Pan Macmillan has announced its new initiative for indies bookshops, the Independent Bookshop Innovation Award. 

Seven independent bookshops will each be awarded £1750 to launch a new and innovative project in their store, with projects focusing around community outreach or supporting new readers particularly encouraged.

In order to be eligible for the award, booksellers must be from the UK or Ireland, with the submitted project either based in-store or in conjunction with a local community partner. It can be specific to a particular genre but must be books-related.

Submissions for the award are now open, with a deadline of 18 May for ideas. A shortlist of stores will be announced on 15 June, ahead of Independent Bookshops Week, with winners announced at the Booksellers Association Conference dinner in Birmingham on 10 September.

Anthony Forbes Watson, Managing Director comments:
“Macmillan turns 175 this year and we want to commemorate in particular the entrepreneurial spirit of brothers Daniel & Alexander Macmillan, who founded the business in 1843 by opening their own bookshop, before becoming publishers:  Macmillan's oldest partnership is with booksellers and we will acknowledge this special bond with the launch of the Macmillan 175 Independent Bookshop Innovation prize, which celebrates our bookselling partners today, who continue to help us find new ways to bring authors and readers together.”

To make their entry, booksellers should submit a maximum of two pages (plus supportive images) to their Pan Macmillan rep or to salesenquiries@macmillan.com. The submission should include an overview of their plans, including timings.  Booksellers can include a brief overview of any previous projects that demonstrate their strengths and ability to deliver. The full terms and conditions can be read here. 

Up to three bookshops per area (rep based) will be shortlisted. The areas are: Ireland; Scotland; Wales; south west England; Midlands and south; London; South east and eastern England; and Northern England.

The shortlisted stores will be selected by their rep in conjunction with Richard Green (Independent Bookshops Manager) and Sarah Clarke (Sales Director). Each store will then receive a visit to discuss the proposal with two members of the Pan Macmillan judging committee, which comprises their rep plus one of: Sarah Clarke, Richard Green or Anna Bond, UK Sales Director and another judge, to be announced.

For more information please contact
 Sarah Clarke at Pan Macmillan on 020 7014 6068 or email: sarah.clarke@macmillan.co.uk