group<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Nathan Connolly, managing director of Dead Ink, said: \u201cDead Ink\u2019s origins are as a shoestring press driven by passion, and we have long championed working-class access to the publishing industry. It gives us great pleasure to be able to accept this funding to open doors to those from a similar background as myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Judith Tebbutt, wife of the late David Tebbutt, and Oliver Tebbutt, his son, as trustees of the David Tebbutt Trust said:\u202f \u201cWe are absolutely delighted that Dead Ink has been chosen as the recipient of the second Creative Access\/David Tebbutt Trust award. This will give the chosen trainee an exceptional opportunity for what is hoped will be, a successful future career in publishing. David would have been extremely happy.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n Josie Dobrin OBE, founder and executive chair of Creative Access, added:\u202f\u201cWe were super impressed by the quality and range of applications for the second round of the David Tebbutt internship, and selecting a recipient was no easy task. We are delighted to award the grant to Dead Ink and are confident they will provide an excellent opportunity for someone from a disadvantaged or marginalised background to enter the publishing industry while helping to continue David\u2019s legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n Recruitment for Dead Ink\u2019s editorial trainee\u202fwill be led by Creative Access. The intern will be paid the National Living Wage and join Creative Access\u2019\u202fSpringboard programme, receiving training, mentoring and peer support to help them build a sustainable career in publishing.\u202f<\/p>\n