As the world’s publishing industry descends upon the UK capital for the London Book Fair (12-14 March), research commissioned by the UK Publishers Association has found that the UK publishing sector contributed £11bn overall to the economy in 2023, supporting 84,000 jobs.
The research was conducted by public policy consultancy Public First. The Bookseller commented: ‘The research also predicts that with the right backing from government, publishing can contribute an additional £5.6bn to the UK economy by 2033, supporting a further 43,000 jobs. Meanwhile international demand for UK publishing is set to grow by a further 20% in the next decade, Public First found.’
Dan Conway, CEO of the UK’s PA, said: “The publishing sector is a true success story for the UK, driving economic growth, highly skilled creative jobs, and leading in worldwide publishing exports that contribute to Britain’s cultural and academic standing abroad. Publishers act as the heartbeat of our leading creative industries through the incredible stories they bring to screen, stage and games, and they also underpin the UK as global base for research and development.
“As a country, we should be immensely proud of what the sector has achieved—but we must not take it for granted. With an election on the horizon later this year, we ask politicians on all sides to recognise the publishing industry’s economic value to the UK, announced today on the eve of the London Book Fair, but also its huge cultural and academic importance in inspiring the next generation of readers, learners and leaders. We must ensure we work together to unlock the next chapter of this success story and grow UK publishing’s economic and social contribution for the UK.”