The Bookseller.com

5th December 2008

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Templar, Snowbooks scoop indie awards

10.03.08 Graeme Neill

Children’s publisher Templar snatched the top prize at this year's Independent Publishing Awards, held in Brighton's De Vere Grand Hotel on Saturday night (8th March). The publisher was named the Van Tulleken independent publisher of the year, and was also named the Lightning Source children's publisher of the year.

Templar saw off competition from Snowbooks, Willan Publishing and Rising Stars to clinch the award. Snowbooks won the Bertrams/THE trade publisher award, Willan Publishing was named the Taylor Wessing academic and professional publisher and Xerox education publisher of the year was Rising Stars. The publishers were all praised by judges for their achievements over the past 12 months. "What comes very clearly through from all the entries is the energy, innovation, creativity and community of independent publishing," they said.

Templar was lauded for its innovation within children's publishing. "You can sense the passion, imagination, energy and strong philosophy of Templar," said the judges. "It is the finished article—polished, considered and professional in everything it does."

The awards, in their second year, were set up by the IPG, the Bookseller and the London Book Fair to celebrate the successes of independent publishers. IPG executive director Bridget Shine said: "The IPG and all our judges were hugely impressed by the variety and vibrancy of all the companies who entered the awards. The strong submissions show that independent publishing in the UK is thriving."

In other awards Robert Snuggs, founder and managing director of Bounce! Sales and Marketing, was given the GBS services to independent publishers award for his "tireless work on behalf of independent publishers".

Michael O'Mara Books won the UK Trade & Investment international achievement award after increasing its foreign language sales in 2007. Alistair Sawday Publishing was the winner in the IPG environmental award category. Salt Publishing's web-based marketing initiatives were rewarded with the Nielsen Innovation prize. Berg Publishers was the winner of the publishing technology e-publishing award, and the IPG diversity award was presented to Arcadia Books.

 

THE WINNERS IN FULL:

The van Tulleken Independent Publisher of the Year
Templar Publishing

Bertrams/THE Trade Publisher of the Year
Snowbooks

Lightning Source Children’s Publisher of the Year
Templar Publishing

Taylor Wessing Academic and Professional Publisher of the Year
Willan Publishing

Xerox Education Publisher of the Year
Rising Stars

Nielsen Innovation of the Year
Salt Publishing

UK Trade & Investment International Achievement of the Year
Michael O’Mara Books

The IPG Environmental Award
Alastair Sawday Publishing

Publishing Technology E-Publishing Award
Berg Publishers

The IPG Diversity Award
Arcadia Books

The GBS Services to Independent Publishers Award
Robert Snuggs

Independent Publisher of the Year IPG Graeme Neill Prize Home