MARCH 16, 2026 — We are delighted to announce that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK Group) has been shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards 2026. The winners will be announced at a ceremony taking place at Grosvenor House, London, on Monday 11th May.
SPCK Group is the UK’s third-oldest publishing house, and has been active since 1698. Under CEO Sam Richardson, the company merged with Inter-Varsity Press (IVP UK) in 2015, and acquired Lion Hudson in 2021, becoming the largest Christian publisher in the country.
The British Book Awards said of SPCK Group:
“Tracing its history back to 1698, SPCK is comfortably the oldest name at The British Book Awards. Its 2025 sales and profits were the best in its very long history – the result of a strategy to publish fewer books better and more globally. TCM numbers rose 11%, but overseas income overtook domestic for the first time, following smart investment in rights. New Bible ranges, backed up by strong marketing and publicity, did very well.”
Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK Group, said:
“We are thrilled to have been nominated for the Independent Publisher of the Year award for the second year running. The nomination reflects an outstanding 2025 for SPCK, which saw us achieve record sales – the highest in our 325+ year history – alongside winning a range of prestigious awards on both sides of the Atlantic. These included the Virtusales Metadata Award and Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year at the IPG Awards, as well as Book of the Year at Christian Resources Together Awards, and being named one of the UK’s Best Places to Work. It also recognises our continued innovation in areas such as marketing, sales, metadata and distribution.
SPCK is so proud to have been included among such a brilliant list of fellow independent publishers at the British Book Awards in 2025, all of whom embody the remarkable diversity and strength of independent publishing”.
SPCK Group CEO Sam Richardson is available for interview.
Press contact: Emily Beater; ebeater@spck.org.uk
