DTI contracts Pira International to conduct largest ever competitive analysis of UK publishing sector
October 2001. Pira International has been chosen by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to carry out a study into the current and future competitive position of the UK publishing sector, one of the UK's largest and most creative industries. The project, being funded by the DTI, and co-managed by UK Publishing Media, an alliance made up of representatives of the industry itself, is the largest competitive analysis conducted on any UK industry sector, reflecting the importance being attached to stimulating the future growth of this key industry.
The key deliverable will be a report and action plan making practical, achievable recommendations for industry and Government to build on the sector's considerable strengths and form effective strategies to deal with the challenges it faces. The scope of the project is wide ranging, covering books, national and regional newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, business information, directory and database publishing and internet publishing. Businesses involved in these activities face some common issues, but also some very distinct challenges and opportunities.
The underpinning work of research and analysis for the project will start immediately, with close involvement from the industry. The project team seeks participation both from relevant trade associations and from representatives of individual companies in the various sectors. There will be a number of ways to provide input, including questionnaires, interviews and through membership of focus groups. Expressions of interest can be registered at the study's website at www.uk-publishing.info.
Welcoming the launch of this important study, Douglas Alexander, Minister for Ecommerce and Competitiveness said: "This is an excellent opportunity for the UK publishing media industry to build on its considerable strengths - and to address the challenges it faces - on the basis of good evidence and analysis. This project is being undertaken in close partnership with the publishing industry. It will result in an Action Plan to be developed by industry and Government to promote the future success of this key sector in the knowledge economy."
The project will include
an 'ecommerce impact assessment' on the sector, part of a series being
carried out following the publication of the Performance and Innovation
Unit report on ecommerce (e-commerce@its.best.uk),
to identify opportunities, threats, and barriers to the take up of ecommerce.
The findings of the study and the action plan will be published by the
early summer of 2002 and a public launch of the plan will follow. The
action plan will be crucial in fulfilling the overarching aim of this
project, which is to ensure that a very successful industry will become
even stronger in future, with industry and Government working closely
to achieve this.
Ends
About
Pira International
Pira is a leading commercial consultancy business that specialises in
the packaging, paper, printing and publishing industries and has established
a reputation as one of the key knowledge providers in these related industry
sectors. It was an active participant on the steering committee for the
Printing Industry Competitiveness Analysis. Recent related studies published
by Pira include The Future of Print and The Impact of Market Technology
Changes in Publishers and Printers.
About
UK Publishing Media
UK Publishing Media is an £18bn alliance of newspapers, magazines
and books, which collectively represents one of the largest investors
in the rapidly-expanding information society. It was formed in January
2001 to ensure positive recognition of the expanding role of publishing
and its associated businesses in the development of the knowledge and
information economy. The alliance is intended to increase the representational
effectiveness of the publishing sector in the context of convergence and
also competition with other interests.
Four major associations covering national, regional and local newspapers, magazine and business to business media, books and journals are leading the alliance: the Newspaper Publishers Association, the Newspaper Society, the Periodical Publishers Association and the Publishers Association.
About
DTI
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), particularly through its Communications
and Information Industries Directorate, works closely with the £18bn
UK publishing media industry, a key player in the knowledge economy, to
assist its competitiveness and maximise its contribution to national growth
and productivity. This 'competitiveness analysis', a structured approach
to analysing and understanding industrial competitiveness now and for
the future, has been successfully applied by DTI to many sectors over
recent years The analysis will also include an ecommerce impact assessment.
DTI is undertaking this work in partnership with industry and expects
to continue this in taking forward the Action Plan which will be the main
output from this project.
