Publisher looks to the Future as growth strategy builds momentum

Pre-tax profits at Marie Claire and The Week publisher Future fell 25% but it is confident its growth strategy will improve results.

Its two-year, £30m investment programme has added 100 staff across sales, editorial and back office

Bath-headquartered Future launched its Growth Acceleration Strategy a year ago and is credited with a stronger performance in the second half of the financial year, which ended in September.

Revenues were up 5% in the second half to bring the annual performance a rounding error behind the £789m generated in 2023. Pre-tax profits were down by one-quarter to £103m.

Future’s chief executive Jon Steinberg, who announced in October he would be leaving to return home to the USA after two years, said: “We launched our Growth Acceleration Strategy one year ago and have made good strategic progress.

“We have invested in sales and editorial roles, successfully diversified and grown revenue per user, and we have further optimised our portfolio. Importantly, the group has returned to organic revenue growth during the year, underpinned by a strong H2 performance.

“The execution of our strategy combined with our strong financial characteristics, including a flexible cost base and highly cash generative profile, creates further optionality and positions the business well.”