PRESS RELEASE: Hachette UK Achieves Age Inclusive Accreditation with 55/Redefined as it Builds an Intergenerational Future

London, 11 February 2026 – Hachette UK, one of the largest booksellers in the UK, has announced its partnership with 55/Redefined, the global leader in enterprise age intelligence and technology solutions, as an Age Inclusive Accredited Employer.

As the second largest publishing group in the UK, Hachette UK comprises 10 divisions and over 60 imprints, publishing everything from blockbuster fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. With more than 2,000 staff, Hachette UK has shown a clear commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where experience is valued, and flexibility thrives.

This milestone positions Hachette as a leader in age inclusion ahead of its revised Publishing Inclusion Pledge for 2026 and reflects its ambition to “own the midlife category” both internally and externally.

As a sign of that commitment, Hachette UK’s publishing division Octopus is also launching The Age Rebellion, the first book written by Lyndsey Simpson, the Founder and CEO of 55/Redefined, in May 2026. The book ignites a global movement for midlifers to break free from outdated expectations, rethink what’s possible, and build a future they’re genuinely excited about.

With the over-50s generation controlling more than 50% of total household wealth in the UK, the age group represent some of the most frequent book buyers in the country. A survey by Hachette’s UK staff network, AgeWise, showed that readers aged 45 and over spent almost £990m buying more than 145 million books. That was 41% volume of all books bought in the UK, and 40% of the total value of books sold. The midlife generation are also ardent readers of online books, purchasing 56.3% by volume of all eBook sales in the UK.

The AgeWise Network at Hachette UK has the mantra: “Proud to be an Intergenerational Company,” and works to ensure that the over-50s have proper representation in training, benefits, development, recruitment and promotion. It believes that to thrive, the publishing industry must be as intergenerational as its readers and writers.

Almost one in five employees (19.6%) in Hachette are aged 50+ and it also promotes intergenerational collaboration through its Espresso Mentoring Scheme. AgeWise launched the scheme in 2019 to provide the opportunity to newer or less experienced employees to meet more established people in the business, to hear about their role and experiences during one-off mentoring sessions. The company has also introduced an inclusive menopause policy and a 10-point manifesto for age-inclusion.

Becoming a 55/Redefined Age-Inclusive Accredited employer tells the world that you’re a forward-thinking business that cares about age diversity in the workplace. It has become the global standard for age inclusivity and supports organisations with a roadmap, consulting support and action plan to put age inclusivity at the heart of people strategy and employer value proposition.

Lyndsey Simpson, Founder and CEO of 55/Redefined, says:

“It is a fantastic honour to have worked with Hachette UK on authoring The Age Rebellion over the last year or so. I have dedicated a huge amount of effort to bringing everything we work for at 55/Redefined to life in this book. For Hachette to also want to join 55/Redefined’s Age Inclusion Accreditation programme is a fantastic achievement and shows that we can all work towards a fulfilling life in our 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.”

Lisa Waterman, Group HR Director at Hachette UK, says:

“Joining 55/Redefined and achieving Age Inclusive Accreditation reinforces our commitment to Changing the Story, and creating an inclusive workplace where experience is valued, and flexibility thrives. Authors over the age of 50 write a vast number of our published works. They make up a huge proportion of our readership.

Our aim is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds through reading, and we recognise the value of maintaining an intergenerational workforce that reflects all readers. This partnership reflects our aim to attract and retain talented individuals of all ages, while promoting a culture that prioritises engagement, productivity, and genuine work-life balance.

“We’re also delighted to be championing Lyndsey’s book, The Age Rebellion, for its launch in May. Life doesn’t finish at a pre-determined ‘retirement’ age. As we all look forward to a 100-year-life, we can look towards the opportunities that this ‘Pioneering’ stage holds for us all.”

Peta Nightingale and Anita Adams, co-chairs of the AgeWise Network at Hachette UK say:

“The AgeWise Network was founded 9 years ago and has striven to highlight the value of older readers, older authors and older staff to the future success of the business. We’re excited to see those values and priorities recognised in a partnership with 55/Redefined, and we’re looking forward to seeing how we can build on all the work we’ve achieved so far with their support and expertise.”

Find out more about 55/Redefined’s Age Inclusive Accreditation here:
https://work-redefined.co/work/age-accreditation

The Age Rebellion:

Pre-order The Age Rebellion, by Lyndsey Simpson, published by Octopus, using this link and the chance to win Virgin Experience vouchers.

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