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Pan Macmillan wins gold and silver at the Communicate Corporate Engagement Awards

Pan Macmillan has won two awards at the Communicate Corporate Engagement Awards, taking gold for Best Arts, Sports and Leisure Programme and silver for Best Alignment of Brand Values During a CSR Programme. 

Pan Macmillan wins gold and silver at the Communicate Corporate Engagement Awards

The awards ceremony took place at The Brewery in London on 7 October. 

Now in their 16th year, the awards celebrate the best corporate partnerships, sponsorships and philanthropy in Europe. The wins recognise a year in which Pan Macmillan worked to put books at the centre of modern conversation, widen representation, and open up access to books and literacy for communities across the UK.

At a glance: Pan Macmillan social impact & corporate engagement

  • Community & literacy: Donated 375,000 books across the UK over eighteen months; partnered with 751 independent bookshops to reach 120,000 people in 2025.
  • Publishing with integrity: Published Sarah Wynn-Williams’s Careless People despite a Meta legal gag order, alongside Professor Keon West’s The Science of Racism and memoir-manifestos by Jacinda Ardern, Angela Merkel, Nicola Sturgeon, and Sanna Marin.
  • Strategic partnerships: Marked fifth consecutive year as headline sponsor of the Black British Book Festival; launched Gruffalo Granny at the British Library with Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, and the National Literacy Trust.
  • Award-winning impact: Won Gold for Best Arts, Sports and Leisure Programme for the 'A Single Page' campaign with Pictures for the People alongside Silver for Best Alignment of Brand Values During a CSR Programme.
  • Investment in people: Introduced new apprenticeships, a £1,000 minimum junior pay rise, and recognised as a Working Families 'Best for Mothers' winner.

Judges for Best Arts, Sports and Leisure Programme look for entries that address business objectives with a clear strategy in the field. They praised Pan Macmillan’s work in positioning books as a driver of cultural conversation while widening access and representation, describing it as 'ambitious with clear social purpose.'

The award recognised Pan Macmillan’s A Single Page video campaign for the National Year of Reading, created with Pictures for the People. The campaign celebrated those on the front line of literacy: teachers, librarians, parents, carers and booksellers. It achieved a 6.7% click-through rate on LinkedIn, ten times the platform average, and 83% of its TikTok audience were non-followers.

A Single Page

In a world that rarely stops for a breath, it’s easy to overlook the impact of a few simple lines. But for those who live and breathe stories, a single page is often where the magic begins.

We joined up with the social enterprise agency Pictures for the People to explore a simple question:

What can a single page do for you?

Pan Macmillan stood up for free expression, publishing Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams, the year's most talked about title - despite a legal gag order from Meta - and published 'memoir-manifestos' from Jacinda Ardern, Angela Merkel, Nicola Sturgeon and Sanna Marin. For Professor Keon West's The Science of Racism, it projected key findings onto London landmarks to counter misinformation.

The publisher marked its fifth consecutive year as headline sponsor of the Black British Book Festival on 4th October. Internally, it has introduced apprenticeships and a £1,000 minimum annual pay rise for junior employees, and was named a Working Families 'Best for Mothers' award winner.

Pan Macmillan also worked with Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and the National Literacy Trust to launch Gruffalo Granny, beginning with a British Library event for local low-income families. It partnered with 751 independent bookshops, reaching 120,000 people in 2025, and has donated 375,000 books in the last 18 months.

CEO Joanna Prior, who was awarded an OBE for services to publishing and literacy in the 2026 New Year Honours, used her London Book Fair keynote to urge the industry to treat books as 'essential infrastructure' for social mobility.

Best Alignment of Brand Values During a CSR Programme recognises CSR programmes where a company’s stated values visibly shape what it does. Pan Macmillan’s entry was framed around its values of Community, Curiosity and Integrity. Judges praised the 'coherent, values led approach' and strong evidence of tangible social impact.

Lois Bray, Corporate Communications Director at Pan Macmillan, said:

'We're so proud to be recognised in this way, especially alongside such impressive competition. Our gold win feels particularly special because it reflects work from every corner of the company: the brave publishing decisions, the campaigns that get books noticed, the way we look after our own people, and the partnerships with charities and communities that help put our books into people's hands.'

The Grand Prix went to Asda Tickled Pink, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!, recognising a partnership now entering its 30th year and its work to improve breast cancer awareness and early diagnosis. Judges highlighted the longevity of the partnership and its ability to evolve while retaining a clear sense of purpose. Its work demonstrates how a corporate engagement programme can become embedded in both a brand and the communities it serves. 

The full list of 2026 winners can be found on Communicate Magazine's website.