Octopus consultation ends with substantial job losses
01.08.10 | Catherine Neilan
Octopus is to lose nearly 30% of its staff, and plans to cut its frontlist by the same amount from 2012 onwards, following the end of the consultation period announced earlier this year.
A total of 29 staff, out of 104 employees, will leave the company. Of these, 10 are voluntary redundancy.
Although some staff have already left the publisher, the departures will continue until the end of the year as existing projects come to an end. The consultation process was triggered by “the continued downturn in the markets for illustrated and reference books”.
Octopus has not cancelled any titles already under contract, but from 2012 will cut output by 30%. Its future focus will be on established areas including food, wine and lifestyle and particularly in series publishing.
A number of positions have been shifted around a new vertical structure including Lorraine Dickey, who moves from publisher of Conran Octopus to publisher of home and lifestyle titles across all imprints. Jonathan Christie, formerly art director of Conran Octopus, has been promoted to group art director. Commissioning editors will report to Denise Bates, group publishing director, working across imprints.
Octopus c.e.o. Alison Goff said: “I am enormously grateful to all our staff for the way in which they have continued to work and shown true professionalism and dedication to their authors. Whilst market conditions remain tough there are some encouraging signs and our forward programme is being very well-received.”
Comments on this article
By John Walsh
I thought an Octopus had eight legs rather than arms. And, anyway, 70% of 8 = 5.6 so a limp would also be generated. So who's counting?30 Jul 10 11:04
By unsurprised
Yeah, Really appropriate comments when people are losing their jobs.30 Jul 10 13:24
By Jamie
Wow. So now The Bookseller's most pointless columnist uses redundancy as a source of 'material'. Nice.30 Jul 10 17:31
By Miss F
Yes some very inappropriate comments on here - a sort of gallows humour I suppose could someone start a thread for those "disposessed" who've been made redundant - the good the bad and the ugly - to see how people are faring - or would it be too depressing... are there any positive stories out there?02 Aug 10 16:52
By Brandon Neale
Well, if they have to cut - they have to cut. I am sick and tired of socialist ideas and 'let's care for the labour force' - utter rubbish! Every business has to make commercial decisions - otherwise you might end up as The History Press in Gloucestershire. Better cut 30% of the stuff than fiddle with across-the-board pay cuts and 'voluntary' holidays. 104 employees! It sounds like the Labour Government - I bet they had pensions and bonuses as well! What a waste!02 Aug 10 21:33
By downbythebeach
Wow - Brandon, I'm sure you are a delight to work for. You and Miss Frost should probably get together and start something up. I'm sure people would run into work every morning.03 Aug 10 09:33
By Miss F
What total illiterate rubbish - it's "socialist" thinking that got the economy into this mess in the first place... well socialists thinking they could cosy up to capitalists actually... Bosses usually cut the workforce to "save themselves" - push a few over the side and then your lifeboat won't sink (obviously).03 Aug 10 14:34
By downbythebeach
Slightly confused - which elements are 'illiterate', Miss F? Are you against the 'socialist' idea of having some measure of respect for the people who work for you? Apologies if I am misunderstanding you.03 Aug 10 15:08
By Miss F
sorry you did - it was Brandon Neale's comments that got me all riled up!03 Aug 10 16:24
By downbythebeach
Likewise. Mr Neale seems to have that effect on people!03 Aug 10 16:32
By Brandon Neale
Miss F - "Bosses usually cut the workforce to "save themselves" - I personally don't find anything wrong with that. Again, you seem to belong to the commy club. The ship was sinking because there were too many bodies. Of course you have to push a few over board, what do you expect? You should grow up - did you lose your job? No. So what's your problem? Stop with this 'let's protect the unfortunate losers' rant - it makes me sick. You have a job - keep your head down and get on with it.04 Aug 10 12:34
By downbythebeach
Brandon, might I ask, are you an employer or employee? Or neither? I don't mean to pry, just wondering where you're coming from with this.04 Aug 10 14:31
By Miss F
Mr Neale - yes I did actually and I am NOT a communist I'm actually a TOT if you must know - although I can see certain positives in the communist way of thinking nowadays after the mess left by the socialists thinking they could cosy up to the capitalists... I hope you don't starve whilst in your lifeboat although you sound like you'd have no qualms in eating your companions.. I think I'd jump overboard and take my chances with the other sharks in the water rather than share a lifeboat with someone like you...04 Aug 10 17:40
