Continuum crowned indie publisher of the year

Continuum has been crowned the Independent Publishers Guild's Independent Publisher of the Year at the IPG awards, in a night when it and Faber won two awards.

The academic publisher also clinched the Ingram Academic and Professional Publisher of the Year award at the ceremony last night [10th March]. Judges lauded Continuum for working to transform a previously flagging publishing strategy: "This is a compelling story of a company that has turned itself around in challenging economic times," they said. "Line by line and piece by piece, Continuum has put itself back together again, and in doing so offers lessons for all independent publishers. This is Continuum’s moment."

Faber clinched the Bookseller Trade Publisher of the Year award for a flurry of book awards, strong sales and digital initiatives. "This is a very smart publisher that plays to its traditional strengths while always striving to innovate," said the judges. Its Faber Factory digital initiative lead to the publishing house winning the Nielsen Innovation of the Year Award.

The inaugural IPG Newcomer of the Year prize went to Peirene Press, which judges said stood out in the category for establishing a niche in publishing short European fiction in translation in less than three years since it began publishing. Judges said: "Peirene is the very essence of independent publishing. It has a real passion for its books as well as a vision for what it wants to achieve. This is a very well thought through endeavour and deserves to succeed."

Berg Publishers won the Frankfurt Book Fair Digital Award for its Fashion Library, which judges applauded for its ambition and forecast-beating sales figures.

Eleven awards were presented at a ceremony at the IPG Conference at the Heythrop Park Hotel in Chipping Norton. IPG executive director Bridget Shine said: "Despite all the challenges to our industry, 2010 was a very good year for many IPG members, and the independent publishing scene is thriving at the moment.

"That makes the achievements of our awards winners all the more special. We congratulate all of them, and thank the many other companies who entered the awards and made our judges’ deliberations so challenging and stimulating."

The winners in full:

IPG Independent Publisher of the Year
Continuum

The Bookseller Trade Publisher of the Year
Faber & Faber (Highly commended: Bradt Travel Guides)

Ingram Academic & Professional Publisher of the Year
Continuum

IPG Education Publisher of the Year
Bright Red Publishing

IPG Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year
Search Press (Highly commended: Osprey)

IPG Newcomer of the Year
Peirene Press

Nielsen Innovation of the Year
Faber & Faber

The London Book Fair International Achievement Award
Jolly Learning (Highly commended - Search Press)

IPG Diversity Award
The 100-Minute Press

Frankfurt Book Fair Digital Award
Berg Publishers (Highly commended - Grow Story Grow)

GBS Services to Independent Publishers Award
Attwooll Associates