The winners of the 2023 London Book Fair International Excellence Awards have been announced. They are as follows:
Sustainability Initiative Award: Bloomsbury Publishing, U.K.
The U.K. publishing house won for its “holistic approach… which covers their operations and their influence within staff, suppliers, and through the content they publish,” according to the judges, who were also impressed by Bloomsbury’s solar-powered office and passionate staff who appear eager to embrace the changes needed to achieve net zero. This is the first year the award was presented.
Bookstore of the Year Award: Minoa in Istanbul, Turkey
The bookstore was praised both for its curated selection and design, which has made it a “must-see” tourist attraction in Istanbul. The judges agreed that Minoa is “a labor of love, serving their community through a team that is valued by both Minoa’s owners and its customers.”
Audiobook Publisher of the Year: Macmillan Audio, U.S.
The judges were impressed by the “breadth of their publishing and their commitment to diversity and new voices” and highlighted the company’s casting workshops and dedication to building careers for audiobook narrators as particularly inspiring.
Inclusivity in Publishing Award: Bonnier Books, U.K.
This is the second time that the publisher has won the award, which is only available to U.K. publishers. The judges praised the company for being “[inclusive] in their values and genuinely invested in making an impact across their organization.” The panel also commended Bonnier Books’ focus on “improving access to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds to the sector, their efforts to remove financial barriers for those starting out, and to increasing equity in family policies.”
The winners will be acknowledged at an invite-only ceremony later today.
