Widen your job search: Oxford-based indie publishers

Posted on September 14, 2026 in INTO, Oxford

Contrary to popular belief, Oxford’s publishing scene isn’t totally dominated by OUP. And academic isn’t the only route open to local publishing professionals.

Oxford’s storied history and deep connections to the publishing world mean that, today, there are a whole host of independent publishers across the city that vary in fields, genres, audiences, and more.

Many of these publishers may not advertise vacancies on LinkedIn or online job boards, but they’re just as important to consider when job-searching in the city.

David Fickling Books

An award-winning publisher of children’s and young adult books, David Fickling Books is tucked just away from the bustle of the city centre, on Beaumont Street. As well as the occasional internship, David Fickling Books hosts an annual short story competition that you can get involved with. Aspiring publishers can apply to try their hand at judging, by reading and commenting on manuscript submissions for the competition. This would be a great CV point for anyone interested in editorial in particular.

Guppy Books

Guppy Books is a children’s publisher that focuses on fiction, graphic novels, and highly illustrated books for readers aged 5-18. Guppy also develops teacher resource packs that are marketed for use alongside Guppy-published books, to aid teachers using these books in the classroom. A good company to keep an eye on if you’re interested in both children’s and early educational publishing.

Bodleian Library Publishing

Most people know the Bodleian Library as, well, a library. But the Bodleian also has its own publishing house, which produces around 25 new books every year, on as wide a range of subjects as you could possibly imagine. To demonstrate, recent publications include Bookbindings: An Illustrated History, and The Allotment Book: How to Make the Most of Your Land. While jobs might be scarce at the Bodleian’s publishing house itself, experience with the library in any capacity would be an amazing application booster.

Oxbow Books

Oxbow Books is a publisher of archaeology, ancient history, and medieval studies. A bit of a nicher option here, but if you’re interested in these topics, this is definitely somewhere to look. There is often talk in the publishing world about what degrees outside of English Literature can bring to the industry, and so if you’ve studied, or are currently studying, a similar topic area, then that’s an absolute bonus that recruiters would be happy to see on a application for a specialist publishing house like Oxbow.

John Beaufoy Publishing

Another specialist, John Beaufoy Publishing focuses on natural history and travel writing, all non-fiction. A good publisher succeeds because they’re truly interested in what they’re putting out into the world – passion is almost as important as experience, especially when it comes to bringing fresh ideas to a saturated market. So, if you’re passionate about wildlife or travel, John Beaufoy Publishing should absolutely be on your radar.

African Books Collective

The African Books Collective is, in its own words, ‘Your one-stop shop for African books, African writers and African scholarship.’ A publisher that seeks to boost the visibility of African writers in the UK, and globally improve access to African-authored works, the ABC publishes a wide-ranging catalogue, from children’s picture books to academic writing. Definitely one to keep an eye on if you’ve always read widely.

By Lucy Riddell