The Society of Young Publishers (SYP) and The Publishing Post are collaborating on a new award open to those entering or within the first five years of their career in publishing or book-related industries. The First Chapter Award celebrates the determination and passion of early-career professionals whose valuable contributions are critical to their teams, companies, or the industry at large. Crucially, the award is open to a wide variety of individuals within the book and publishing community, highlighting the interconnected nature of the community and recognising all who make up the industry. Aspiring publishers, volunteers, booksellers, freelancers, librarians, publishing professionals, students, influencers, and more are encouraged to apply.

The judging panel will include SYP UK Chairs Michaela O’Callaghan and Eleanor Gaffney, The Publishing Post’s Chelsea Graham, and a variety of judges across the publishing industry, who will carefully evaluate the nominations. Applications will be evaluated based on their passion, ability to support others and/or the wider industry, and dedication to achieving their personal and professional goals. The winners will receive a free year-long SYP membership, as well as other prizes that both recognise their contributions and support their professional development.

Current SYP UK Chairs Michaela O’Callaghan and Eleanor Gaffney state, “The First Chapter Award is a fantastic way to recognise the hard work of passionate and engaged individuals in the book and publishing community. From educational and academic publishing through to magazine and traditional trade publishing, via bookselling, agenting, freelancing, volunteering, and more, there is no one measure of success and no one image of what an early-career champion looks like. The SYP continues to work towards uplifting those getting INTO and AHEAD in publishing, and we can’t wait to collaborate with our peers at The Publishing Post to celebrate the fantastic achievements of our applicants.”

Chelsea Graham, founder of The Publishing Post, states, “The heart of this industry is made up of those with a passion and desire to improve accessibility or shout about books, and so often these champions go unrecognised. The First Chapter Award recognises these ambitious and vital contributions to the book world. The award is very close to our mission at The Publishing Post, and we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with the brilliant SYP and read all of the wonderful submissions.”

Applications open on July 29, and individuals can self-nominate or nominate others. Winners will be awarded at the SYP London Conference in November, where they will have the opportunity to take part in a panel celebrating their work. Individuals can find out more and apply through the SYP website.

Notes to editors:

Society of Young Publishers

The SYP is a membership organisation whose aim is to provide a supportive network and be a trusted source of information for anyone, of any age, hoping to get into or ahead in publishing or a related trade.

The SYP is made up of seven regional committees (Ireland, London, North, Oxford, Scotland, South West, and Wales) and a UK committee responsible for overseeing the overall strategy of the group and producing the InPrint magazine. These teams are made up of dedicated volunteers who give up their spare time to help our members.

The Publishing Post

The Publishing Post is a magazine for those who wish to learn more about publishing by providing a platform where, as contributors and readers, publishing hopefuls can develop industry-specific knowledge and skills, while showcasing their passion and love for the publishing industry. The magazine works to represent parts of the publishing industry and bookish community that are often overlooked in traditional discourse, and improve accessibility and diversity within the industry by opening it up to as many people as possible for free.