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Staff at independent publishers have seen increases in pay and benefits over the last three years, according to the IPG's most recent salary survey.
The survey, conducted in February and March with 72 IPG companies contributing data, showed that two out of every five IPG member directors were paid in the £60,000-plus range, compared to a third at the time of the IPG's last salary survey in 2009. The most common pay bracket for managers was £35,000 to £40,000, up from £25,000 to £30,000 in 2009.
Editors, executives and co-ordinators' most common pay range was £20,000 to £25,000—unchanged from the previous survey, though there are more staff earning in upper brackets now. For assistants, the joint most common brackets were £15,000 to £20,000 and £20,000 to £25,000, with similar evidence of a reasonable increase since 2009.
Bridget Shine, IPG executive director, said: "This doesn't mean everything is rosy, because we know how difficult the market is for our members. But the salary rise does show that indie publishers are able to offer their staff very attractive careers with competitive pay packages."
Perks and benefits also increased. Just over two-thirds of IPG members operated bonus schemes—up from 50% in 2009. Average holiday entitlements rose to 24.9 days, from 23.5 days in 2009, and just over 75% offer flexible working hours, up from two-thirds in four years ago.
"Retention of staff obviously is a key issue for IPG members, and these packages show the creative ways indie publishers are using to incentivise staff to stay," Shine said. "In fact, we see quite a number of new members starting up businesses who are corporate refugees. It has never been a better time to work for an independent publisher."
Shine also said the IPG would have "by far" its biggest presence ever at this year's LBF, with more than 80 exhibitors on its 87 square metre collective stand. It has organised 255 "speed-dating" meetings for its members with buyers such as Amazon, Audible, Waterstones, Kobo, Wordery.com and Gardners.