The idea

British Council India, in association with Oxford Bookstore, invites applications from young publishers with big ideas to apply for the Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award 2009.

If you have a smart, fresh, innovative business plan that you think can set standards in the industry and have the leadership to back your vision, here’s your chance to put that idea into action.

This is a continuation of our work in promoting creative entrepreneurship.

The award

Winner of the Indian award will take part in an all-expenses paid 10-day tour of the UK publishing industry in April next year and competes for the International Young Publisher of the Year Award 2009. The international winner receives £ 7500, for accomplishing his/her innovative publishing idea, approved by the panel of judges and a stall at the London Book Fair 2009.

Application criteria

			You should be between 25 and 35 years of age (less than 36 years as on 18 April 2009)
			Work in publishing as broadly defined below: Publishing (including e-publishing) Agents Literary festivals Retailing (including e-tailing)
			Through your character, drive and abilities demonstrate your potential to be a future leader of the publishing sector in India.
			Be entrepreneurial and have shown your ability to promote publishing in India.
			Be able to communicate sufficiently in English and be confident of making a presentation to convey ones ideas.
			While the British Council does not require an attestation from your employer, it’s in your interest to keep your line manager in the loop before applying.
			You should not primarily be an academic, writer, author or poet.

Selection procedure and timelines

The last date for receiving applications is Wednesday 10 December 2008

Applicants will go through a two-tier selection process.

1. Short listing by a British Council appointed specialist by 27 December 2008. Names of short listed candidates will be published on our website and they will also be informed in person by the British Council.
2. A national panel of eminent people from publishing and book retail industry will interview short listed candidates on 30 January in Kolkata and the name of the winner will be announced at an awards ceremony the same evening.

Click here to download the application form. You may either send the application by post (address on the application form) or from your work email (in which case you need not sign the form).

Our partner

Oxford Bookstore, with its countrywide network in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Chennai and Goa, is committed to bringing the best in international publishing and book retail to India. Owned by the Apeejay Surrendra Group, Oxford Bookstore is a one-stop shop for books, music, software, stationery, gifts and even comes with its own cha bar!  

Oxford Bookstore is India's foremost online book retail business, stocking over half-a-million book and music titles. Oxford Bookstore became the first book retail enterprise in the country to launch an interactive SMS Service recently.

Please note that YPE Award does not consider unpublished manuscripts for publication or otherwise. The five books the application form asks you to promote must already be a published work.