Blackwell UK, Britain's leading academic and professional bookseller, has seen its Edinburgh South Bridge store manager Darrel Thrush-Denning nominated in the Reader's Digest Manager of the Year category at this year's Bookseller Retail Awards.

The Bookseller Retail Awards will take place in September 2007 at London's National History Museum. With more than 100 entries for only 13 categories, the awards are hotly contested. Other nominees in the Reader's Digest Manager of the Year include Chris Laister-Smith, Martin Latham (both from Waterstones), Elaine Silverwood from Silverdell of Kirkham and Borders' Nicky Boardman.

Mr Thrush-Denning has been manager in the Blackwell store in Edinburgh South Bridge since 2003, having started his career in retail at Virgin Games Centre before becoming the music department manager at the Virgin Megastore outlet on Edinburgh's Prince's Street. At the Bookseller Retail Awards 2006, he was also nominated in the store manager category and was awarded the runner-up position, second to Paul Rutherford from Borders Inverness.

Blackwell bookstore has also been nominated in two further categories: the Orion Marketing Campaign of the Year and the prestigious Retail Chain of the Year award, a title which is currently held by Borders. Other nominees in the Retail Chain of the Year award in 2007 include Waterstone's, W H Smith and Hughes & Hughes.

Earlier this year, Mr Thrush-Denning was awarded the title of Store Manager of the Year at the Retail Week Awards in London. When giving their verdict on his work as a store manager, the Retail Week judges commented:

"Cut Darrel Thrush-Denning in half and you would see Blackwell's and passion all the way through."

Blackwell's Edinburgh South Bridge store was previously the home of Edinburgh's James Thin bookstore, which was bought by Blackwell in 2002. Today, the store is one of Blackwell's flagship Scottish outlets and, located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town and near its bustling University buildings, has built up a solid customer base that comprises of both students and local residents.

About Blackwell UK:

Blackwell UK Ltd is the UK's market leader in professional and academic book sales. With over 60 bookshops in England, Scotland and Wales, Blackwell UK also operates online and provides a specialized medical exhibitions business, Blackwell Exhibitions.

Blackwell UK's head office is based in Oxford. Blackwell UK is independent from the Blackwell Publishing, the leading academic book and journal publisher, though both are owned by the parent company Blackwell Limited. Blackwell Limited employs over 1000 people across the UK.

PR Contact:
Richard Mower
Blackwell UK
Beaver House
Hythe Bridge Street
Oxford
OX1 2ET
Tel: 01865 333 260
http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/