What's Happening?
Standard Chartered, a global banking group, has announced a new partnership with the Financial Times (FT) to support the FT Business Book of the Year Award and the Bracken Prize for Young Authors over the next three years. This collaboration begins with the 22nd edition of the prestigious £30,000 business book award, recently won by Stephen Witt for his book 'The Thinking Machine'. The partnership aims to celebrate compelling ideas and timely perspectives on business. The Bracken Prize, which will be awarded to the best business book proposal by a writer under 35, is also being revived. This prize, previously known as the Bracken Bower Prize, has been instrumental in transforming proposals into successful books. Standard Chartered takes over the partnership from
Schroders, with previous backers including Goldman Sachs and McKinsey.
Why It's Important?
This partnership underscores the importance of fostering intellectual discourse and innovation in the business sector. By supporting these awards, Standard Chartered is contributing to a platform that encourages deeper understanding of global business trends and challenges. The awards not only recognize established authors but also provide opportunities for young writers, potentially influencing future business leaders and thinkers. This initiative could lead to a richer and more diverse global conversation about business, impacting how business strategies and policies are shaped. The involvement of a major financial institution like Standard Chartered highlights the value placed on thought leadership and the dissemination of influential business ideas.
What's Next?
Submissions for the FT Business Book of the Year Award and the Bracken Prize will open in spring 2026, with deadlines set for June 30 and September 25, respectively. Winners will be announced at a dinner in London later in the year. This event will likely attract significant attention from the literary and business communities, potentially influencing future trends in business literature. The continued support from major financial and consulting firms suggests a sustained interest in promoting business literature as a means of shaping industry discourse.
