About publishing
From the very earliest days of printing technology to the present-day digital revolution, publishers have helped educate, inspire and entertain the world.
Publishing has helped make the UK a centre of thought, discovery and creation, projecting our values and culture into the hearts and minds of billions around the globe.
The collective endeavour of authors and publishers has enabled the UK to exert unprecedented soft power, helping to shape laws, politics and perspectives around the world.
Our publications and publishing brands are a global beacon of accuracy and authenticity.
The industry brings together enduring values of truth and quality, combining traditional print with new frontiers in digital production.
Publishers connect authors to readers. They tell stories, transfer knowledge and support learning. They are passionate about the capacity of books of all kinds to positively impact the world.
Information about publishing
Careers
There are a fantastic range of careers in publishing.
Diversity
Our members support a number of initiatives around diversity and inclusion.
Reading for pleasure
The UK publishing industry is dedicated to promoting reading for pleasure.
- The UK publishing industry has a turnover of £6bn, with export income accounting for almost 60% of revenues.
- The UK is the largest exporter of books in the world.
- The publishing industry directly employs 29,000 people in the UK and supports more than 70,000 jobs.
- The industry’s exports also generate a £1.1bn trade surplus annually, reducing the UK’s trade deficit by 2.2%.
- Publishing is the bedrock of the UK creative industries as a whole, with top films, TV shows and plays inspired first and foremost by books. 52% of the top 20 box office UK produced films were based on published material. These films grossed £1.5bn in UK box office revenue and £22.5bn globally, accounting for 61% of total UK box office gross and 65% globally.
Our work is supported by a research programme which focuses on highlighting the contribution of the UK publishing industry.
We work with different organisations to deliver research reports, including economic consultancies, political think tanks and charity partners.
We submit responses to government consultations and select committee inquiries and prepare briefing documents on key issues for our members.
We also collate key industry statistics, including our Publishing Yearbook, and carry out an annual industry workforce survey.
All our research about publishing can be found in our publications directory.
The Publishers Association
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Join us
Whether your company is a small independent publisher or an established industry player, your place is in the leading member organisation for UK publishing.
