Our Story
For more than 50 years, our team has been supporting schools with the products they need to teach, learn and stay organised every day.
What started as a small family business in Blackburn, Lancashire, has grown into one of the most trusted suppliers for thousands of schools, academy trusts and educational organisations across the UK and beyond. While a lot has changed since 1975, our focus hasn't. We're still just as committed to making it easier for schools to access reliable products, competitive pricing and helpful support.
Whether you're ordering personalised exercise books, planners, reading records, stationery or wider educational materials, you need a supplier you can depend on. Products that arrive when expected, represent good value and are fit for purpose – that's exactly what we've spent the last five decades delivering.
We know that purchasing school supplies is rarely the only thing on your plate. Teachers, administrators, school business managers, bursars, senior leaders and procurement teams all face the challenge of making budgets go further while making sure that both staff and pupils have the resources they need to succeed.
We’re here to make that job a little bit easier.
Whether you're ordering for a single classroom, a whole school or a multi-academy trust, we'll help you find the right resources for your pupils, staff and budget allocation.
We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model when it comes to education. From exercise books and planners to stationery, reports and personalised school supplies, we offer a wide range of carefully considered products to help you find the perfect match for your pedagogical approach.
Our success is a result of our long-standing expertise and the fact that we take the time to understand the needs of individual customers.
Where it all began…
Every business has a starting point, and ours begins in Blackburn, Lancashire, with a former teacher named Fred Henry Pickering. In 1975, after leaving his teaching career, Fred decided to take a different path and build a business of his own.
EPSL started life as a small printing operation, producing tickets and printed materials for local shows, events and organisations. But for Fred, education was never far away. Having spent years working in schools, he understood more than most how important dependable and accessible resources were to teachers and pupils alike. And, as more and more local schools began looking for reliable suppliers of exercise books and educational printing, he recognised an opportunity to put his knowledge to good use.
What started with a handful of local schools gradually grew through recommendations, repeat orders and strong working relationships. Those early relationships helped lay the foundations for the business we are today.
More than half a century later, we're still guided by the principles Fred built the company on nearly five decades ago. Reliability, value, honesty and a longstanding dedication to supporting schools.
Growing alongside the schools we support
In 2002, the business entered a new chapter as Fred’s son David took over following the completion of his Economics degree, continuing to build on the strong foundations already in place.
In more recent years, leadership has transitioned to our current Managing Director, Philip Beer, who continues to guide the business forward and build on that legacy. Under his leadership, the business has continued to grow alongside the schools we serve.
As the education sector has evolved, so too have the resources schools need, which is why we're always expanding our product range, investing in new equipment and continuing to develop our production capabilities.
Today, we supply millions of books to schools each year, supporting pupils and teachers in classrooms across the country and around the world. We work with every institution, from individual primary and secondary schools to academy trusts, special educational schools and wider educational organisations.
Through our premium British-made products and unmatched customer service, we've built long-standing relationships with customers who continue to choose us year after year. Their trust has helped us grow into the UK's leading personalised exercise book printer and remains at the heart of everything we do today.
Personalised Books, Made In The UK
Every personalised exercise book is designed and manufactured by our expert in-house team at our Blackburn facility, giving us complete control over the process from initial design through production and delivery.
We know that what works well in one classroom may not be right for another. That's why we give you the freedom to create personalised exercise books that reflect how your school teaches and learns, from school logos and branding to subject-specific layouts, binding, lamination, and more. Whether you're looking for a simple personalised cover or end-to-end customisation, we can create bespoke resources tailored to your learners and curriculum.
We extend that same flexibility to accessibility, too. After all, if no two schools are the same, no two pupils are either. As part of our personalised exercise book service, you can also choose from a range of tinted paper options as an alternative to white. For some pupils, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, dyscalculia, Irlen Syndrome and dyspraxia, a different paper colour can help reduce glare and visual stress. It's a simple adjustment that can help pupils feel more comfortable and confident when learning.
Our range of tinted paper can be incorporated into the same exercise books used across your school, with the same layouts, branding, and content. With seven shades available, pupils can access the format that's right for them without feeling set apart from their classmates, helping you create a learning environment where everyone feels included.
