Our London Book Fair 2022 highlights

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Our Publishers Association stand with Tom on the desk. The meeting taking place is between Claire, Jack, PSI and Richard Mollet (Head of European Government Affairs for The RELX Group).

It was fantastic to be back at London Book Fair for the first time since 2019!

The Publishers Association team had a packed three days with visits from the Minister for London and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport officials, meetings with people from across the publishing world and both hosting – and taking part in – events.

A short summary of our London Book Fair 2022 highlights below.

Visit from the Minister for Small Business, Consumers & Labour Markets and Minister for London

Paul Scully MP, Minister for London, visited London Book Fair on Tuesday 5 April at the invitation of the Publishers Association.

Left to right: Kate Manning, Andy Ventris, Stephen Lotinga, Paul Scully MP, Rhianna Patel (Private Secretary to the minister)

Stephen Lotinga, Chief Executive of the Publishers Association, escorted the minister on a tour of the Fair and introduced him to Kate Manning, Marketing Director of Magic Cat Publishing; Andy Ventris, Director of the London Book Fair; David Shelley, Chief Executive of Hachette UK and President of the Publishers Association and Perminder Mann, Chief Executive of Bonnier Books UK and Chair of the Consumer Publishers Council at the Publishers Association.

While at the Fair, Stephen and the minister discussed the contribution that publishing makes to the UK economy; the importance of exporting to the industry; the growth of English language books around the world and publishing’s key role in the government’s levelling up agenda, as reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success. Stephen also explained that book buyers are still required to pay VAT on audiobooks unlike ebooks and print books. He asked that the government correct this anomaly at the earliest opportunity.

The role of publishing and culture during global conflict event

Image with the details of 'The role of publishing and culture during global conflict' event.

Stephen Lotinga chaired our flagship event, The role of publishing and culture during global conflict. Stephen discussed this timely issue with the stellar panel of Bodour Al Qasimi, President, International Publishers Association, Cortina Butler, Deputy Director Arts, British Council and Jane Mann, Managing Director, Cambridge University Press. To conclude the event we played a video from Oleksandr Afonin, President of the Ukrainian Publishers and Booksellers Association.

Translation: Oleksandr Aforin, Chairman of the Association of Ukrainian Publishers and Booksellers, member of @IntPublishers, in video from Kyiv: “a month and a half ago, our association planned to be with you at the London Book Fair”

Children’s Book Pitches

On Wednesday afternoon we held our annual Children’s Book Pitches where children’s publishers have the opportunity to present their highlights for 2022 to independent booksellers. It was a pleasure to get a glimpse of what’s in store for the children’s market this year!

Sustainability in the Publishing industry

Stephen took part in this session, hosted by the International Publishers Association, which explored key sustainability initiatives. Stephen spoke about the Publishers Association’s sustainability programme which launched last year with Publishing Declares.

Panel (left to right): Jessica Lobo (Global Goals Programme Manager, UN Global Compact Network UK), Ken Wilson-Max (Publisher, Harper Collins), Stephen Lotinga, Dr. Michiel Kolman (Senior Vice President, Elsevier)

We’re already looking forward to next year’s London Book Fair!