The big theme of this year’s Conference is sustainable growth, and our programme is packed with expert guidance for achieving it. Here’s what we’ve got in store.

Hot topics

Our speakers will cover the big issues of 2024, including:

• The business, economic and political landscapes with Sir Chris Bryant MP, shadow minister for the creative industries and digital
• AI’s impact on publishing, copyright and marketing, with tech expert George Walkley, Fox Williams’ Mary Elliott, Scott Steinberg and Chien-Wei Lui and Shimmr’s Searsha Sadek
• Social media, with experts David Schneider and Ella Higgins on the future of platforms and the best places for brands to be
• Academic publishing experts on big Open Access developments

Leaders of independent publishing

We’ll have thought-provoking keynotes from the leaders of IPG members across trade, children’s, specialist, academic and educational publishing:

• Sophy Thompson of Thames & Hudson
• Rebecca Gray of Profile Books
• Mandy Hill of Cambridge University Press
• Sally Wilson of Emerald Publishing
• Sarah Mears of EmpathyLabs
• Gilbert Jolly of Jolly Learning

Inspiration from innovators

Case studies of some of independent publishing’s most dynamic and disruptive start-ups, including:

• Fitzcarraldo Editions with Jacques Testard
• Roll and Play with Kay Lubwika Bartlett and Sam Bartlett
• Fink Publishing with Jonathan Harris

Publishing masterclasses

The programme is crammed with sessions to polish your skills and knowledge in specific areas, including:

• Brand licensing with David & Charles’ Ame Verso
• Recruitment and retention with trade and academic experts including Usborne’s Katie White
• Selling exports with Quarto’s Matthew Fry
• Changes in distribution with ex-Haynes leader Graham Cook and Ingram’s Bunmi Western
• Finding and promoting diverse voices in trade publishing with author and publisher Rose Sandy
• Business development and planning sustainable growth with James Kellow
• Sustainable printing and distribution with World of Books’ Sarah Walden and Hobbs’ Chris Hobbs
• Developing a zero-carbon strategy with consultant Jonathan Griffin
• Building a successful and motivated publishing team

Expert insights

Perspectives and practical advice from experts beyond day-to-day publishing:

• International trends with Ingram’s David Taylor
• Selling film and TV rights with executive producer Emma Topping
• Retail expert Cam Lennon on growing visibility and sales with Amazon
• The big issues in independent bookselling with Village Books owner and BA president Hazel Broadfoot
• EDItEUR’s Graham Bell with beginner and advanced level masterclasses on metadata
• AI-led data leverage with tech advisor Srin Madipalli and Class’ Dick Warner
• The value of collective licensing with PLS’ Tom West
• A rights clinic from the IPG’s consultant Lynette Owen
• An IT expert on responding to cyber-attacks

You can read the full schedule for the Spring Conference here.

Our venue

The Conference takes place at the Shaw Theatre in London. It’s a superb venue with excellent facilities and transport links, minutes away from central London stations and bus routes. There are many hotels nearby if you would like to stay overnight.

More networking for 2024

New for this year’s Spring Conference is our ‘Bring a book breakfast’ on day one. Come along for a friendly ice-breaker where you can meet fellow members over breakfast and coffee and swap stories and a favourite book! You can add the breakfast to your itinerary when you book your place.

Lunches

There will be more networking opportunities over lunch, coffee breaks and day one drinks at the Conference. Delegates consistently give the Shaw Theatre’s food rave reviews, and it’s not to be missed!

Dinner at Searcys

We’re hosting a special Conference dinner at Searcys brasserie at nearby St Pancras on Tuesday 27 February. All are welcome. Please note that separate tickets are required for this; you can reserve your place here.

Exhibitors Zone

Our breaks take place in the Shaw Theatre’s spacious Nobel Suite, where you will also find our Exhibitors Zone. It will be packed with publishing’s top suppliers and service providers and is a great place to meet current and new partners under one roof—including our gold sponsor, Ingram Content Group. You can find out more about all of our Conference supporters here.

Two-day, one-day and online options

Our range of Conference tickets includes full and one-day options. You can also join the Conference online; please note that access is limited to selected sessions on the first day. Please email us if you have any queries.

Subsidised tickets

Thanks to the generous support of Ingram Content Group, we are pleased to offer 20 subsidised tickets to the Conference. These provide £100 off the full two-day ticket price (excluding dinner) and are intended for people at smaller publisher members who might otherwise not be able to attend. If you would like to apply for one, please submit your details here. The deadline for applications is next Friday (26 January) and we will notify recipients by Tuesday 30 January.

Special deals for under-30s

It’s always good to see so many rising stars of publishing at our Conferences. To encourage even more, we have a great three-for-two deal on tickets, providing one of your group is aged under 30. Bring your colleagues and make it a two-day professional development event!

Free places at the Spring Conference + on 22 May 2024

Our bonus online Spring Conference + was a big hit in 2023, and it will be back on Wednesday 22 May. We are pleased to offer all full Conference delegates free access to the event… even more value for your money!

Don’t miss out!

Recent IPG Conferences have been sell-outs and space at the Shaw is limited, so please book soon to avoid missing out.

This year’s Spring Conference has more than 30 sessions, with so much to inspire and educate every independent publisher. No other conference shares advice and experience so generously, and it’s a very special part of the publishing year. See you there.

Everyone who books a full Conference ticket (for both days) will automatically be registered for a free ticket to the online Spring Conference+ event happening later in the year.

All prices are GBP (£) and are subject to VAT.

Please note we operate a no-refund policy on all our events.

This event will be CPD certified. Any delegates not wishing to receive a certificate from the CPD Certification Service should inform the IPG team by email.

Please note there will be a photographer in attendance and photographs taken at the event may be used on IPG's social media channels, website and/or in print. Please contact us if you would prefer not to be photographed.