Hachette Learning Together Magazine - Owner Mentality

COLLEAGUE CONNECT TOGETHER MAGAZINE

REPORT: THINK LIKE AN OWNER Finance Team

Data Team GREAT DATA MA KES GREAT TITLES POSSIBLE

PILLAR POWER This issue: Owner Mentality

Issue 2 | July 2025

IN THIS EDITION ...

THANK A COLLEAGUE 33

A MESSAGE FROM SESHNI

PILLAR POWER ANGELA MCCABE 07

HL ACADEMY ONLINE COURSES HIT THE MARKET 35

PILLAR POWER SARAH BARON 09

GREAT DATA MAKES GREAT TITLES POSSIBLE 37

COLLEAGUE CONNECT JEREMIAH WILLIAMS - STAPLE 11

COLLEAGUE CONNECT ROSIE HOWIE 39

DIGITAL DIVERSITY 41

COMMUNITY DAY 13

COMMUNITY DAY 43

THNK LIKE AN OWNER 15

SOCIAL SNAPSHOT 45

EDUCATION WORLD FORUM 17

MASTERMIND 47

ROCKET PHONICS IN ACTION 21

NEW INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY VIDEOS 49

THE BOOKSELLER 23

COLLEAGUE CONNECT ALICE ARTHUR 51

COLLEAGUE CONNECT PARVESH MATHUR 25

STAFF NEWS 53

PETS CORNER 27

ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING 55

TAILS, TREATS, & TEAM TIME! 28

STRONGER CONNECTIONS, BIGGER IMPACT 29

COMING UP IN Q3 57

Summer Brunch London

SUMMER BRUNCH 2025

My personal highlight from Q2 was the Hachette Learning Summer Brunch and HUK Discover Day. There’s something truly special about the energy, effort, and dedication that everyone brings to our company events. Just like the Together Conference in March, the Summer Brunch provides us with a sense of unity and togetherness – aligning perfectly again with the magazine and its purpose. Even though I couldn’t negotiate better weather, it was still a fantastic day filled with great moments and connections! Please enjoy the photos later in the magazine - they capture the spirit of the day perfectly. The day felt truly complete with all of us heading over to HUK Discover, alongside all the divisions that make up Hachette UK. So, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and represented Hachette Learning! As Benga Adenusi states further on in the magazine, Owner Mentality is a

A MESSAGE FROM SESHNI Before diving into the brilliant success stories of Q2, I want to begin by recognising the incredible number of submissions the Communications team received for the second edition of the Together Magazine. It fills me with so much pride and appreciation to see the amount of teams and individuals taking the time to share their highlights from the past quarter. Not only has this made me excited for this issue, but also for the many future editions to come. Getting involved in the Together Magazine is something I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to do. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with every member of our Hachette Learning community and shine a light on the success stories that define our business. What makes this issue even more special is that each submission reflects the spirit of Owner Mentality – the core pillar that guided us throughout Q2.

fundamental pillar for us as a business, and he brilliantly navigates the ways we should all ‘Think like an Owner’ by making cost-conscious decisions. Owner Mentality drives efficiency across all areas of our business and encourages us to step outside of our comfort zones by adjusting our priorities to better suit the business’ needs, whether this is financially or culturally. This has undoubtedly been demonstrated expertly by numerous individuals throughout Q2, but two people have shown an extraordinary Owner Mentality, and I’m beyond excited for you all to read more about Sarah Baron and Angela McCabe on the next page. Every single one of you bring us another step closer to achieving our mission. Here’s to a brilliant Q3!

JACOBS

PILLAR POWER OWNER MENTALITY In September 2024, Stuart Skinner asked if someone from my team could present SNAP at a British Expertise International SEND-Inclusion event in Central London. The event provided a platform for sharing best practices in supporting people with SEND and addressing barriers to inclusion across all levels of education. I recommended Angela due to her in-depth knowledge of SNAP and her strong track record of selling it to schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, and Local Authorities. She gladly accepted, travelling from Darlington to present. ANGELA MCCABE Similarly in October 2024, Angela was asked by Stuart to support the International Sales Team by presenting SNAP to a group of independent

Angela was fantastic. Thank you for allowing her the time to do it. A couple of the companies are potential international partners, and they were clearly impressed with Angela and SNAP. Angela and I got the opportunity to have a coffee after as well and discussed a few ideas for SNAP next year, like local office round table events for LAs. Thanks again for your support, Angela. It's much appreciated, especially when everyone is so stretched.

SKINNER

Schools in Jamaica. Again, Angela was happy to oblige and presented SNAP in three sessions to approximately 60 schools in Jamaica. This term, Angela has dedicated time to thoroughly learning our new CPD platform, Hachette Learning Academy. She delivered a demo to the sales team and shared notes on how she presents it to schools and Multi-Academy Trusts. Earlier this year, she also provided training on SNAP Maths, inviting colleagues to join her on school calls to observe her sales approach firsthand. Angela has an admirable Owner Mentality. LAPTHORN

Hi Angela. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to present SNAP to the Jamaican audience and for the stellar job you did during the SNAP webinar. Your expertise and the insights you brought from your vast knowledge made the presentation both compelling and engaging. The audience’s receptiveness was a testament to how well you connected with them, and it’s no surprise we now have actionable leads to follow up on as a result.

WATTS-LAWRENCE

PILLAR POWER OWNER MENTALITY In September 2024, we launched Boost Insights, our new digital assessment platform, which initially faced significant teething issues and a high volume of customer queries. Throughout the autumn term and beyond, Sarah provided invaluable support to both customers and colleagues - responding promptly to queries and ensuring schools could access assessments and data when needed. SARAH BARON

Sarah has also contributed to the Creatio CRM project, attending training and providing valuable sales team insights. In the autumn term, she covered a vacant sales territory, handling school meetings, queries, and orders. This spring, she also dedicated significant time to training and supporting a new team member. These are just some examples of how Sarah has gone the extra mile and shown a clear Owner Mentality. I do not doubt that her support during this extremely busy transition period has helped us to retain many customers and greatly reduced the stress faced by the Sales Team. Every person on the team has commented on how helpful and supportive Sarah has been this year.

One issue with the new platform was disappearing test credits from school accounts. Sarah responded promptly, replacing credits for schools needing to carry out time-critical assessments. A platform bug in the autumn term prevented schools from placing top-up orders for interactive tests. Sarah ensured these were added manually so schools could assess all pupils as planned. Early in the autumn term, Sarah recorded two training webinars - one for primary and one for secondary schools - providing essential guidance on accessing, setting up, and using the new platform. These webinars became invaluable resources for both new and existing customers and helped reduce the sales team's workload significantly.

LAPTHORN

COLLEAGUE CONNECT

Jeremiah Williams-Staple Business Support Executive, Marketing

David Attenborough, Joanna Lumley, Solange Knowles. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING/WATCHING? ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST YOU’D LIKE TO TICK OFF? To go surfing in Hawaii. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THREE PEOPLE TO INVITE TO A DINNER PARTY, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EVER JOB, OR HAVE YOU HAD ANY UNUSUAL JOBS? My first ever job was a team member in a noodle bar called YOYO Noodle. Think Subway but instead of bread, it’s noodles and then the same choose your toppings concept.

I’m currently reading Conditions of Love: The Philosophy of Intimacy. WHAT WOULD YOUR MASTERMIND SPECIALIST SUBJECT BE? Eastenders.

Add Jeremiah to your network:

CONNECT on LinkedIn!

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE FOR THEIR OWNER MENTALITY?

Madam C.J. Walker.

Summer Brunch London

To mark Pride Month in June, I put my ‘writer’ hat on and spent a Friday morning with Year Eight and Year Nine in Woodbridge High School library in Woodford.

One of our Hachette authors, Laura Kay, had visited the school the same week and the young people were primed to ask thought-provoking questions. I performed poetry to both year groups, leading with the short poem Change , originally written for one of Hachette’s Changing the Story Days. The students then wrote acrostic poems under my guidance, focusing on their identities and the things that make them who they are. In both sessions, I took the students through my experience of education during a time when the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ was banned in schools, coming out to friends and family, writing and getting published.

The students’ positive responses, the caring support of the teachers when it came to helping the students write and perform their poetry, plus the small but perfectly formed library stocked with many familiar LGBTQ+ Hachette names, made it a very different atmosphere to the types of schools and school libraries some of us grew up with, while the open, inquiring minds of the students always inspire hope. The students questioned me on my opinions on book bans, AI and the future of writing, and how young people might manage their mental health in the age of smartphones.

DAY WITH COMMUNITY WOODBRIDGEHIGHSCHOOL

In the words of my poem:

It’s never too late to change.

BLACKWELL

As a Finance Business Partner, I have a comprehensive view of our financial landscape. However, it’s the collective efforts of teams across the business, that drive the different segments, each contributing to the bigger picture. Owner Mentality is a fundamental pillar in our organisation Every part of the organisation must embody an Owner Mentality to ensure we achieve the greatest possible commercial success. I’d like to highlight the importance of accuracy in budgeting. This is crucial for maintaining stable margins. By planning ahead - especially for marketing, overheads, and one-off projects - we can reduce unexpected fluctuations. A consistent, disciplined approach helps us stay resilient and better handle unforeseen challenges.

Owner Mentality EXAMPLES

Owner Mentality TOP TIPS

ARE WE GETTING THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY? Longstanding relationships or familiar recommendations can sometimes cloud our judgement on value for money. We may stick with higher-cost suppliers despite more competitive alternatives offering similar quality. Where appropriate, it’s worth exploring other options to ensure we’re getting the best value for the business. DO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES IN-HOUSE? Once a tool or service is deemed valuable, the next step is to ask: can we deliver it in-house? A great example is the recent move to host the Hachette Learning Supersite internally - a change that is expected to save over £50,000 annually by leveraging internal capabilities. DO WE STILL NEED IT? IS IT STILL USEFUL FOR THE BUSINESS? Some tools or services were adopted when internal capacity was limited, especially in areas like project management or marketing. Over time, these can become legacy expenses, continuing out of habit – and fall into the category of “we’ve always had it.”

At the halfway point of the year, we can already see the positive impact of Owner Mentality across the business. Through careful management of staff and administrative costs we’ve achieved savings of nearly 15% compared to budget as of the end of May. One key focus from David Shelley was the more prudent use of gratis copies. While effective as a promotional tool, they carry a real cost in terms of both time and resource. I’m pleased to report that spending on gratis copies is An excellent demonstration of cost-conscious decision- making and ownership across the business. £37,000 lower than at the same point last year!

EVERY POUND COUNTS Think like an OWNER

ADENUSI

It’s important to regularly reassess their value. Are they still being used, who benefits, and is the cost still justified?

Hachette Learning took part in the Education World Forum (EWF), the world’s largest annual gathering of education and skills ministers. This year, the gathering in London was based around the theme:

EWF education world forum

Every conversation gave us insight into how Hachette Learning solutions might support countries with delivery of their strategy, with Generative AI, 21st Century Skills, Vocational Education and Wellbeing all featuring prominently. With Hachette Learning attendees from the Sales and Business Development, Marketing, Product, and Leadership teams, we were able to network with the delegates at plenary sessions, on our stand, through thematic dinners, roundtable events and 1:1 meetings, ensuring that every conversation moved us closer to building meaningful, strategic relationships.

It was our first time exhibiting at and attending at this event and we saw this as a critical opportunity to position ourselves as committed partners in global education reform. The event provides a space for ministers to discuss the current issues in their education landscape, and network and learn from peers around the world. With 125 countries in attendance, there were numerous opportunities to engage with officials and we approached every interaction as a chance to deeply understand the priorities and challenges shaping national education strategies. From stability to growth: Building stronger, bolder, better education together.

18-21 MAY | LONDON

TOTAL ATTENDEES 1,411

COUNTRIES IN ATTENDANCE 125

MINISTERIAL ATTENDEES 1,176

CLARK

Education World Forum London

ROCKET PHONICS IN ACTION Helen Parker, Senior Lead Product Manager, and myself, Vicky Langley, Global Associate Product Marketing Manager, visited Belmont School in Harrow, West London.

Belmont School is one of the Rocket Phonics partner schools who work with the Reading Planet team to trial resources, give feedback to improve the products and collaborate on marketing content. Helen and I met Seeta Patel, Reading Lead/KS1 Learning and Achievement Leader, Trishna Patel, Assistant Headteacher – EYFS, Y1 and 2, and Poonam Aggarwall, Headteacher, to hear about their experiences of using the Rocket Phonics programme and the amazing impact the programme is having on their young learners. Belmont School is a primary school where between 95-97% of pupils do not have English as their first language. In addition, Belmont is a Special Hub where 10 pupils in each class have Special Educational Needs.

Seeing first-hand how the teachers use the Rocket Phonics programme with these learners was an extremely valuable experience, and it was great to hear how they have “transformed into readers.” Seeta, Trishna and Poonam also shared advice on what they’d like to see in Rocket Phonics Online and how to engage parents to inspire a culture of reading for pleasure at home (aligning to our Raising Readers initiative). We also had a tour of their school library and learnt about their student librarian ambassadors.

Helen and I embodied the Owner Mentality pillar by pro- actively arranging the visit with the help of Gaynor Bayliss, National Sales Lead, UK Primary Curriculum, and asking questions to learn how we can adapt the product and marketing to better support teachers and learners.

Rocket Phonics School Visit London

LANGLEY

PARKER

I’m honoured to be featured in The Bookseller where I had the opportunity to talk about Hachette Learning’s evolution, and why the word “learning” is now central to our identity. When I joined Hachette Learning, my mission was clear: Put learners and educators at the heart of everything we do. Since then, the team and I have launched digital-first innovations like Hachette Learning Adaptive and Hachette Learning Academy, rebranded from Hodder Education, and expanded our global reach. All to better support the future of learning. These endeavours are more than business transformations – they’re about building an ecosystem where education is inclusive, personalised, and future-ready.

JACOBS

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

COLLEAGUE CONNECT Parvesh Mathur Country Manager, India

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING/WATCHING? ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? Indian heritage and history– to appreciate the complexity and resilience of the people, socio-economic divide and norms, culture, food, language, and the continuous influence of its past and present-day India and the world. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EVER JOB, OR HAVE YOU HAD ANY UNUSUAL JOBS? My first job was with Pearson– I never thought I would last so long in publishing, but here I am. I took a sabbatical in my career to support my wife in her studies, and to help her to restart her career when our son was born; it was not a job, but a bonding and growth experience that will stay with me forever. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THREE PEOPLE TO INVITE TO A DINNER PARTY, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Groucho Marx, Audrey Hepburn and Madhubala. Three people I would love to talk to for their wit and charm. WHAT WOULD YOUR MASTERMIND SPECIALIST SUBJECT BE?

Add Parvesh to your network: CONNECT on LinkedIn!

WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST YOU’D LIKE TO TICK OFF? ( Charade , Arsenic and Old Lace , and His Girl Friday ). I am also reading Heller's Catch-22 . Cary Grant movies and Dev Anand's black and white movies. Many recommendations! Dev Anand ( Tere Ghar ke Samne , Guide ), Cary Grant Coastal road trip around Peninsular India, Australia and USA (have done almost 40% till now). I would love to have 50 immigration stamps on my passport as well.

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE FOR THEIR OWNER MENTALITY? My wife - Aarti. She’s a Banker. She takes complete ownership of any challenging project at work or managing the family and money 😊 .

IB Conference Astana, Kazakhstan

In May, the team and I welcomed Seshni and Jacsey to our Manchester office at Blackfriars House, right in the heart of the city centre. TAILS, TREATS, & TEAM TIME!

We started the day off with an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session, discussing all things Hachette Learning, from the business strategy to national offices, fuelled by cannoli and coffee. Of course, we made sure to take lots of breaks for doggie snuggles too!

Thank you for visiting us, Seshni! We hope to host a few more Hachette Learning colleagues soon.

Bronn & Friend

BROWN

The only acceptable way to wrap up such a productive visit was with some proper Northern pub grub at Sam’s Chop House, just a few streets away from the office! Jacsey and Remus were spoilt with the odd chip under the table too... how could we say no to those faces?!

PETS C RNER

Jacsey’s 1 st Birthday

STRONGER CONNECTIONS, BIGGER IMPACT!

Thanks to Musthafa for this feedback from the recent workshop in Oman.

SCHOOLS RELATIONSHIP TEAM: Q2 REPORT

‘Beyond the numbers [63k order], the workshop really helped elevate our brand presence locally and gave our sales efforts a nice boost this year. Even better, we’ve already seen tangible results: a couple of confirmed new adoptions from Sultan’s School, Al Sahwa School, with more potential ones in the works. It’s also been fantastic for nurturing existing relationships and creating opportunities to upsell Adaptive and Academy resources.’

I was recently asked if webinars are really worth it? Do they make a difference to sales?

The question reminded me of a webinar we delivered some time ago where we had some attendees from Namibia. It stood out to me because they were attending at a very inhospitable time of day,

So, we are looking forward to having the new CRM in place to better understand our data, and to prove how much impact our online work has. Thank you to everyone who is helping us get our SRT processes up onto the new CRM; Minal, Katie, Zainab, Prashant, Briony. Knowing what’s coming down the line has also meant that we have stopped some of our more labour- intensive practices. We’re focussing our efforts on preparation and building capacity instead. In the meantime, feedback from our colleagues in the field continues to show where our work is making a difference.

something like 3am!

Thanks for the feedback from our agent in China, ITA, on the workshop we ran with them last year. Not a bad return for a 1.5k spend.

Later the same month we got an order from Namibia for the product we’d been showcasing on that webinar. It stood out for the second time as it is such a small country in terms of sales... But correlation does not equal causation. Unless we emailed the customer to find out why they purchased that product, on that date, we can’t prove it was down to the webinar. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

Of the half dozen schools who attended, two have placed orders with us totalling 12k.

(For some fun non-correlations check out Spurious Correlations - is eating margarine linked to divorce?)

BELL

Thank a colleague

We would like to thank James Bullivant and Ollie Judkins for the invaluable help they have given the Adaptive Revision team over the past few months. From proofreading content and fixing issues, to keeping titles on track while we have been away, your work ensured that we achieved our deadlines. We really appreciate the time you have given us and the enthusiasm you have shown to learn about this new platform and its potential.

WANG

CUPIT

Summer Brunch London

Alex Duffy demonstrated his Owner Mentality (and the possibility that you can never truly leave marketing) by getting started on the ‘Look Inside’ video with the AV team even before Sophia took over on marketing. Alex also had some well- deserved words to say about in-house Product Manager Katharine Meunier:

HACHETTE LEARNING ACADEMY ONLINE COURSES HIT THE MARKET At the end of April 2025, five new adaptive online courses and a demo from Hachette Learning Academy went live.

Throughout the development of our online courses, Katharine has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the user experience - not only in terms of content quality, but also in creating an engaging and effective learning journey. She exemplifies what owner mentality looks like.

We are now getting feedback that the adaptive courses are encouraging owner mentality in both educators and learners.

When you do something for the first time, it is always a learning curve, and the user experience for these new online courses was no exception – but the first five courses were launched on time, and we quickly started creating materials to support them.

This course motivates me as a teacher to engage and promote collaboration among my students. The students are the spotlight of the lesson: they should be able to harness their ideas and explain them with depth using the techniques mentioned in the course. One teacher commented:

You can contact Sophia Blackwell for the full impact study by Katharine Meunier and Kate Mayhew (internal for now, but watch this space)!

BLACKWELL

LOOK INSIDE

Every title we sell is powered by something invisible but vital...reliable metadata. GREAT DATA MAKES

GREAT TITLES POSSIBLE Biblio3 is our publishing management system and the beating heart of how we work. It replaces messy spreadsheets and long email chains with a streamlined, and reporting, to contracts and cover art. Keeping

It’s the behind-the-scenes force that ensures our titles show up exactly as they should. From correctly spelled author names and valid ISBNs to accurate formats, pricing, and release dates, these seemingly small details shape how our titles are seen - and found - out in the world.

They help them flow smoothly into distributor systems, land perfectly on our supersite, and show up just right wherever and whenever readers go looking.

communication clear and breaking down silos, Biblio3 captures the lifecycle of our titles and ensures every product flows seamlessly from concept to customer. If you're looking to build your Biblio3 know-how, reach out to your Head of Department to find the right contact in your team for training. YOU’LL ALSO FIND HELPFUL GUIDES ON WORKPLACE .

intelligent platform that supports ONIX and global publishing standards, helping us... MOVE FASTER PUBLISH SMARTER COLLABORATE BETTER WORLDWIDE More than just a tool, Biblio3 brings our teams together. From Editorial and Design to Operations, Marketing, Sales, Finance, and beyond, nearly everyone in the business relies on it as a single source of truth, housing everything from metadata that drives sales

HOBSON

COLLEAGUE CONNECT

Rosie Howie Head of Product Management: Maths & Sci

WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST YOU’D LIKE TO TICK OFF?

I’d love to travel around Central and South America; I’d especially like to visit Machu Picchu at a solstice or equinox.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EVER JOB, OR HAVE YOU HAD ANY UNUSUAL JOBS? My first ever job was in the Menswear section of a department store in Edinburgh - mostly folding woollen jumpers and directing tourists to the castle! My weirdest job was sorting rotten bell peppers from fresh ones on a conveyor belt in Australia… I only lasted three days but still have nightmares about being swept away in a sea of peppers! IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THREE PEOPLE TO INVITE TO A DINNER PARTY, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? I think we’d get a great mix of stories by inviting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (I’d love to get her take on raising my daughter to be fierce), David Attenborough (because he truly is a living legend) and Bob Mortimer (in the hope that we could play a round of Would I Lie to You afterwards!).

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING/WATCHING? ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? Can I sneak in a podcast? I’m currently obsessed with listening to British Scandal on my commute – it’s a blend of true crime, modern history and comedy. WHAT WOULD YOUR MASTERMIND SPECIALIST SUBJECT BE? I’m not sure I am enough of an expert in any one topic. But I have read all of Ken Follett’s historical fiction so that may be a good place to start.

Add Rosie to your network: CONNECT on LinkedIn!

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE FOR THEIR OWNER MENTALITY?

I massively admire Emily Bell and Ellie Garrett. They punch way above their weight for a team of two, running loads of fantastic events throughout the year and consistently striving to align processes to improve how we get stuff done across the business!

FLIBS St Pete's Beach, Florida

As our Hachette Learning brand expands internationally, we’re finding new ways to reach customers more directly. By working with agents, distributors, and our international sales team - and studying how competitors As part of our strategy to grow in Asia, regional messaging apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, and LINE Mobile offer valuable DIGITAL DIVERSITY Expanding our social channels for local success

16 AFTER THE FIRST POSTS PLANNED FOR JUNE

MONTH OF USE:

100 NEW

FOLLOWERS

95 READS 3 SHARES On our post introducing Hachette Learning Publications (John Catt)

engage locally - we identified a gap in reaching schools and teachers. While we already use key social media platforms, we’ve yet to fully tap into the global potential of:

To get this project off of the ground... I touched base with the Communications team to understand the process for acquiring and setting up new social media accounts. Athena Christodoulou had previously worked with our agents in China and Area Sales Manager, Joop Intarasombat, to create a WeChat account through our agency, ITA - bypassing concerns Legal had about using a Chinese-based app. sales opportunities. These platforms, while used for personal connection, have also become powerful tools for businesses to build and establish new relationships and engage directly with local markets.

In our first follow-up meeting at the start of June, we discussed how to better ensure that the process works best for our agent, Frank Baxueming, and the platform. We learned the platform specifics of WeChat, and Frank also suggested strategising four key posts a month that we will be able to highlight and send directly to our customers’

These cross functional and collaborative meetings allow all teams (Communications, Marketing, and International Sales) to ensure their priorities are met and that new sales are generated. I am looking forward to creating our LINE and WhatsApp accounts, following a similar process, and watching our Hachette Learning name grow internationally.

messaging apps.

As part of my role within sales enablement, getting Hachette Learning onto international messaging apps quickly became a priority. Having taught in Japan for three years, I saw firsthand how vital these apps are for adapting to new environments - enabling faster integration, better communication, and stronger local connections.

mobile inboxes. We will continue to host monthly meetings to catch up on account analytics, post frequency, and content management.

Launching international messaging channels aligns perfectly with this issue’s theme of Owner Mentality. It’s a cross-functional effort that reflects our commitment to accountability, initiative, and driving commercial success - while supporting every learner and educator in reaching their full potential.

GARRETT

DAY WITH COMMUNITY

As part of Hachette UK’s volunteering programme, I attended a group community day at SOFEA with some HUKD colleagues. While sorting through some

Situated just around the corner from HHC, SOFEA supports students who don’t fit into mainstream schools, while tackling wholesale food waste through the community larder. We picked orders for local foodbanks and worked alongside some of the young people enrolled in SOFEA’s alternative education system. SOFEA support the young people by providing an untraditional learning environment, equipped with a gym, sofas and bean bags, and a necessary punching bag for maths lessons... Concurrently, the students gain employability skills while operating the distribution of excess food to the local food banks, breakfast clubs, and homes for the elderly.

I gained so much working alongside some of the remarkable young people at SOFEA; a place that feels like home to vulnerable young adults. Personally, I found it energising to witness SOFEA’s impact and I am reminded of our mission to reach all learners, including those who don’t fit into the typical curriculum. putrid bananas and potatoes, I was galvanised by how much surplus food goes to waste from supermarket chains. It is a relief to see items previously destined for landfill now recycled, distributed to those in need, and composted into renewable energy.

DULLFORCE

SOCIAL SNAPSHOT

TOP PERFORMING LINKEDIN POSTS APRIL:

MAY:

JUNE:

SPRING TERM WRAPPED

LAURA KNIGHT’S WHITEPAPER

HACHETTE LEARNING ADAPTIVE COMING SOON

BIBF Beijing

MASTERMIND After being on several TV quiz shows (University Challenge, The Chase), I tried my luck in early 2024 with applying to Mastermind, the flagship BBC quiz. After an audition where I thought I did only averagely well, I was surprised to receive the call in February 2024 to be told that I would be on the programme!

but unfortunately my relative lack of general knowledge cost me in the end and I came fifth out of six. Overall, the experience was amazing and I got an enormous amount of moral and practical support from many people within Hachette – thank you all! SPECIALIST SUBJECT 3 THE MUSIC OF LED ZEPPELIN SPECIALIST SUBJECT 1 SPANISH BAROQUE PAINTER DIEGO VELAZQUEZ SPECIALIST SUBJECT 2 SERBIAN TENNIS PLAYER NOVAK ÐOKOVIĆ

When choosing the specialist subject, the production team asked for a list of topics I could attempt, and then suggested one of them for the TV show. Once we agreed the topic, we agreed the sources from which I would study and from which the questions would come. This was a sensible way of avoiding disagreements about the answers. It was very much akin to preparing for a GCSE exam, with typed revision notes and flashcards. Taking accountability for how to study

most effectively and adapting my time and learning habits to the task at hand were key, as well as using concentration techniques to maximise my performance in the black chair. My first specialist subject was on the Spanish Baroque painter Diego Velázquez. I won the first round relatively easily and focused in the semifinal on the career of Novak Ðoković, the legendary Serbian tennis player.

I prevailed in a very tight finish, where staying calm and not wilting under the pressure made all the difference. The preparation for the final (which was filmed in November 2024) was manic, as I only had six weeks to revise my third specialist subject, the music of Led Zeppelin. The highlight was receiving a personal video message from Robert Plant wishing me luck! I was tied for the lead after the specialist subjects

MILATOVIĆ

NEW INTERNATIONAL VIDEOS REFLECT HACHETTE LEARNING’S IMPACT Over the past few years, we have done a lot to change how we approach and understand International markets. While there is plenty still to learn and opportunities to uncover, we decided to work with a film agency to create concise yet emotive videos illustrating the impact of our IB (International Baccalaureate) and Reading Planet titles outside UK classrooms. The clear focus on ambition,

The videos were recorded in partnership with Somersault Agency and Binus School Simprug (IB) Saint Nicholas and Santa Maria del Camino (RP) in Indonesia and Spain. The videos were commissioned and managed by Clare MacCallum and Sophia Blackwell with input from Helen Parker, So-Shan Au and the team from International Sales.

responsibility and empowerment, for both very young learners and older ones, resonates throughout all three videos. Each video demonstrates how these ownership values are aligned both with the holistic and problem- solving approach of the International Baccalaureate and the messages of social responsibility, growth and self- awareness integral to Reading Planet. As many of the students want to strengthen their understanding of English and reading and writing skills in order to study and work outside their home countries in future, they are clearly aware of their goals and it’s very exciting for us as publishers to get a sense of how the resources we create are working in practice to help students explore new ideas and discover new worlds of learning.

WATCH HERE

Hachette Learning London Office Carmelite House

BLACKWELL

COLLEAGUE CONNECT

Alice Arthur Editorial Project Coordinator

Pitbull (because he's an icon!); Phil 'The Power' Taylor (because he was one of the biggest names in my favourite sport to watch); Greta Gerwig (because I love some of her work). WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING/WATCHING? ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST YOU’D LIKE TO TICK OFF? I'd love to go paragliding. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THREE PEOPLE TO INVITE TO A DINNER PARTY, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EVER JOB, OR HAVE YOU HAD ANY UNUSUAL JOBS? My first job was as a swimming teacher for kids aged 3-11.

Machos Alfa ('Alfa Males' in English) - it's a Spanish comedy series about a group of male friends trying to deconstruct their hegemonic masculinity. It's on Netflix! WHAT WOULD YOUR MASTERMIND SPECIALIST SUBJECT BE? The film Hot Fuzz .

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WHO DO YOU ADMIRE FOR THEIR OWNER MENTALITY?

My partner, Will - he's a lawyer - is always going above and beyond for his clients and striving to ensure his work meets the highest possible standards.

Cambridge Schools Conference Miami

On 30 May, Hamish Baxter and family welcomed a baby bay! Their chosen Scottish name is... Euan Laurie Baxter! Hamish is now off on parental leave to enjoy this special time with his family and will be back with us in early September. Congratulations, Hamish! Baby Baxter is here!

A special acknowledgement to Athena Christodoulou, and her now Fiancé, Nick, who popped the question on their recent trip to Sicily! Congratulations to you both! She said YES!

Breaking news: Fed’s got a new Boss!

On 29 June, Fed Vitali and family welcomed a baby girl, Stephanie! Both mum and baby are doing great. Wishing them all the happiness in the months ahead. See you in 2026! Congratulations, Fed!

ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING As the European Accessibility Act comes into force, we have been working hard to improve the accessibility of our ecommerce website, eBooks and customer-facing platforms.

Content Accessibility – What it Means, Why it Matters and How You Can Help HUK LEARNING LIBRARY:

This is ongoing work. Project teams have highlighted the need for more accessibility training. While formal training is being explored, here are some resources to help you build your knowledge in the meantime.

Accessibility in the Workplace: A Publishing Perspective

FIND OUT MORE HASSELL INCLUSION Hassell Inclusion are offering free webinars ahead of the European Accessibility Act deadline. Registration is required, but attendance is free.

WE RECOMMEND: DIY Accessibility Audits: How to achieve and maintain EAA compliance 28 JUNE

UPCOMING WEBINARS: Accessibility User Testing – Making sure you build what users really want 24 JULY 21 AUGUST Everything you wanted to know about accessibility (but didn’t know who to ask) Live Q&A with Jonathan Hassell 25 SEPTEMBER Now we’re past the EAA deadline – what should you do now?

Debunking accessibility myths SIGN UP FOR A DATE

There’s more to accessibility than WCAG SIGN UP FOR A DATE OTHER RESOURCES: REWATCH BIC Brunch European Accessibility Act: Alt Text for Digital Books webinar LEARN MORE RNIB: Assistive aids and technology

WalkThrus Workshop Bangkok

ALLEN

COMING UP

IN Q3

THE BESA AWARDS Team of the Year HL Adaptive and HL Academy Inspirational Leader Seshni Jacobs 10 JULY CHANGING THE STORY FESTIVAL Changing the Story festival is back! A day dedicated to celebrating stories that matter, amplifying new voices, and exploring diverse perspectives. To give everyone the space to fully engage, 8 September will be meeting-free across the organisation. 8 SEPTEMBER

EDTECHX SUMMIT LONDON

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our second edition. Our next issue comes out in October, based around Changing the Story and we’d love to hear from you. If you have ideas for content, or would like to contribute, email us at comms@hachettelearning.com

@hachettelearning @hachettelearning.bsky.social

@hachettelearning @hachettelearning @HLearning3to11 @HLearning11to19

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