01 Jan 2025

Developing a comprehensive skills hub

Topics

Small staff Mentoring

The IPG Skills Hub was launched to revolutionise training for independent publishers in the UK.

The IPG Skills Hub was launched to revolutionise training for independent publishers in the UK. By bringing together expert-led full-length training courses, masterclasses, bite-size tips, directories and much more, it sought to meet a huge demand for professional development in the industry.

The IPG has a membership of more than 630 companies working in all areas of books and journals, and while some have the resources for in-house or external training, many others struggle to find the time and money for it. But at a time of huge change, the IPG realised that the need for upskilling is greater than ever.
In this session, IPG Chief Executive Bridget Shine explains how the Skills Hub was created and how it serves members. It will cover:

How members’ needs and wants were identified and evaluated through research
The tools and technology needed to bring the project to life
Finding the right training platform, tools and formats
The decision to provide members with free and unlimited access
Start-up costs, return on investment and new licensing and revenue opportunities
How members have engaged with the Skills Hub, and how it fulfils the association's aims.

Question & Answers following the previous Talks

This Q&A is for this Talk and the related Talk below.

Related Talk

Designing and developing training and industry-recognised qualifications for members

Reference: ACUK18/TLK-7593

Speaker

Bridget Shine

CEO, Independent Publishers Guild

Bridget Shine is chief executive of the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG), a flourishing trade association with more than 650 members from all areas of publishing, including trade, children?s, education, academic, professional and specialist sectors. Members range in size from one-person start-ups to long-established international companies, and have a combined annual publishing turnover of more than £1bn. The IPG provides resources and events to help its members become better businesses and publishers. Since joining in 2004, Bridget has led a doubling of the IPG?s membership and numerous initiatives including the launch of a Skills Hub of training and professional development resources, the annual Independent Publishing Awards, a mentoring programme and new Special Interest Groups. Before joining the IPG, Bridget worked for both large and small publishers, as well as in literary agenting and at the Welsh Books Council.

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