FutureBook Conference
Mon Nov 25, 2024
09:00 - 19:00
County Hall, Waterloo & online
FutureBook Conference 2024
For Leaders and Future Leaders
Monday 25th November, London and Online
Voicing our value
In a year of political change, what social, cultural and economic value does the book industry really offer the UK? How can we unleash and advocate for the unique power we have to restore focus, depth and nuance to overloaded brains; foster much-needed empathy across widening divides; and nurture the best of human creativity in an automated world? How can we unlock more value from technologies such as audio and AI? And how can we do a better job of valuing the people who make our industry great?
Book trade leaders and future leaders came together to answer these questions at County Hall, Waterloo on 25th November. You can now access on-demand over 8 hours of content: all the keynotes, panels, interviews, awards and showcases from the UK’s top publishers, agents, retailers and authors, as well as high-profile industry outsiders.
A new era of publishing is coming. Lead the change.
Please email sales@thebookseller.com for sponsor opportunities.
FutureBook 2024 Award Category Sponsors
FutureBook 2024 Sponsors and Partners
Gallery
Photos from FutureBook Conference 2022 at 155 Bishopsgate, London
© Asun Olivan
LEGO Group's former c.o.o Bali Padda kicks off the FutureBook conference with his keynote.
Founder and chief executive of xigxag, Kelli Fairbrother tackled audiobook assumptions in her provocative keynote.
Nigel Newton, chief executive, Bloomsbury in conversation with The Bookseller’s editor Philip Jones about leading a global publishing business.
Róisín O'Shea, head of marketing, brand and campaign, HarperVoyager, presents at our #BookTok Showcase
The Bookseller’s working-class issue was published to coincide with FutureBook and launched by a panel, chaired by Lauren Brown, senior reporter, The Bookseller.
Hannah Griffiths, head of adaptation, All3Media, hosts a session exploring the challenges of transferring content from books to the small screen.
On the Broadgate stage, our panel 'Future talent: Retaining and recruiting for tomorrow', chaired by freelance marketing consultant, Miriam Robinson.
In a keynote conversation, Nina Findley, commercial director of The Works, spoke about The Work's strategic push into books.
In this inspiring personal keynote, Travis Alabanza muses on the huge opportunities that lay ahead if we question our categories.
At our FutureBook Awards ceremony, Dawn Burnett at HQ won the Campaign award for her work on Menopausing by Davina McCall and Dr Naomi Potter.
Asian Women writers and its founder Irum Fazal won the Discover prize.
Start-up was won by Storymix and its founder, Jasmine Richards, accepted the award on the Broadgate stage.
Categories & Criteria
The FutureBook Awards highlight and amplify the year’s outstanding publishing people and projects with an emphasis on leadership, achievement and innovation. Past winners have included HarperCollins, TikTok, Penguin Random House, the Booker Prize and the footballer Marcus Rashford, along with start-ups such as Wonderbly and Unbound.
For 2024, the awards categories are:
- Leader of the Year, sponsored by Redwood Publishing Recruitment
- Future Leader of the Year, sponsored by Shimmr
- Start-up of the Year, sponsored by Beat Technology
- FutureBook Excellence Award, sponsored by World of Books
- Freelancer of the Year, sponsored by Whitefox
Entries are now closed.
Winners will be announced at FutureBook on Monday 25th November 2024. Those shortlisted for a FutureBook Award will be offered a discounted ticket to the entire conference day.
How to enter
All you need to do to apply is enter 500 words max on behalf of yourself, your team or your nominee. This is your chance to explain why your project or person should win, so give us as much tangible evidence as possible - details of work, results and other impact, testimonials - focused on explaining how they fill the specific criteria of their category (innovation, fresh thinking, inspiring others, inclusion and so on). We’ll let you know whether you’ve been shortlisted in early November. Good luck and thanks very much for helping us celebrate the best and brightest in UK publishing!
Awards Step
Leader of the Year
This award celebrates inspiring leaders, from heads of departments to experienced managers. We’re looking for someone able to inspire, innovate, direct and challenge: someone who brings the best out of their teams, but also themselves. Someone who makes change happen, but also knows when to defend their ground. Nominees should demonstrate an ability to deliver with an eye on innovation, growth, sustainability and inclusion. Recipients can be nominated by themselves, fellow leaders or their teams.
Future Leader of the Year
This award celebrates tomorrow's leaders today, from newbies to those a little more experienced rising up. A future leader can be any age, and come from any part of the business. Nominees should demonstrate how they are making a difference, leaning into their roles, and starting to get noticed. Nominees should demonstrate an ability to deliver and inspire others with an eye on innovation, growth, sustainability and inclusion. Recipients can be nominated by themselves, their managers or their colleagues.
Start-up of the Year
For Start-up we are looking to honour the most innovative and potentially impactful book trade business founded within the past three years. These could be independent businesses - ranging from fresh apps and platforms to new bookshops - or internal startups, such as a new imprint within an existing publisher. In particular we are looking for those companies with a focus on sustainability, inclusion and/or technology; the most important element is to have done something different with the potential to shake publishing up.
FutureBook Excellence Award
The FutureBook Excellence Award is for a product or initiative using new technology or new thinking to improve an area of the book business, with a particular emphasis on inclusion, sustainability and/or post-pandemic recovery. This could be a marketing campaign, a national movement, a website, even a new sort of book; what we’re looking for is clarity of thinking, quality of execution and attention to detail in delivering an outstanding project from beginning to end.
Freelancer of the Year
Brilliant freelancers of publishing, we see you, and all that you do. This award celebrates the many independent workers who help make publishing great, and is open to freelancers working in any area of the industry, from design to editing, translation to consultancy. Nominees should make a big difference to their clients with their fresh thinking, top level execution and impressive collaboration skills. Recipients can be nominated by themselves or their clients.
Winners
FUTUREBOOK AWARDS WINNERS
Jump to the Awards shortlists:
Sponsored by Shimmr
This year’s cohort are tomorrow's leaders, from newbies to those a little more experienced rising up. They aren’t just delivering impressive results, they’re pushing tirelessly for change. Every one of our finalists is making a tangible impact, embracing innovation and inspiring others along the way.
WINNER - Cheyney Smith
head of marketing
Macmillan Children’s Books and First Ink
All the elements of great leadership were evident in this entry. With a keen attention to audience, a penchant for partnerships and extending the reach of books, and a progress-oriented mindset that extends to fellow and future colleagues, the judges were truly blown away, and truly excited for what we’ll see next from this Future Leader.
Ause Abdelhaq
editor
Pan Macmillan
Sofia Akel
founder and managing director
Free Books Campaign
Cait Davies
brand director
Orion
Elizabeth Kellingley
accessibility manager
Bloomsbury Publishing
Abigail McDougall
policy development and training manager
Publishing Scotland
Cassie Rocks
marketing manager & co-director
HarperCollins & The FLIP
sponsored by Redwood Publishing Recruitment
The finalists for Leader of the Year are key examples of the industry's most inspiring and innovative figureheads. Not only do they spearhead exciting change, but they know how to bring the best out of those around them. These are the people who really do reflect publishing at its best.
WINNER - Selina Brown
founder and c.e.o.
Black British Book Festival
In a very short time, 2024’s Leader of the Year has made herself a fixture on the publishing scene. Spearheading an initiative which has gone from strength to strength, forging dynamic and exciting partnerships, and widening access to and enthusiasm for literature are just some of the reasons why the judges chose this winner.
Fleur Clarke
associate publisher
HarperCollins
Liz Cross
managing and publishing director
David Fickling Books
James Keyte
head of audio content
Penguin Random House
Anna Valentine
Managing director
Orion
sponsored by Beat Technology
The startup category has never been so rewarding to judge. Nine years ago, the definition of publishing innovation was much narrower, confined to tools and apps. Now we still have exhilarating examples of digital creativity, but there’s also a wealth of fresh thinking across other areas of the industry too.
WINNER - Spiracle AudioBooks
In a section of the market dominated by a couple of key players, 2024’s start-up of the year winner has dared to do things differently. This company impressed the judges with its commitment to innovation, quality, and — through working with independent bookshops - the wider health of the book trade.
sponsored by World of Books
The finalists for the Excellence Award provide a window into the book sector’s most pressing concerns, such as the growing literacy crisis and a lack of diversity. This year's shortlist are working tirelessly to create a more progressive industry by equipping staff with vital training and knowledge, and designing events that boost inclusion for authors, readers and publishing professionals alike.
WINNER - Book Squad
The judges loved the ambitious scope of this team’s work, and their practical, tangible approach to one of the industry - and society’s - primary challenges. By identifying a key need, leaning into their core resource and deploying it with strategic savvy, this team has gone a long way in a short while.
sponsored by Whitefox
The finalists reflect the breadth of the impact freelancers make on the industry, with numerous bestselling titles, award-winning campaigns and iconic covers featuring in their collective work. These are people who are at the top of their game, and who have got there through years of expertise, creativity, relationship building and hard graft. There are so many freelancers out there who deserve to be celebrated, this feels like just a start.
WINNER - Samar Habib
multimedia designer & owner
Ascetic Studios Ltd
Our winner’s work has had truly widespread impact, with demonstrable, agenda-setting effects on campaign output and the bottom line. A dedication to collaboration, a wide-ranging skillset and a keen eye on the market has seen books by everyone from Martina Cole to David Attenborough to Rebecca Kuang receive truly royal treatment.
