Hachette UK invites staff to ‘create change’ at internal launch for Raising Readers

11 June 2025 – On Thursday, 5 June, at an all-staff event in the Olympic Park, CEO David Shelley and Chair Hachette Children’s Group, Hilary Murray Hill, shared the next stages of plans for Raising Readers, Hachette UK’s urgent and long-term campaign to tackle the children’s reading crisis.

Shelley and Murray Hill were joined by national treasure Michael Morpurgo and award-winning poet Raymond Antrobus, with video content from bestselling children’s author Cressida Cowell. The authors talked to 1000 staff from all Hachette’s UK offices about the power of books and stories. Morpurgo called for “radical transformation” from government, teachers, booksellers, media, and publishers to improve support for fostering a child’s love of reading. He said: “selective unfairness is incompatible with the aspirations of any enlightened society… books and stories and poems must be there for all children, for everyone. Access to literature for our children is a right and should be readily available.”

The event, which took place during Volunteers Week, inspired staff to “create change” by signing up for bespoke volunteer packages with eight of Hachette UK’s social impact partners, including the Bookseller’s Association, National Literacy Trust, Chapter One, Book Banks, and the Reading Agency. As part of Hachette’s commitment to Changing the Story, all staff are encouraged to use two volunteer days a year. Representatives from the eight partners attended the event to engage with staff and promote their volunteering opportunities.

In his opening speech, David Shelley, CEO of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group said: “As publishers, we’re privileged: books and authors have the ability to shape culture and create change. We can use our enormous impact to help people understand the benefits of books and reading – especially the benefits of children reading for pleasure.”

Raising Readers was first announced in December 2024 via Shelley’s end-of-the-year letter, where he shared that Hachette UK will tackle the reading crisis by printing letters in the back of print, digital, and audiobooks. These will start appearing this month and are designed to maximise the author and publisher’s enormous consumer reach. In addition, the business will introduce a new employee network to support and sustain the campaign’s development, a website hub is now live, and is brokering several new retail and social impact partnerships, details of which will be announced in the coming months.

Kate Gunning from the Bookseller’s Association and Lisa Bywater, Head of Marketing for National Book Tokens, attended Hachette UK Discover and said: “Bookshops have long been a vital first step on the journey into reading for pleasure, serving as gateways to imagination, discovery, and lifelong passion. That’s why it was a real privilege to be invited by Hachette to support the launch of their Raising Readers campaign. The Booksellers Association and National Book Tokens are proud to stand alongside them in championing this crucial national conversation—helping bookshops inspire the next generation of readers and strengthen the reading culture within their local communities.”

Lisa Rootes, Head of Partnerships, National Literacy Trust, said: “The HUK Discover event was a powerful reminder of the transformative power of stories and the collective responsibility we all share to ensure every child has the opportunity to become a confident, lifelong reader. We were delighted to meet so many passionate Hachette UK staff and to be developing collaborative volunteering opportunities to tackle the literacy crisis head-on. Together, we can create real, lasting change.”

Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency said: “At The Reading Agency, we believe in the power of reading to transform lives and build stronger communities. It was a real privilege to be invited by Hachette to attend the launch of their Raising Readers campaign at the Hachette UK Discover Day. As a proud charity partner, we welcome Hachette’s commitment to tackling the reading gap and championing the joy of reading. Their support and focus on volunteering play a vital role in helping us reach the people who need it most – ensuring that reading for pleasure becomes part of everyday life for children and families across the UK.”

Hachette UK will announce a major industry partnership for Raising Readers at the end of June.