Host organisation: Literature Alliance Scotland
Project title: Mapping the literature sector in Scotland
Project description

Working with the Transformation Manager and the Literature Alliance Scotland Board on an early stage scoping exercise of ways of making visible to different audiences (with a focus on the LAS membership of literature organisations in Scotland) our ongoing work mapping the literature sector in Scotland.

Outputs

We would like the researcher to complete c.20 short, recorded audio interviews with individuals in our membership network - to capture a qualitative element of mapping the sector, alongside the quantitative data we have begun gathering in through surveys and our application processes.

We would like them to work with the Transformation Manager and LAS Board to explore playful and effective ways of analysing and making visible findings from these interviews alongside our other data sets.

We would like them to present the research-in-progress as part of the LAS Sector away day (location TBC) on Wednesday 22 April 2026.

Location

LAS is a membership network and does not have its own office space: our freelance staff is small and work fully remotely. We have ad hoc use of shared office space and meeting rooms offered pro bono by network members.

Our expectation is that this internship would take place remotely, with the option of occasional in-person meetings at the offices of The Saltire Society in central Edinburgh.

We have a Membership meeting online (Zoom) on Wednesday 21 January and an in person (location TBC) Sector Away day on Wednesday 22 April - it would be beneficial if the researcher were able to attend both.

Benefits to the researcher

This internship gives an opportunity to gain an in depth understanding of how a range of different type of literature organisations function in Scotland, with a focus on their future ambitions and the key challenges they face. It is an excellent opportunity to build networks within the Scottish literature sector and to gain insights into the practicalities of how organisations work collaboratively.

The intern will benefit from an opportunity to flex their interviewing skills, alongside practical admin in terms of accurate labelling and storage of audio files, using AI assists to produce transcriptions and sense-checking the accuracy of those transcriptions.

Key relationships

The researcher will work predominantly with staff at senior management level from across the Literature Alliance Scotland membership - organisations ranging from professional bodies, literary awards, libraries, reading and literacy charities, academic institutes, publishers and book festivals.

There is no expectation that they will be working with under 18s or vulnerable adults. There is no expectation they will be working directly with the general public.

Timescale

Start & end date: Flexible

Structure: Our staff are part-time, so a longer, less intensive engagement works better for supervision

Subject areas

This opportunity would be relevant to the following subject areas:

Creative Writing; Policy, Arts Management and Creative Industries; Information and Knowledge Management; Scottish Studies; Media and Communication Studies; Journalism; Publishing; New Media/Web-Based Studies; Philosophy of Mind; Ethics; English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh Literature; Colonial and Post-Colonial Studies; Lifewriting; Children's Literature; Science and Fantasy Writing; Poetry; Literary and Cultural Theory; Ethnography and Anthropology. 

Person specification

A1. Knowledge Base
  • Essential: Subject Knowledge; Research methods – theoretical knowledge; Research methods – Practical application.
  • Desirable: Information seeking; Information literacy and management.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
  • Essential: Analysing; Synthesising; Evaluating; Problem Solving.
  • Desirable: Critical thinking.
A3. Creativity
  • Essential: Inquiring minds; Innovation; Intellectual risk.
  • Desirable: Intellectual insight; Argument construction.
B1. Personal qualities
  • Essential: Integrity; Self-confidence.
  • Desirable: Enthusiasm; Perseverance; Self-reflection; Responsibility.
B2. Self management
  • Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Commitment to research; Time management; Responsiveness to change; Work-life balance.
B3. Professional & career development
  • Essential: Continuing professional development; Reputation and esteem.
  • Desirable: Career management; Responsiveness to opportunities; Networking.
C1. Professional conduct
  • Essential: Respect and confidentiality; Attribution and co-authorship; Appropriate practice.
  • Desirable: Health and Safety; Ethics, principles and sustainability; IPR and copyright.
C2. Research management
  • Essential: Research Strategy; Project planning and delivery.
  • Desirable: Risk management.
C3. Finance, funding & resources
  • Desirable: Infrastructure and resources.
D1. Working with others
  • Essential: Collegiality; Collaboration; Equality and diversity.
  • Desirable: Team working; Influence and leadership.
D2. Communication & dissemination
  • Desirable: Communication methods.
D3. Engagement & impact
  • Desirable: Public engagement; Society and culture.

First published: 9 October 2025

<< Internships and Artist Residencies 2026