1. 6 March 2013
Equip launches major surveys on Workforce Equality in Publishing
Equality and diversity organisation seeks to explore equality in the publishing workforce
Equality in Publishing (Equip), an impact research project hosted by City University London, has
launched two surveys to understand the conditions of entry into the publishing industry including
internship cultures, and invite feedback on future initiatives from publishers and Equip’s 2,600
members.
The surveys have been created and will be analysed in partnership with the Work Psychology
Group. There is one survey for existing publishing staff:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GKBJQBC
And a second survey for students and those who are seeking to gain their first role in publishing:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H8X6B3B
The deadline for completion of both surveys is Sunday 31 March 2013. The results of the surveys
will be presented at Equip’s first conference, which will be held at City University London on
Wednesday 8 May 2013, alongside presentations by publishers and other creative industry experts
and practitioners. Registration is open for the conference is open at: http://equip-conference-
2013.eventbrite.co.uk. The results will also form the basis of an academic paper, and articles for
the trade press.
Bobby Nayyar, Equip’s Project Manager and Research Fellow, observed:
“Over the last ten months we have launched the Publishing Equalities Charter, which is a
way for businesses to work with us and promote their workforce equality activity. Our
membership has also grown by over 50% to over 2,600 people who receive our monthly
newsletter. The surveys are a means to gain viewpoints from both industry and our
individual members, so we can plan future initiatives, but also gain a snapshot of how
people are reacting to the rapid changes in this industry and how this relates to diversifying
the workforce.”
For more information please contact bobby.nayyar.1@city.ac.uk or visit
www.equalityinpublishing.org.uk.
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2. Notes to Editors:
City University London
City University London is an international University with a commitment to academic excellence, a focus on
business and the professions and a central London location. It is placed in the top 5% of universities around
the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-11 and is ranked in the top 30 UK
higher education institutions by the Times Higher Education Table of Tables 2011.
The University's Student Centre holds the 2011 Times Higher Education Leadership & Management Award
for Outstanding Student Services Team. City is a broadly-based University with world leading strengths in
business; law; engineering and mathematical sciences; informatics; health sciences and the arts including
journalism and music.
The University attracts over 21,000 students from more than 160 countries and academic and professional
staff from over 50 countries. City University London's predecessor, the Northampton Institute, was founded
in 1894. City will celebrate its first half century as a University in 2016.
Arts Council England
Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich
people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to
digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us,
brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better.
Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £1
billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the
country.
Equip background
Equality in Publishing (Equip) is a membership organisation hosted by City University London and funded by
Arts Council England. It continues the work of the Diversity in Publishing Network, first established by Elise
Dillsworth and Allison Morrison in 2004 to address the underrepresentation of Black and Minority Ethnic
(BME) people working the publishing industry. Equip’s mission statement is: To promote equality across
UK publishing, bookselling and agenting, by driving forward change and increasing access to
opportunities within the industry. From 2008–2012, Dipnet was managed by Booktrust. Following a
successful Arts Council England bid, Dipnet’s projects are now managed at City University London under the
new name Equality in Publishing, a change reflecting the wider remit to address the nine protected
characteristics of the Equality Act 2010. The organisation has 12 trade members and over 2,600 registered
members.