Insiders' Guide - Craven Publishing

Seventeen. We publish three magazines - Able, the UK's most widely distributed disability lifestyle title; Civvy Street, a resettlement guide for people leaving the Armed Forces, and End of Term, a careers and lifestyle publication for Scottish school-leavers.

- Who does what?

Managing director is Steve Craven. Bobby McNicol is manager of Able, and Able's Employment and Education Supplement's sales team is managed by Andy Singh and sales executives Anne Wilson and Laura Nel. Civvy Street's sales team comprises sales executives Joe Johnston, Simon Ward and George Taylor. Rachel Smith is End of Term's manager. The editorial and production team is acting editor Melissa Holmes, graphic designers Abbie Bunton and Graeme Hastings, writer Paul Cockburn and editorial assistant Terry Gillan. Marketing manager is Rosalind Bonar, while Sharon Craven is office manager.

- Who is the biggest character?

The person driving the company is Steve. Be it rousing speeches at our monthly staff meetings or office darts tournaments, he always has something to keep staff motivated. Steve started the firm 12 years ago with a Scotland-only disability title, which has grown, like the company, to become a real success story.

- What is your office atmosphere like?

Because we're a tightly knit group, the atmosphere is always animated. Our teams bring high spirits to the office, whether it's sales guys honking horns when they hit targets or the production and editorial team enjoying a round of applause when the latest issue is delivered from the printer.

- What stands you apart from the rest of the industry?

We produce eye-catching and relevant publications that inform, entertain and enable. Each magazine has been highly commended at the PPA's Scottish Magazine Awards and one of our journalists recently won a European Union journalism prize. And it's not just that we're experts in our fields that differentiates us from other publishers. A number of our sales executives are ex-Forces and bring their military experience to the pages of Civvy Street, while Able's editorial team has 15 years' combined experience in disability and most of our freelance writers are themselves disabled. The staff involved with End of Term include a former teacher and a recent graduate, who are young and in touch with their target audience.

- What does it take to get a job in your team?

We are highly skilled, dedicated and motivated, with many years of experience and specialist knowledge that helps sell, write, design, edit and promote our magazines.

- How are staff encouraged to hit targets?

Ambitious targets are met week in, week out by executives driven to succeed and, whether it's a week in a villa abroad or a luxury meal for two, the team has plenty of opportunities to be rewarded.

- Where do you all let your hair down?

Recent events have included a trip to the Edinburgh Festival, an evening in the VIP box at Rangers Football Club and painting the town red in Glasgow.

- Is your team the best in the business? E-mail julia.martin@haymarket.com.

This article was first published on Media Week