Edinburgh University Press have released their annual report for the year August 2020 to July 2021.
This year Edinburgh published 256 new books with total book sales up 9% on last year. The books team commissioned 344 titles and 9 new series, signing authors from Australia to Israel and Iran to Turkey with 40% of new authors contracted based outside the UK and US. There was an 11% increase in the number of authors returning to EUP to publish their work, reflecting the value placed in putting authors at the centre of all that they do.
The Press published 50 journals in the 2020-2021 financial year, with revenues of £1,043k (including rights). Two journals joined the fold in 2021: Burns Chronicle and Legalities. This was a total of 1306 journal articles in 2020 – just under 17,000 pages of journal content – and a 26% increase in downloads against 2019.
Chief Executive Nicola Ramsey said, ‘In what was undoubtedly a challenging year it is fantastic to see such a strong performance for Edinburgh University Press. In our previous business plan we had set the target of reaching the £4m milestone by the end of July 2022. To have hit that goal a year early, and during a pandemic, speaks to the high quality of publishing across our books and journals programmes, and to the hard work of all our staff in delivering this result.’
Head of Finance and Operations Aga Wojda-Gacka said, ‘Financial Year 2021 exceeded all our expectations in terms of the top and bottom line. We were bracing ourselves to see a drastic decline in sales and substantial losses but instead, we generated a healthy profit. Not without sacrifices though – the effort of the whole team was extraordinary. If this is what we can achieve in times of crisis and unprecedented change, then the future looks bright for EUP.’
Chair of the Board of Management Margaret Hewinson said, ‘The commitment and creativity demonstrated by all staff has been exceptional and the international growth of the list as well as reaching the £4m milestone reflects that. This is a great foundation for the new leadership of the Press as it plans for increased innovation and partnerships in its ambitions to serve the humanities and social sciences community at a new level.’
For the full report, see the Edinburgh University Press website.
