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Publishers in the north of England have broadly welcomed HarperCollins' announcement of a new Manchester-based division although some have questioned whether a different city could have been chosen.
Harper North was announced yesterday (21st January), and is expected to be based at the News UK offices in the city centre. Led by executive publisher Oli Malcolm it will be recruiting a publishing director, commissioning editors and other staff, starting with up to 20 books in its first year.
Jeremy M Pratt, m.d. of Manchester-based history publisher Crécy Publishing, said the location choice was no surprise, with excellent transport links including a two-hour rail journey from London, the presence of the BBC and more affordability than the capital.
Pratt told The Bookseller: "I do see it as a positive. It brings more genuinely quality publishing to Manchester. Speaking personally, as a Manchester publisher, I say come and join the party. I do feel strongly that publishing doesn’t have to be London-centric.
"There are sound business reasons for this," he added. "They can attract good editorial talent without having to pay London prices and that has to be a strong reason."
Simon Ross, chief executive officer of Manchester University Press, also welcomed the news as a boost to the city’s publishing, encouraging others to follow suit and break out of the London bubble.
He said: "I think the crucial aspect of this is around rebalancing the locus of control. If this move encourages others to do the same then we will get real growth in the infrastructure that develops around publishing, and that is not just good for publishing but also for a whole range of creative and cultural activities and industries."
Stephen Lotinga, c.e.o. of the Publishers Association, added: "It's very encouraging to see publishers increasingly invest in having a footprint in the north of England. We hope this will lead to more networking and commissioning in regions which are currently underrepresented in publishing."
The HarperCollins announcement comes after Hachette said it would also be opening an office in Manchester this year, while PRH is also understood to be exploring a presence there. However, some indie presses have questioned the convergence by London firms on a single city.
Stefan Tobler of Sheffield-based And Other Stories, called the news "bittersweet", saying: "Knowing the thirst for publishing jobs in the North, we welcome more, of course; and we'll be happy include their new Northern jobs in our monthly newsletter; and Manchester is an incredible city, but . . . Manchester again?
"I can see the sense for Harper North to be based in their parent company's office but the North is many, many different things and places, including many splendid cities with a great quality of life. It could start to look like a failure of imagination if every London company's go-to north is Manchester."
Kevin Duffy, co-owner of Bluemoose Books in Yorkshire, welcomed the announcement but said he hoped southern publishers plotting something similar might look elsewhere. He told The Bookseller: "It is a very positive move and one that should be applauded as it will allow future publishers and those wishing to enter the industry to start their careers in 'Cottonopolis'.
"The North, however, isn't one place and every town and city has their own creative and unique spirit. Perhaps others may look at Leeds, as Channel 4 has already moved there but, as a first step, it is one we should all see as a step in the right direction.
"Good to see London finally realising that there is an audience outside of the South-East that wants to read about their lives and the landscapes they live in. There's money to be had up here."