New Residential Course - The Complete Digital Publisher

Bridging the digital divide: transforming digital publishing businesses.

The London-based version of The Digital Publisher course has rapidly established itself as a firm favourite at The Publishing Training Centre at Book House (PTC), running to a packed house on every outing. Delegates from as far afield as Hong Kong, Australia, Poland and South Africa have swapped experiences with many up-and-coming digital entrepreneurs from our own leading UK publishing houses on this 3-day intensive course. In a whistle-stop tour of the entire digital publishing process, from strategy, finance and investment on day one; through content creation, licensing and contracts on day two; and project management and sales and marketing on day three, delegates are able to put forward their own ideas and experiences for peer moderation to the group.

The networking and breakaway discussion over lunch and in the coffee breaks really make this course unique. We have noticed that as much as the delegates benefit from the experience of the tutors themselves (of which there are 10 on this course) they also need time to discuss with like-minded colleagues in different environments and swap practical tips and advice – such as how to find good digital suppliers for example.

Jeroen van Meerten from the International Bureau for Fiscal Documentation who attended the course from the Netherlands in March 2011 recommended that “it would be an idea to have the participants in one location and together in the evening so they can share much more.” His reason for coming on the course was to ensure he was taking “the right decisions - and not the ones that are very tempting and cost a lot of investment.” Jillian Coates, Production Manager from ACER in Australia told us “from my perspective I would jump at the combination of Oxford and the course. I found the course informative and inspiring”.

For these reasons and many more, the PTC launches a new residential version of The Digital Publisher course in Oxford in September 2011, The Complete Digital Publisher. The course will feature similar sessions throughout the day, but delegates will be arranged into teams and will be required to work on practical projects in the evenings. On the last day of the course a panel of top-flight publishers and representatives from technology companies will feedback on a judging panel. Panel members already confirmed include Jon White, Course Director and Digital Consultant and David Attwooll Director of David Attwooll Associates, who has 40 years' experience publishing, and is formerly Editorial Director of Oxford University Press's reference and consumer publishing, and Managing Director of Random House UK's Paperback and Reference Divisions. Practical case studies from other UK publishers are also scheduled for the morning of the fourth day.

Not for the faint hearted the course is expected to be packed full of digital publishing ideas, tips and techniques.

The Complete Digital Publisher, 19-22 September. Residential course, Bicester Hotel and Spa, Oxfordshire.