Publishing Scotland - the network for trade, training and development
What is Publishing Scotland?
Publishing Scotland is a new organisation, a not-for-profit company, formed to take responsibility for the representation and development of the publishing sector in Scotland. It acts as the voice and network for publishing, to develop and promote the work of companies, organisations and individuals in the industry, and to co-ordinate joint initiatives and partnership.
It has grown from the work of the Scottish Publishers Association (SPA) a trade association in existence for over 30 years. Representing more than 60 book and journal publishers, the SPA expanded its remit in recent years by establishing a web information point, a book distribution company, an online bookshop, a role as ‘open-to-all' training provider for publishing skills, and other development projects. The new body takes forward that wider role of the SPA whilst retaining its traditional elements of trade association work.
Membership
There are two kinds of membership offered by Publishing Scotland: to publishing companies and organisations, as before, and to associated organisations and individuals who work with the publishing sector.
Objectives
Three main objectives drive Publishing Scotland. Its central network and development role will provide skills training, statistics and research, seminars, international outreach and a programme of networking events. It will have a major focus on new technology, to find new ways of promoting and using content, to help the advance into new markets and territories, and to help build the skills needed for this work. The publishing company work (as the association of publishers in Scotland) brings to the sector services and advice and a strong lobbying voice. Its commercial role will develop the companies (presently BookSource and Books fromScotland.com) which provide resources to publishing, to writers and to creative contributors.
The programme will lead with ideas and information and follow demand and needs. The benefits from this network will assist and support those who are ambitious to develop their work and their skills in the 21st century environment.
Governance and Funding
Governed by a board with responsibility for overall policy setting and financial matters, there are councils and committees for different areas of work. Publishing Scotland is partly funded by Creative Scotland (which took over from the Scottish Arts Council on 1 July 2010), partly by annual subscriptions, and by revenue from its trading arms.
Location
From 3 February 2012, Publishing Scotland's address is: Scott House, 10 South St Andrew's Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AZ.