Informa

A London-headquartered FTSE 100 group that runs events, trade shows, academic publishing (Taylor & Francis) and data businesses around the world.

About Informa

Informa is a large international group that brings people and knowledge together through events and publishing. It is divided into Informa Markets, Informa Connect, Informa Festivals, Informa TechTarget and Taylor & Francis, with a global support division. Its event brands include Cannes Lions, VidCon and Fan Expo, and its publishing brands include Taylor & Francis, Routledge and CRC Press.

We did not find a mission statement for Informa on the pages we read. What the company does is clear from its structure: it organises trade shows and conferences where industries meet, produces market intelligence through brands such as Omdia, and publishes academic research that universities and libraries use.

Informa was formed in 1998 from a merger of IBC Group and LLP Group. It merged with Taylor & Francis in 2004, bought IIR Holdings in 2005 and joined the FTSE 100 in 2016. Later buys included Penton in 2016, UBM in 2018 and Ascential in 2024. It is based in London, with its listed address at 5 Howick Place, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Stephen Carter became chief executive in 2014.

Its Omdia business was launched in 2020 from market analyst businesses, and its academic publishing includes Routledge and CRC Press titles. Wikipedia says it employs about 14,000 people in roughly 150 offices across more than 40 countries. That makes it a very varied employer. Jobs include event producers and sales teams, marketing and digital specialists, data analysts, journalists and editors on its publishing side, finance and legal teams and technology staff. Its events range from film and comics festivals such as Fan Expo and MegaCon to advertising's Cannes Lions, so the work can suit very different interests. Because many of its events and journals focus on specific industries, you can work in media while learning about areas such as healthcare, technology, fashion or finance.

The pages we read give no detail on Informa's culture, so ask current employees about it. It is a good example of a media business that is not a newspaper or TV channel: people there publish research, run festivals and conferences and sell information, which is a route into media for students who prefer business, marketing, events or data roles.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Trade shows and exhibitions across many industries.', 'title': 'Informa Markets'}
• {'desc': 'Conferences, training and events.', 'title': 'Informa Connect'}
• {'desc': 'Academic and professional publishing, including Routledge and CRC Press.', 'title': 'Taylor & Francis'}
• {'desc': 'Market analysis and technology audience data.', 'title': 'Omdia and TechTarget'}

Key facts

• Formed in 1998; FTSE 100 member since 2016
• About 14,000 employees in roughly 150 offices (Wikipedia)
• Headquartered in London
• Event brands include Cannes Lions and VidCon

Website: informa.com