Publishing Inclusion Pledge
The AOI proudly supports new initiative which recognises and celebrates that diverse perspectives strengthen the UK’s publishing sector.
The Publishing Inclusion Pledge – which was drafted in collaboration with Publishers Association members, as well as input from staff groups and sector organisations – describes equity, inclusion and belonging as “essential principles guiding the UK publishing sector.”
As a signatory to the pledge, we will strive to ensure fair opportunities and an environment where everyone is respected, heard and supported. We will continue to work with publishers of all sectors, sizes and specialisms, as well as with employee groups and other organisations in the publishing industry, to take meaningful action to support inclusion in all its forms.
The Publishing Inclusion Pledge is an updated approach to the Inclusivity Action Plans which the Publishers Association has produced since 2017. The aim of this work is to provide leadership and drive change across the sector to ensure that the publishing workforce reflects UK society and the audiences we serve.
We worked extremely hard throughout 2025 to ensure that our approach to driving sustainable change in the sector was shaped by the publishing community. As a result, we’re confident that the new Publishing Inclusion Pledge is an accessible and effective way for organisations of any size to publicly declare their support for a more inclusive industry, while also making use of new resources to implement further, impactful change. We are delighted by how collaborative the process has been and by the genuine collective ambition to share challenges and successes and to create the sector we all want to see.
Josie Dobrin OBE, founder of Creative Access, Chair of the Publishers Association’s Diversity Working Group and Chair of the AOI.
The Publishers Association encourages publishers and other organisations in our sector to join this cause.
Sign up to, or endorse, the pledge in 2026.
Find out more about our Campaigning.
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