FROM art-books and children’s titles to the first publisher of dyslexic-friendly fiction for adults, ten small presses across the UK and Ireland were honoured today as regional and country winners for The British Book Awards 2024 Small Press of the Year, with a record six further companies highly commended.
Selected by the judges from 55 finalists announced last month, the award, which is sponsored by CPI Books, celebrates the independent presses delivering imaginative, forward-looking and
diverse publishing.
Scotland’s winner is 404 Ink, a press dedicated to supporting new and emerging writers whose sales have soared by 70% from 2022.
Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges for The British Book Awards, commented: “Small presses are the hidden lifeblood of the book trade, publishing books and authors that would otherwise go missing from our cultural landscape. From David Fickling Books in South-East England to Banshee Press in Ireland to our two London Winners Magic Cat and Elliott & Thompson, to 404 Ink in Scotland, these Regional and Country Winners represent the best in breed from the 55 presses that were named finalists in February. What unites all these publishers is the sheer amount of hard work they put into their authors’ books, and how vital it is that these titles are put before readers.”
Award sponsor CPI Books’ M.D. Tanya Dunbar said: “CPI is proud to sponsor the small
press award again this year. The small publishers are an essential and creative part of the publishing
ecosystem, and we are delighted to be part of their continuing success story.”
The overall regional and country winner of the Small Press of the Year award will be revealed during The
British Book Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House on Monday 13th May 2024, and go on to compete to be named Independent Publisher of the Year.
