I’ve been talking to people about the UK book publishing market. I’ve been asking various people in what ways the market has been innovating or failing to innovate. I hoped to hear that it was innovating in all sorts of exciting ways but I fear the exact opposite.

Simon Brisk, Founder & SEO Strategist, Click Intelligence was particularly disappointed with the slow peer review process where papers can wait over a year for the process to complete.

“The UK book publishing market seems to be stuck in a bit of a rut when it comes to innovation,” Simon told me. “The academic publishing system in particular is dragging things down. It’s full of unnecessary delays and red tape that not only slow down scientific progress but also make it harder for research to be commercialized. The government’s continued support of the current system only makes things worse, preventing real change from happening. While other countries like Japan are moving forward, the U.S. is lagging behind.”

In areas like science, it is vital that things move in a timely manner. In the west, we seem to have forgotten some of the urgency involved in the process.

In the UK and the US, a scientific journal that focuses on speed could disrupt and dominate the market.

“One of the biggest issues is the outdated peer review process that can take forever,” Simon said. “Researchers often wait over a year to get their work published, which is a huge problem when time is of the essence in science. On top of that, the system promotes bias and discourages important studies that could lead to better results. This affects industries like pharmaceuticals, where the lack of reliable data can hold back innovation.”

Are there any innovators in this space?

“I’ve been following the recent breakthroughs, like the “Plan U” initiative,” says Simon. “It’s refreshing to see the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pushing for a change. They’re encouraging the use of preprints, where research is made available to the public before it even goes through peer review. This allows research to be shared much faster, and it’s free for everyone to access. I think this shift could really help increase transparency and get important findings out there quicker, without all the unnecessary delays.”

I also spoke with Takarudana Mapendembe, founder of Best Calculators. Takarudana was keen to point out the innovation of hybrid publishing models.

“The UK book publishing market is definitely innovating in some exciting ways,” Takarudana said, “but there are areas where it’s lagging behind. One of the most noticeable innovations I’ve seen is the rise of hybrid publishing models. I remember talking to an author friend who was able to self-publish an ebook and, at the same time, collaborate with a traditional publisher to release a physical version. It was a game-changer for her career, offering the best of both worlds-greater control over her digital content and the credibility of traditional distribution for print.”

It is tempting to see this hybrid publishing as the obvious future for UK publishing but the older publishers are not so keen to embrace this vision of tomorrow’s publishing.

“However,” Takarudana points out, “while this innovation is exciting, there’s still a lot of resistance when it comes to embracing digital platforms fully. For example, the push for e-books and audiobooks has been slower than expected, particularly among older publishers. I’ve seen how some in the industry still hold tightly to the idea of printed books being the “real” deal, and it’s limiting their ability to reach wider, younger audiences who live on their phones and tablets.”

Inge Von Aulock, Founder & COO of Penfriend agrees that there is innovation in ebook and self-publishing. “The UK book publishing market is definitely innovating in some areas,” Inge said, “especially with the rise of e-books and self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP, which have opened doors for independent authors to reach readers directly. Publishers are also catching onto sustainability, with more eco-friendly printing methods and print-on-demand services that help reduce waste. Subscription services like Audible and Kindle Unlimited are shifting how people access books, and there’s a growing interest in experimenting with interactive formats.”

One thing is clear, the industry is changing and not all the players are moving at the same pace.

“While there’s innovation happening, especially around distribution and accessibility, the industry’s hesitancy to let go of traditional models sometimes holds it back from fully embracing the future.” says Takarudana. “It’s a balancing act that’s still evolving.”

Inge agrees. “It’s not all smooth sailing. Many publishers are still slow to adapt, sticking with traditional models and missing out on opportunities to cater to younger, digital-native readers. The industry also has a diversity problem, with many new voices still overlooked in favour of safe bets. And the outdated marketing and distribution methods can make it tough for smaller publishers or indie authors to break through. So, while there’s progress, it feels like there’s still a lot of room for change.”

How well is the UK publishing sector keeping up with innovation? Not as well as it could be, seems to be the general opinion.

What is your take on the innovation or lack thereof in the UK?