Fane reports record rise in turnover to hit £5.8m in 2021

Production company Fane has reported a record 325% rise in turnover, making £5.8m in 2021. 

The company, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary, said these were its “strongest results yet” despite the volatility caused by Covid-19. The results, which were not broken out further, cover the 10 month period March to December 2021. The comparison is to the full year before.

Fane says its performance was because it adapted to the pandemic, launching a successful online arm which has evolved into a hybrid approach across all its live events. In 2021 alone, it hosted 200 live events from September to December with more than 155,000 tickets sold, as well as 103,000 tickets sold online for customers from over 150 countries for 240 events. 

Other areas of diversification include the launch of the Fane TV app, in response to customer appetite for on-demand access to its programme, the Friends of Fane membership scheme which provides early-bird offers and exclusives, and Fane’s own ticketing platform and production company, which has produced events for the likes of Rathbones Folio Prize and The Cundill History Prize. Pandora Sykes is also launching a book subscription service with the company.

Alex Fane, m.d. said: “Fane started out as a challenger company, and innovation is in our blood. We pride ourselves on aligning with the needs of publishers, retailers and talent while constantly looking for new ways to reach new audiences and to ensure we’re responding to changing consumer needs. Rather than scaling back on online events as venues open up, we’re continuing to invest in our digital offering, knowing how valuable online access is to those who can’t visit traditional venues, as well as for younger audiences who often prefer to experience content virtually, at their own convenience. 

“We’re so grateful to the many collaborators across the sector that have helped us achieve these fantastic results, from authors and publishers to Waterstones and independent booksellers, particularly the At Home with 4 Indies booksellers Book-ish, Booka, Linghams and Forum books. Their collective support allows us to grow both as a business, both in terms of the quality of our offering and the access we’re able to provide to audiences in the UK and overseas. We welcome ideas and opportunities from across the industry during 2022 as we look forward to another exceptional year.”