Welbeck acquires mental health publisher Trigger

Welbeck Publishing Group has become the majority owner of the mental health and wellbeing publisher, Trigger Publishing.

Welbeck said it will build on Trigger’s founder, Adam Shaw’s vision "to enhance the footprint in mental health publishing" across all channels and on a worldwide basis.

As part of the deal, Jo Lal, publisher of Trigger, and Lyndsey Mayhew, sales and marketing lead, will move across to Welbeck.

Mental health books on the list will continue to publish under Trigger, which becomes part of a new wellness imprint called Welbeck Balance. Trigger’s specialist mental health list for children, Upside Down Books, will meanwhile publish under Welbeck Children’s. 

The new wellness imprint, Welbeck Balance, is intended to build on Welbeck’s acquisition of the assets of Eddison earlier this year, as well as Trigger’s list, and it is to be headed by Lal. She has over 20 years’ experience in self-help, personal development and mind, body, spirit publishing, including as a publisher at Watkins before joining Trigger last year and as co-founder of Hay House UK. 

With a vision "to create a diverse wellbeing list featuring authors that are passionate about what they do, experts in their field and want to work collaboratively", launch titles for Welbeck Balance include Blue Spacesby Dr Catherine Kelly, an exploration into why water makes us feel good; the recently acquired Humble by Dr Daryl R Van Tongeren, investigating the ancient virtue of, and the science behind, humility; and Time to Talk by Alex Holmes, looking at how men feel about love, belonging and connection.

Marcus Leaver, formerly chairman of Trigger and executive director of Welbeck, said: "Adam Shaw’s vision for Trigger was a compelling one and led me to become chairman in late 2018. Jo Lal has built a powerful list in the mental health area and with Welbeck’s assets in wellness publishing and commitment to publishing in this genre, we are excited by the possibilities for this new initiative."

Adam Shaw, founder of Trigger and Shaw Mind, said: "I cannot think of a better organisation than Welbeck to take on the vision that I had for Trigger and my commitment to building a powerful voice in mental health publishing. I have enjoyed working with Marcus and Jo and will be an enthusiastic supporter of the business enhanced by it being part of one of the UK’s leading independent publishers."

Lal, incoming publisher of Welbeck Balance, said: "I’m passionate about publishing books for anyone wherever they are on their wellbeing journey. The opportunity to join Welbeck Balance as publisher while also taking Adam’s vision forward is a perfect union at a time when we all need as much support as we can get."

Lal and Mayhew start at Welbeck on 4th January 2021.