Calibre Audio

Who we are

For over fifty years, Calibre Audio has brought the joy of audiobooks to anyone who finds reading print difficult—helping thousands immerse themselves in unforgettable stories, inspiring biographies, and journeys of the imagination.

Founded in 1974 by three women in North London, Calibre began as a grassroots effort to help a friend’s son with sight loss enjoy books. Starting with just 12 recorded titles on cassette and 10 members, the library quickly grew, reaching 600 titles by the end of the 1970s. Today, we offer over 19,000 unabridged audiobooks, delivered digitally or by post on USB, to more than 12,000 members across the UK.

Our culture and values

At Calibre Audio, our founding belief is simple: everyone deserves to read. Our values bring this to life, aligning our team with our purpose and guiding how we work every day.

• Accountability – We take ownership of our actions, honour our commitments, and learn from challenges to continuously improve.

• Community – We build inclusive, empowering relationships with colleagues, members, volunteers, and partners.

• Empathy – We listen with care, value diverse perspectives, and create a supportive environment where everyone feels heard.

• Creativity – We embrace fresh thinking and innovation to improve services and adapt to change.

• Integrity – We act with honesty, ethics, and transparency, earning the trust of our members and partners.

These values shape a culture that is caring, collaborative, and committed to delivering the best possible service to our community.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

At Calibre Audio, we are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels welcome, respected, and able to thrive. We believe that equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are essential to delivering a high-quality service and to fulfilling our mission that everyone deserves to read.

We oppose all forms of discrimination and work actively to ensure that our recruitment, working practices, and service delivery are fair, accessible, and inclusive.

We are proud to be:

• An inclusive employer, welcoming staff and volunteers from all backgrounds, experiences and walks of life.

• Committed to accessibility, ensuring our workplace and services support the needs of disabled people.

• Actively listening and learning, reflecting the diverse communities we serve and seeking out underrepresented voices.

Our policies and training support a workplace free from bias, where diversity is celebrated and every individual is treated with dignity and respect.