WriteNow Impact Monitoring Survey FAQs

WriteNow Impact Monitoring Survey – your questions answered

Why are Penguin Random House UK collecting this information?

Our aim is to become a more diverse and inclusive publisher and employer. We want our new hires and the books we acquire to reflect the rich diversity of UK society by 2023. To achieve this goal we need to monitor the impact of our programmes, such as WriteNow.

To understand what impact WriteNow is having we need to have a measurable way of tracking our progress – which is why we are asking WriteNow participants for personal information about their gender identity, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, sexual oritentation, disability, languages, as well as their progression on the programme.

You can read more about our inclusion strategy and progress here.

What specific questions are asked?

The survey is an online questionnaire which includes several standard questions that are regularly included on similar forms regarding ethnicity, gender, social mobility, sexual orientation, main language and disability. 

The process of capturing this information directly from writers, and the questions we ask, are based on best practice from expert organisations such as The Business Disability Forum, Stonewall and The Social Mobility Commission. 

The survey also asks questions about progression on the WriteNow programme, including questions around agents and publication.

What will happen to my data?

If you decide to complete the questionnaire online, your answers will at no stage be attributed to you individually and you will not be asked to submit your name or details of your book.

The data will then be collated by a central team within Penguin Random House UK through our approved survey provider. The team will analyse and aggregate the data for impact monitoring purposes within the WriteNow team, and for publication on an annual basis at a company level. All data will be stored confidentially and securely.

What data will be published?

Internally, we will analyse and aggregate the data for impact monitoring purposes within the wider WriteNow team. Externally, we will publish impact data for WriteNow on www.penguin.co.uk. The only data released will be combined figures across cohorts and will not include any individual’s specific data. This will include statistics on gender, ethnicity, social mobility, disability and sexuality, provided there are enough responses to ensure answers are non-attributable. 

Who receives the questionnaire?

The survey is sent by email to all writers who have been part of a WriteNow cohort at some point, and joined the programme over 12 months ago. This includes authors who have since left the programme. 

What if I don’t want to participate?

Taking part in the questionnaire is entirely optional. If you do choose to participate, you can choose to complete only the questions you feel comfortable answering.

If I complete this survey now, will I have to complete it again?

No, this survey is only sent to writers on the WriteNow programme once, and you will not be sent it again.

Will this change Penguin Random House UK’s acquisition standards, or impact my chances of publication in any way?

No. This isn’t about imposing a quota system or changing our acquisition standards. Instead this is about measuring the impact of our actions over time to help make our company more inclusive and representative of the society we live in.