Publishing Companies in Nottingham: 61 Active Firms (2026)
Publishing companies in Nottingham produce, edit and distribute books, magazines and specialist media for local, national and export markets.
Buying centres tend to sit around editorial commissioning, rights management, subscriptions, advertising sales, fulfilment and digital production. Customer bases are mixed: consumer readers for book and magazine titles, professional audiences for business media, and educational or specialist communities where repeat subscriptions matter more than one-off retail sales. Engagements are usually modest in scope, handled by owner-managed publishers or lean editorial teams rather than by large procurement functions. For suppliers, the practical buyer is often the founder, publisher, editor or commercial manager, with purchase decisions tied to print costs, audience development, licensing income and the administrative burden of legal deposit.
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Nottingham has 61 actively trading publishing companies in this list, making it a compact local cohort rather than a broad regional cluster. The employment footprint is small: firms reporting staff account for a combined headcount of 70, consistent with independent publishers that rely on lean editorial teams, freelance contributors, outsourced production and specialist distribution partners. The absence of higher-turnover operators also matters for interpretation. This is mainly a view of micro and small publishers, where revenue mix may depend on subscriptions, direct sales, advertising, licensing and occasional educational or professional contracts.
UK publishing operates without a single licensing regulator, so market structure is shaped more by rights, distribution channels and statutory deposit duties than by authorisation. GOV.UK guidance requires printed works published in the UK to be deposited with legal deposit libraries, while the non-print legal deposit regime extends the principle to digital publications. For Nottingham publishers, that makes compliance administrative rather than licence-led, but still relevant to editorial workflows and archiving. Sector representation is split across the Publishers Association for book publishing and the Professional Publishers Association for consumer magazine and business media publishers.
Commercial development appears likely to remain uneven, with many local publishers staying deliberately small and specialist rather than building large sales teams. The firms that gain ground tend to be those with repeatable audiences, defensible rights catalogues or subscription-led professional content, while general-interest print models face pressure from production costs and fragmented attention. Consolidation may occur through title acquisition or outsourced back-office arrangements rather than formal mergers. Digital distribution helps reach beyond Nottingham, but it also exposes smaller publishers to platform dependence, discoverability costs and tighter expectations around rights, metadata and subscriber retention.
What’s in the file
One row per company, 50+ columns — everything below plus each company’s verified directors, from Companies House filings.
Company data
Verified directors — included
61
Active firms
2026
9
Since 2022
new incorporations
£3.74 billion
UK media GVA
consumer magazine and business media, 2019
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Key facts
14% of the cohort was incorporated since 2022 (9 firms), so a sizeable share is in its first few filing cycles.
UK book and magazine publishing has no single licensing regulator in the way that financial services or utilities do, leaving legal deposit as the main statutory obligation flagged for publishers.
GOV.UK guidance requires every printed work published in the UK to be deposited through the legal deposit system, and the Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013 extend the regime to non-print works.
The Professional Publishers Association says UK consumer magazine and business media generated £3.74 billion of GVA in 2019, directly supported 55,000 jobs and represented 35% of UK publishing.
The same trade-body benchmark estimates £518.9M of net export inflow and 73 million magazines sold in export markets.
The Federation of European Publishers reported European book-market turnover of €24.9 billion in 2024, with print books at 82.9% of turnover and exports at 20.3%.
Top Nottingham Publishing companies
Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsPublishes a tabletop wargaming magazine covering historical, science‑fiction, and fantasy miniature gaming. Sells print and digital issues, subscriptions, and related products including game rules,…
Serves tabletop wargaming hobbyists and magazine subscribers interested in historical, sci-fi and fantasy gaming, including miniature collectors, rules buyers and digital/PDF customers in the UK and…
Financial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsPublishes an online magazine and content platform covering arts, music, literature, food, sport and events. Produces articles, interviews, reviews, podcasts and event listings focused on cultural…
Serves Nottingham residents and visitors interested in local culture, events, music, food, sport and arts, alongside local venues and businesses seeking advertising.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · -21% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -12% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial Health
N/AN/A
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial Health
N/AN/A
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -29% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -68% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · -15% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable
Location
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Financial Health
N/AN/A
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsPublishes free local news publications and magazines featuring community news, events, and editorial content. Sells print advertising space and offers leaflet insert distribution services to…
Sells to Nottingham-area businesses, advertisers, community organisations and event promoters, including those buying leaflet inserts, wanting to reach local readers through independent local news…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsPublishes and sells mathematics learning resources for children and schools, including instructional books, teaching guides, games and classroom aids such as number lines, whiteboards, cards, and…
Serves UK primary schools, teachers, SEN support staff, tutors and parents supporting children who struggle with maths, including learners with dyslexia or dyscalculia.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak
Location
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Computed from 2 filingsPublishes regional magazines and print media including North West Living, Nottingham Now and Lancashire Now. Produces annual wall planners and provides advertising space for businesses within its…
Sells to businesses and advertisers seeking to reach consumer audiences through regional publications in the North West, Nottingham and Lancashire.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsPublishes online news, analysis and reports covering the knitting and hosiery industries, including fibres, yarns, machinery, design, dyeing and finishing. Provides industry interviews, event…
Serves B2B readers and advertisers in the knitting, hosiery and textile supply chain, including fibre/yarn suppliers, knitwear and apparel manufacturers, machinery firms, designers, educators and…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · -16% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsPublishes and sells railway and transport history books through an online store, offering new releases, out‑of‑print titles, DVDs, and railway modelling publications from specialist publishers,…
Serves UK consumers, railway and transport enthusiasts, collectors, historians and model railway hobbyists seeking specialist rail, bus, tram, maritime and aviation titles.
Financial Health
StableStable · -18% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsPublishes RailStaff, an online magazine and news platform covering the rail industry, featuring sector news, infrastructure and technology updates, project coverage, career and recruitment content,…
Serves rail industry professionals and organisations in the UK, including train operating companies, infrastructure firms, station and underground operators, signalling and technology suppliers, and…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · -4% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 32% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · -16% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 100% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 3y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -78% CAGR over 3y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 19% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Financial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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How Nottingham Publishing companies work and how to sell to them
What they do
Nottingham publishers usually monetise a catalogue of titles or periodicals rather than a single software-like product. Revenue tends to combine retail and direct sales, subscriptions, licensing of rights, advertising packages, sponsored editorial projects and paid services such as custom publishing or editorial production. Pricing is commonly low-ticket at reader level, but supplier relationships can cluster around print runs, distribution retainers, design projects, subscription fulfilment and rights administration. Margin depends on advance commitments, contributor fees, print volumes, returns, postage and metadata quality, so many firms prefer variable-cost partners and short project cycles over long fixed commitments.
Who they sell to
Most local book and magazine publishers sell through a mix of direct reader relationships, specialist retailers, subscription agents, trade distributors, advertisers and rights partners. Consumer-facing titles tend to have lower-value repeat purchases and shorter campaigns, while professional or educational content can involve institutional subscriptions, licences and renewals negotiated with heads of department, librarians, budget holders or commercial managers. Sales cycles are usually informal for advertising and one-off production work, but longer where rights, curriculum fit or professional access are being assessed. Formal procurement is less common than owner or publisher-led buying, although public-sector and education sales may still involve tender-like checks.
What they buy
Most publishing firms tend to spend on tools and services that reduce manual handling across editorial, audience and fulfilment work. Useful categories include rights and royalties systems, subscription management, CRM, email marketing, web analytics, ad booking, accounting, payroll, digital asset management and cloud hosting. They also buy print management, proofreading, design, indexing, translation, publicity, search marketing, recruitment and legal advice around contracts, copyright and permissions. Security and backup pitches can land where subscriber lists, contributor agreements and unpublished manuscripts sit across shared drives and freelance workflows, but the case usually has to be framed around time saved and risk reduced.
Why and how to sell to them
Publishing buyers tend to evaluate vendors when a new title list launches, subscriptions stall, advertising yield weakens, print or postage costs rise, or a founder starts handing more work to editors and commercial staff. Since 2022, 9 Nottingham publishers have been incorporated, so some outreach can be aimed at firms still setting up workflows rather than replacing mature systems. Better angles usually connect directly to cash collection, rights income, renewal rates, author and contributor administration, or legal deposit housekeeping. Claims about scale or general productivity are less persuasive than a short path to lower admin, cleaner metadata or fewer missed renewals.
How this list is built
Data sources
This list is built from UK Companies House filings, XBRL accounts data, and semantic analysis of each company's public website. Revenue and headcount figures come from the most recent filed accounts; where the company has not filed, values are estimated using a model trained on filed history and peer benchmarks and are labelled as estimates.
Classification
Rather than relying solely on SIC codes, Firmbase classifies each company semantically: the company's website is crawled, an AI model reads what the company actually sells, and the company is placed into the relevant industry and subsectors. SIC codes are used as one signal but not the only one. This means a company that registered under a generic SIC code but pivoted into (for example) fintech is correctly identified as fintech, not as its original SIC category.
Freshness
The underlying company data is refreshed from Companies House continuously; filings appear in the list within days of submission. The curated list ordering is regenerated when the underlying data moves meaningfully (company count changes by more than 5%, a new company enters the top-ranked segment, or the filed-revenue numbers for the top firms change). You can see the last-updated timestamp near the top of the page.
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Frequently asked questions
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