Mar 5, 2024

EvenUP: Inspiring the next generation of publishers

A group of University Presses, all signatories to the EvenUP commitment to equity, diversity and inclusivity, have launched a new initiative to inspire the next generation of publishers through work with their local secondary schools. 

EvenUP: Publishing For All will see the university presses at Bristol, Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester and Princeton commit to work with local schools on or around World Book Day. The programme for the event will include gamified publishing tasks for students to complete and opportunities to discuss future careers with university press staff, alongside a general introduction to the industry. 

The initiative seeks to broaden the staff recruitment pipeline for publishing at an early stage, ensuring that the possibility of a bookish career is visible at the point at which students make key choices such as GCSE and A-Level selection.

World Book Day 2024 will be a pilot for EvenUP, with the expectation of expanding to most of the twenty EvenUP presses in 2025.

 

Comments from participating presses:

"Speaking to young people means we can demystify the industry, contribute to our local communities and start to make careers in publishing available to everyone." Jessica Miles, EDI Lead, Bristol University Press

“Welcoming local school students into our offices for events like World Book Day is refreshing and energising for us all. It’s really important that publishing is accessible to everyone and we give more young people the confidence and encouragement to consider careers with us in future.” Heidi Mulvey, Cambridge University Press & Assessment

“Our aim is to change the talent pipeline to the industry by sharing knowledge with our local communities and supporting young people to see publishing as a viable career option before they consider higher education.”  Lydia Osborne, EDI Lead, Liverpool University Press

"Engaging with our local communities through initiatives such as this, allows us to pave the way for inclusive opportunities in the industry. This is so important for the future of publishing, and I hope demystifying the industry will bring a range of diverse voices to the publishing landscape." Lola Onasanya, Manchester University Press

“By working with local organisations, we’re opening up new avenues of exploration for young people, and I am so excited to see the impact this initiative will have on publishing in the years to come.” Katie Evans, Manchester University Press

“We are delighted to be participating in this new initiative, and looking forward to encouraging the next generation of publishers, authors and readers”. Caroline Priday, Co-Head of PUP Europe

 

For more information on EvenUP: Publishing For All please contact Jessica Miles, Jessica.Miles@bristol.ac.uk