British Academy names Liverpool University Press as its new publishing partner

The British Academy has chosen Liverpool University Press (LUP) as the new partner for its academic publishing programme, and their collaboration will start from 1st July 2025.

LUP will enable the Academy to deliver its new publishing strategy, which focuses on meeting evolving publishing trends and sets out an ambition to be fully open access over time.

Professor Lindsay Farmer FBA, vice-president for publishing at the British Academy, said: "We are thrilled to be working with Liverpool University Press as we embark on a new publishing strategy that puts the opening up of knowledge at the heart of all we do. LUP has been at the forefront of imaginative, agile and forward thinking about the future of academic publishing and how to tap into the ever-growing audience of educated readers. This will include plans to harness our incredible backlist stretching back decades to make sure this scholarship can be easily accessed by a global market."

The Academy has had a strong publishing relationship with Oxford University Press for many decades, but both parties felt it was an "opportune moment to take stock and review plans".

"We are very proud of our partnership with Oxford University Press, which has resulted in an incredible catalogue of agenda-setting and discipline-shaping scholarship found in libraries, universities and homes the world over," Farmer added. "We want to thank them for their excellence and collaboration over the decades and will continue working with them to champion the humanities and social sciences."

Anthony Cond, chief executive of LUP, commented: "Built on a rich history, yet focused on the challenges of the present and the future, the British Academy is an essential presence in UK higher education and cultural life, with impact around the world. It is a singular honour for Liverpool University Press to work in partnership with the Academy, not least because of a shared commitment to amplifying the vital work of the humanities and social sciences."

Professor Fiona Beveridge, LUP board chair and executive pro-vice-chancellor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, added: "We are delighted to be working with the British Academy, which plays a vital role in supporting humanities and social sciences. The selection of LUP as the Academy’s publishing partner recognises the outstanding reputation of the Press as a high-quality and innovative academic publisher, which has led the way in embracing and developing new digital publishing and open access models."