Gill & Macmillan Becomes Gill

In 2016 Gill & Macmillan became Gill after the 2013 purchase of the Macmillan shareholding in the company, returning it to full Irish ownership. Gill has unveiled a new logo which is a modern reworking and progression of the previous Gill & Macmillan logos.

Gill is divided into three separate businesses, Gill Books, Gill Education and Gill Distribution, making it unique among Irish publishers in serving every part of the market, from primary schools publishing to books and resources that educate, inform and entertain people of all ages.

Books and printing have been in the blood stream of the Gill family since 1856. Throughout its 160 year history the Gill family enterprise has changed names on several occasions, diversified from printing into publishing and bookselling, then exited from printing and bookselling. In 2013 Ruth Gill became the sixth generation of the family to join the firm after twelve years working in business consulting and publishing in London and New York.

There is a vast gulf between Gill’s 19th century printing roots and 21st century digital communication but, with the loyalty, dedication, skill, enthusiasm, and team work of the 70 staff they employ in their publishing and distribution operations in Park West, the Gills have bridged that gulf in a manner by which family business can excel; a dedication to continuity; the careful development of a cherished asset and the safeguarding of a reputation for doing things well.

Of the company’s next chapter Ruth Gill says, ‘The Gill name has been synonymous with books and publishing for almost 160 years. Throughout that time, one thing has remained unchanged, our commitment to delivering outstanding content for learning and life. While the channels through which we deliver content continue to evolve and grow, our company’s purpose remains the same – to enrich Irish lives through education, information and entertainment; from the very first book you learn to read through all the rest of your years.’

As with most businesses in Ireland, the company recently steered through a difficult trading period between 2009 and 2013 as consumer demand dipped sharply. These problems were compounded for publishers by the impact of the digital revolution in the publishing industry and also by an extended period of rolling syllabus change in post-primary schools, which continues through to today. In response, the management team embarked on strategic reviews of all the major parts of the business. The company held the largest market share of any indigenous Irish publisher in 2015, according to Nielsen’s recent annual report on the Irish consumer books market.

Gill are the publishers of many titles that will be familiar to anyone educated in an Irish classroom, including Inis Dom, New Complete Geography and Soundings, as well as popular bestsellers such as The Pope’s Children and Irelandopedia.