The Random House Group

As an organisation, we are committed to supporting diversity, both in our own workforce and in finding ways to respond to the diversity of our reading audience. Below are just some examples of the ways in which we seek to reach new audiences in both of these areas.

Staff diversity
Over the past two years, we have been working in partnership with the Arts Council to increase promoting cultural diversity within our industry . This has taken the form of two year-long traineeships which were advertised to black and ethnic minority audiences. Both trainees who joined us followed a rotational programme, learning about Sales, Marketing and Editorial before securing jobs with us at the end of that one-year period.

'It’s always important to get "the big picture of the industry" – the state of the market, the impact of these market changes on the trade – as they directly influence what books are bought and how they are published. I got this and much more during my year as an intern at Random House.'
Danielle, Editorial Assistant, Bantam Press

In our recruitment, we are also trying to reach bigger and wider audiences than before, for example:

• By advertising in more diverse publications
http://www.ethnicbritain.co.uk

• By working in partnership with diverse recruitment agencies
http://www.rarerecruitment.co.uk
..as well as agencies who have a commitment to equal opportunities

• By seeking to use modern media such as Linked In, Facebook and Second Life to advertise our opportunities to the widest possible audience.

Diverse audiences

'The ability to read is a basic right of every citizen, and the drive for literacy in schools must be carried out in partnership with the drive for literacy in adults. 2006 will see the campaigning role of World Book Day taking centre stage bringing books for emergent readers into the mainstream of our industry.'
Gail Rebuck, CEO, Random House Group UK, speaking in 2006

In 2006, The Random House Group UK was one of the founders of Quick Reads. Big names in fiction and non-fiction write short, fast-paced new books designed to encourage reluctant readers to get hooked on books. Authors lined up for 2008 include Colin Jackson, Gordon Ramsay and Josephine Cox.

Quick Reads are ideal for people who don’t have much time to read and for avid readers wanting a quick fix. They are also great for those of us who have fallen out of the habit of reading and the millions of adults in the UK with reading difficulties.

One Good Turn Since its launch in 2006, three-quarters of a million copies have been sold and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Random House Children’s Books is home to several award-winning black and Asian writers including Bali Rai, Malorie Blackman and Narinder Dhami. We’ve recently made an exciting new acquisition of Tamarind Books, which was founded by Verna Wilkins in 1987 with the aim of publishing and promoting for children featuring black and ethnically diverse characters. Tamarind produces a range of high quality illustrated children’s books in which black children have a positive profile.