The FLIP launches workforce survey with The Bookseller and the Women's Prize Trust

Female Leadership in Publishing (The FLIP) has launched its first publishing workforce survey, with The Bookseller and the Women’s Prize Trust.  

Aimed as a comprehensive industry-wide workforce survey, it is designed as a "temperature check" for the publishing sector, and is open to professionals at all levels, from all backgrounds, and of all identities.  

Organisers are encouraging all individuals working in publishing to participate, providing an opportunity to voice their thoughts and feelings about their workplace experiences. 

The FLIP said that  the research aims to "acknowledge and celebrate the things that make publishing great and provide a comprehensive and genuine understanding of the career experiences of publishing professionals across the UK”.  

It is also seeking to identify and call attention to areas that need improvement, provide ideas for potential solutions and, in keeping with The FLIP’s mission, drive positive change within the industry to foster a more inclusive and rewarding work environment for all.  

Omara Elling-Hwang, co-director at The FLIP, said: “This survey is a crucial step towards understanding the experiences of publishing professionals at a time of huge global uncertainty. We at The FLIP know that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for the continued success and growth of the industry.”  

She added: “By giving people the opportunity to have their voice heard, we can create positive changes that will benefit individuals at every stage of their careers.” 

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller, said: "We are delighted to support this survey that takes a measure of how employees in the book business feel about their work, building on the work The Bookseller has already done in this area. It will provide much-needed data on our workforce today, and hopefully start a conversation about how the book trade looks after and rewards its people.

He added: "I am also particularly pleased that it will aim to platform and celebrate the good work already happening and how we can further acknowledge that, something close to our hearts at The Bookseller, which also feeds into how we view The British Book Awards."

Executive director of the Women’s Prize Trust Claire Shanahan commented: “The Women’s Prize’s mission extends beyond writers to everyone working in and adjacent to the publishing industry.  

“For each of us, whatever our individual backgrounds and intersectionalities, who believe that books have the power to make the world a better place, can and do have a role to play in striving towards gender equity.  

“We are collaborating with The FLIP with the hope that the survey findings increase our collective understanding of the challenges faced by the publishing workforce and to find ways forward together, to ultimately enrich society through creating equitable opportunities for women in the world of books.” 

The survey will be open until 9th February, can be accessed here. All responses will be treated confidentially, and the aggregated results will be shared in a subsequent report.