Magic Cat wins Independent Publisher of the Year at 2024 IPAs

Magic Cat Publishing has picked up the CPI Independent Publisher of the Year Award at the 2024 Independent Publishing Awards (IPA). 

Hosted by the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG), Magic Cat was one of five Publishers of the Year to form the shortlist, having earlier won the title of Clays Children’s Publisher of the Year. It was joined on the shortlist by Bristol University Press, ProQuest Academic and Professional Publisher of the Year; Heartwood Publishing, Ribbonfish Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year; Jolly Learning, PLS Education Publisher of the Year; and Swift Press, PBShop Trade Publisher of the Year.

A former Nick Robinson Newcomer Award winner, judges praised Magic Cat’s international growth and green approach to publishing. 

They said in a joint statement: “Magic Cat has had amazing growth and it feels like it’ll be a major force in children’s books for years to come. It’s showing other publishers the paths to follow on sustainability.”

Alongside Magic Cat there were two more double winners at the IPAs: Renard Press, which secured both the Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award and the HP Sustainability Award; and Bloomsbury Publishing, which took the Publiship International Award and Zebralution Audio Award.

Two other publishers joined Bristol University Press, Heartwood Publishing and Renard Press in receiving their first ever IPAs. Roll & Play Press received The Bookseller Newcomer Award and was a joint winner, with Cambridge University Press, of the World of Books Impact Award; and b small publishing secured the Virtusales Metadata Award.

The honours board was completed by Daniel Miele of Edinburgh University Press, the recipient of the Ola Gotkowska Young Independent Publisher Award; and Inspired, winner of the IPG Services to Independent Publishers Award.

The 15 winners were chosen by panels of 24 expert judges from shortlists that featured 58 nominations, made up of 38 different organisations and four individuals. They received their awards at a lunch held at the Oxo Tower Brasserie in London on Wednesday 24th April. 

IPG chief executive Bridget Shine said: “It’s a great honour for the IPG to celebrate the remarkable successes of our members. Our winners and shortlisted publishers and people display the incredible creativity and diversity of our sector and inspire us. They show the future of independent publishing is very bright and we congratulate all of them.”