Manchester presses welcome new Hachette office

Presses outside of the London bubble have welcomed Hachette UK's move to open a new office in Manchester as a step in the right direction.

After Hachette Children's Group revealed it would be establishing a base in Manchester on Tuesday (12th November), future neighbours Manchester University Press, Crécy Publishing and Carcanet said they were pleased to see the city's recognition and what it could mean for Northerners' job prospects in the industry.

Manchester University Press c.e.o. Simon Ross said: "Everyone is welcome in Manchester, and author diversity is especially welcome."

Jeremy M Pratt, m.d. of Manchester-based history publisher Crécy Publishing, called it "a big step forward" in growing the North's publishing presence.

"Hachette moving to Manchester is seriously good news for the region," he said. "Crécy has been a Manchester book publisher for over 25 years, growing to be the biggest book publisher in the city. To see the UK’s third largest city now being recognised by Hachette is a big step forward in the growth of publishing ‘up here’ and we hope this paves the way for more publishing companies to make the same move."

Carcanet's editor Michael Schmidt, also based in Manchester, was more cautious in his optimism. He highlighted that despite the "fanfare" surrounding the news Hachette had not undertaken to move a large portion of its operation north; but if only one of its editors made the move, they would be welcomed.

"This is in ecological terms more an earnest than a promise of change," said Schmidt. "I hope the editor will like the North West and persuade her cronies that life up here is easier and cheaper than in London, and that a more dynamic northward movement would have its rewards.

"At present our northern publishing companies are trying to see how collegiate we can afford to be and how we can make common cause. Most of us are specialist publishers working under severe commercial and financial constraints. But we are very friendly and whatever advance party comes from Hachette – even a party of one – will be welcomed. We have a lot to learn, and a lot to teach, and – yes – there are creative resources up here in abundance."

Other publishers based outside of London have been encouraged by the news, and the Publishers Association branded it "a brilliant commitment to networking and building relationships in the North of England and Scotland".

Stefan Tobler of Sheffield-based press And Other Stories pinned hopes on what it could mean for job creation in the region.

"This is very welcome news for publishing," said Tobler. "There's such a thirst for more publishing jobs in the North. We are looking forward to hearing Hachette's next steps in good time and when they start hiring staff in the North we'll include those jobs in our monthly newsletter's Northern Job Alert. The more the merrier!"

Kevin Duffy, co-owner of Yorkshire-based independent Bluemoose Books, last year lamented that geographical diversity in publishing was "non-existent"; however, responding to the news, he said "a brilliant start" had been made.

"I think it is a brilliant start and do hope more will follow," said Duffy. "It is a reminder that there are more than 40 million people who live outside the metropolis, eager to read stories that relate to them. It makes no economic sense to exclude two thirds of the country who want to buy books that reflect their lives. Let’s hope this is the start for inclusivity in our industry, because we do still have a long way to go."