Pan Macmillan named winner at 2026 UK & Ireland Inspiring Workplaces Awards
Pan Macmillan has been recognised as a winner in the 2026 UK & Ireland Inspiring Place to Work™ Awards
The achievement marks the third consecutive year the publisher has been recognised by The Inspiring Workplaces Group and the awards' independent judging panel.
An independent panel of judges commended Pan Macmillan for going 'above and beyond' in supporting its workforce, specifically highlighting the company’s focus on staff wellbeing and empowering employee voice across all divisions. The 2026 win follows the publisher's success in 2025, when it secured top honours in the dedicated Inclusion category.
Fact file
- Organisation: Pan Macmillan
- Award: 2026 UK & Ireland Inspiring Place to Work™ Winner (sponsored by Prezzee)
- Track record: Winner for three consecutive years; Inclusion category winner in 2025
- Commendation areas: Employee wellbeing initiatives and the promotion of employee voice
- Key featured initiatives: The Management Academy and headline sponsorship of the Black British Book Festival
- Award background: Established in 2015, The Inspiring Workplaces Group operates globally to recognise organisations that cultivate cultures of trust, purpose, and belonging
Judges singled out two flagship initiatives for special praise:
The Management Academy
Launched to equip all of Pan Macmillan's managers with practical tools to support their teams, The Management Academy replaced generic external courses with five full-day modules grounded in real publishing scenarios. Co-delivered by the people and culture team alongside specialist partners, the modules embedded empathetic, practical leadership into daily culture. Key focus areas included:
- Inclusive recruitment and equitable performance management
- Supporting complex life milestones, including fertility treatment, menopause, and returning from parental leave
- Practical, actionable tools tailored specifically to internal workflows and company culture
Championing Representation: Black British Book Festival Partnership
The judges also praised Pan Macmillan's community-led collaboration as headline sponsor of the Black British Book Festival for the fourth year running at London's Barbican. The partnership underscores the publisher's long-term strategy to promote equity, remove industry barriers, champion Black writers, and expand diverse readership nationwide.
About The Inspiring Workplaces Awards
Established in 2015 as the Employee Engagement Awards, The Inspiring Workplaces Group operates globally across the UK, Europe, North America, Australasia, and Asia. The awards celebrate organizations that cultivate workplace cultures of trust, purpose, and belonging, recognizing businesses that enable their people to thrive both personally and professionally.
