Catherine Taylor leaves English PEN amid wider redundancies

English PEN is making five of its 12-strong team redundant following an organisational restructure.

Deputy director Catherine Taylor is one of the members of staff who is being made redundant, but the other four have not been revealed. Taylor left her role, which will not be replaced, on Friday (4th November).

Director Jo Glanville told The Bookseller: “The restructure will not affect the work we do in anyway but we are looking to bring in new skills in a view to creating a new business model. We’re hoping the restructure will put us in the best position in the wake of Brexit.”

The restructure is “still ongoing” but Glanville said the organisation would hire “at least” one new member of staff once the redundancies have taken place.

She added: “Our funding has not been cut but fundraising is always challenging. We want to make sure we have the best strategy in place to continue our work. We are very sad to lose Catherine and others.”

Glanville said English PEN has the “full support” of Arts Council England.

During her two and a half years at English PEN, Taylor further developed its corporate partnerships, increased membership and curated high-profile events such as Ali Smith's PEN HG Wells lecture at Edinburgh International Book Festival and a fundraiser with Grayson Perry. She commented: "I am very sad to leave the PEN team at such a critical time for freedom of expression both at home and abroad, but am looking forward to new challenges".

Taylor can be contacted at catherinejtaylor9@gmail.com.