Growing up in a family of publishers, Arthur Attwell started working in the industry at the age of 17 and hasn’t looked back. He has recently been named runner-up for the British Council and Creative Economy’s International Young Publishing Award (IYPE), which was presented in London.

‘The industry’s combination of creativity and business has kept me fascinated since I first started doing work for publishing companies at the age of 17,’ says Attwell, who is now 33.

According to the British Council’s website, IYPE seeks to identify and nurture future creative leaders of the publishing industry in transitional and developing economies.  

An alumnus of the University of Cape Town, where he majored in English Literature and Latin and completed an MA in Creative Writing, Attwell started a new venture in 2006 which became Electric Book Works (EBW), a company specialising in applying innovative technology to traditional publishing.

Knowing about the IYPE award – and being unsuccessful three times in getting nominated for it – motivated him to master things that he would not normally have attempted.

‘I realised I’d have to work even harder and smarter. So when I eventually did win the South African nomination, it had taken me four years,’ he says.

Attwell describes himself as curious, ambitious and optimistic, though he says that other people might see him differently.

He says he started his company because he found that most people in publishing companies continued doing what they had always done, not experimenting with new technology and not truly enjoying what they were doing.

‘I wanted to start a company that had two main objectives: first, to make the most of existing technology (without having to spend money inventing new technology) and, second, to work with curious people who were really enjoying themselves.

‘I realised that that’s easier to do when you have only a few staff; so I hope as we grow we can keep to these principles, or there won’t be much point to growing,’ says Attwell.

He adds that he owes his nomination to the people he works with, who continue to inspire him every day.

‘When you’re starting a new business, a lot of it is guesswork, and you really don’t know what will be successful and what will not take off. So everyone involved has to take leaps of faith.’

EBW publishes e-books and provides print-on-demand distribution services.

According to Attwell, awards like IYPE recognise the adventurousness of publishers.

‘Successful projects always find affirmation eventually, but this award recognises not just our successes but our willingness to make mistakes along the way.’

He also commends the British Council for balancing business and charitable work.

‘The British Council’s support of the IYPE award is an example of this, since the programme is part of Young Creative Economy. It is based on the notion that the creative industries make a significant and measurable impact on a country’s economy.

‘So this isn’t just about supporting the arts in an intellectual or cultural sense; it’s about building businesses and making a difference to standards of living worldwide. I love it when people consciously see the business in creativity and the creativity in business. We need more of that.’

During the four years when he didn’t get nominated, Attwell would often draw on the thought of winning the nomination. The winner receives a cash prize and publicity at the London Book Fair.

‘Perhaps I’m too competitive, but entrepreneurs must find their motivation to keep going from anywhere they can get it. I hope that the award continues for many years, because it could be motivating other entrepreneurs right now, making a real impact on our economy.’

To him, success means doing something that makes him happy.

‘As long as I’m happy, I consider myself successful. And the happier I am, the better I get at what I’m doing. If I thought financial success or awards would make me happy, I’d be miserable, because you can’t win everything.’

What he knows for sure about life is that it will always surprise him, so Attwell tries not to be too specific about grand long-term plans.

‘For EBW, I’d like to see us remaining small in size but big in ideas, and to let our curiosity take us where it will.’

IYPE is awarded in partnership with the London Book Fair, the largest European spring publishing networking event.

To find out more about IYPE award and when the applications open for next year, visit this page. To read more about British Council events and programmes please visit this page. Read our latest news here: News in Africa section.