“At The London Book Fair, everyone belongs. We cultivate a culture of inclusion, where the things that make each of us unique are celebrated.
Our exhibitors, attendees, partners and event colleagues are people from a wide variety of backgrounds, making our show stronger and our collective experience richer.”
– The London Book Fair
The London Book Fair (LBF), held at Olympia London from March 11–13, 2025, reportedly drew approximately 30,000 attendees and experienced a 10-percent increase in rights-center table sales. The event hosted over 1,000 exhibitors; however, providing an exact figure would offer more clarity and detail. The International Rights Center, which saw a 10-percent rise in sales compared to 2024, is said to have sold a total of 550 tables.
The London Book Fair serves as a premier gathering for the global publishing community, providing a platform for individuals to forge connections, gain valuable insights, and shape the future of creative content. This event brings together a diverse spectrum of professionals, including publishers, dealmakers, copyright specialists, commissioners, and global licensors, all representing the broad scope of the publishing industry.
For more than 50 years, The London Book Fair has been a pivotal event in the international book trade calendar and a key springtime gathering for the publishing sector. Year after year, both exhibitors and visitors return to foster relationships, acquire industry knowledge, and establish the direction for the year ahead.
LBF offers an ideal opportunity for exhibitors to engage directly with customers, build brand recognition, conduct face-to-face business, and secure sales. The event provides cost-effective, all-inclusive packages through its in-house stand design and build service, ensuring an optimal platform for showcasing your business.
For publishing professionals and authors attending LBF, a carefully curated selection of seminar sessions is offered, providing valuable insights into the latest developments within the publishing industry. Key topics include sustainability in publishing, the publishing process, literary translation, diversity and inclusion, and emerging trends.
At the core of LBF lies the International Trade Centre (IRC), which offers a prime opportunity to forge meaningful relationships and meet both new and established contacts. With private meeting spaces and exclusive services, the IRC is designed to facilitate rights professionals in selling rights during this critical period for the industry.
Visitors can take part in over 100 seminars held across multiple stages, including the Main Stage, Author HQ, English PEN Literary Salon, Literary Translation Centre, Tech Theatre, Focus Theatre, and the Sustainability Hub. Additionally, attendees are invited to celebrate industry leaders through the Trailblazer and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Writers’ Summit conference, designed to assist authors in gaining visibility among agents, publishers, and readers, is held offsite from Olympia. The Academic and Professional Publishing Conference, a three-day paid event, addresses the growing demand for deeper exploration of key themes such as business, professional, and academic publishing.
This year, we are proud to support The Reading Agency as our selected charity. This UK-based charity is dedicated to empowering individuals through reading. Research demonstrates that reading enhances health and well-being, improves life opportunities, and strengthens social connections. The Reading Agency promotes access to the transformative power of reading through a variety of programs aimed at all age groups. By collaborating with public libraries, prisons, hospitals, and other community organizations, they reach over two million people annually.
However, with a UK population exceeding 67 million, their mission remains ongoing, as they strive to inspire more people to embrace reading, recognizing the profound changes it can bring. ARPress proudly displayed its bestselling books at the London Book Fair, held at Olympia London (Hammersmith Road, London, W14 8UX) from March 11–13, 2025. Both the publisher and author are honored to participate in an event that fosters “a culture of diversity and inclusion.”
Only a few books were displayed, with one of the standout titles being The Dignity of Service by Nathan W. McKie Sr. This masterpiece interweaves the themes of servant leadership and social entrepreneurship to explore how these concepts can foster meaningful change in communities. It emphasizes the role of individuals and organizations in addressing pressing social issues, particularly poverty, through innovative and community-driven solutions.
Nathan W. McKie Sr. brings a wealth of experience in working with people across various career and personal environments. His father had him selling light bulbs door-to-door, exposing him to the challenges of cold-call selling. He worked alongside farmhands and was highly active in the 4-H Club, even winning a national contest. In college, he served as a camp counselor and sold formal favors to sororities and fraternities. After graduating, he joined the Air Force, where he completed a four-year stint, attained the rank of captain, and received the Air Force Commendation Medal.
In 2016, following a career in entrepreneurial ventures, corporate management, and volunteer service, he founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering social entrepreneurship. By cultivating strong relationships and building trust, he believes that a true sense of community can be achieved in both urban and rural settings.
In 2018, Nathan published a book entitled The Dignity of Profit: Building Community through Entrepreneurship. In it, he described the call that we have as Christians to go out into the field and make a difference, a call that awaits those servants who do. A general approach to how this plays out at the field level was provided, but now there is some actual experience we can use to flesh out the process.
The Dignity of Service thus serves as an essential guide for aspiring social entrepreneurs and leaders. It highlights the importance of empathy, community engagement, and commitment to moral leadership as fundamental components in the quest to create impactful social change. The book invites readers to reflect on their roles within their communities and to cultivate a spirit of service that honors the dignity of those they aspire to help. This narrative not only informs but also inspires action, illustrating the profound power that social entrepreneurship can wield in transforming lives and communities.
Purchase the book via these links:
- ARPress: https://authorreputationpress.com/bookstore/the-dignity-of-service-the-power-of-social-entrepreneurship/
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Service-Power-Social-Entrepreneurship/dp/B0DK4XP3P2